Thursday, 06 Jan 2005

Location: Australia

I've just got back from a brief (3 week) cycle tour of North Island, New Zealand. The weather was pretty crappy but I got some beaut photos (at least I think they're beaut). I cycled from Auckland over to the Coromandel Peninsula via the Firth of Thames coast, anti-clockwise around the peninsula via Cathedral Cove and Coromandel Town, then spent Christmas with Arnold and Jeanette at Aongatete on the Bay of Plenty. From there I went to Rotorua where I met a guy who was cycling to National Park Village to do some hiking. I did the tourist thing at Rotorua to see the Wai-o-Tapu thermal park. We cycled for 2 days together via Taupo to National Park. A group of 5 of us - who met up at National Park Backpackers - did the Tongariro Crossing in between rainy days - great views and I'm glad I did it as it was possibly the highlight of my trip.

From there I cycled against a North-Westerly to Taumarunui and caught the train to Otorohanga (train because I was sore after the 21 km Tongariro hike and it was a head-wind). Then to Raglan via Kawhia. Raglan is a lovely spot on the coast frequented by Kiwis and travellers alike.

I spent a day at Raglan and then cycled to a farm-based backpackers at Pukekawa - great views from the verandah. I met a Belgian couple there who are on a 3-year cycle trip. Then on to Auckland to finish off my trip.