27/10/09
Went on ferry for 2 hours to get to Coromandel - really wet and had to climb a 370m hill with no views; however, then the sun came out and when we got the the hostel in Kuatuna we had a gorgeous sea view and blue skies.
28/10/09
One of the best days of cycling yet. Fab weather and ubelievable scenery with 2 bigish hills to get over. Saw stunning beaches and stayed the night at another sea view hostel in Tairua.
29/10/09
Longest day of cycling so far. Cycled 80 km with a massive headwind for 90% of the day and had 2 big hills to get over. Blue skies and great scenery got us to Wailhi Beach. The camp ground had a heated swimming pool and spa - heaven! Then we ate are take-away food over looking gorgeous beach (accompanied by seagulls) and watched the sun set.
30/10/09
Cycled along supposedly one of the worst stretches of road in NZ on SH2 to Tauranga; it was busy but OK and every one gave us room - even the big logging trucks. Staying at a new hostel in Mt Maunganui that looks and feels like an old peoples home - we are grateful for the lack of steps though!!! Having a day off tomorrow to rest. Think we'll go to the beach and make use of the hot springs.
Friday 30 October 2009
Monday 26 October 2009
Auckland Again!
Had 2 nights at Goat Island and went snorkelling. Very cold but saw lots of different fish that followed you about. Set off yesterday to Warkworth and got bus to Auckland to avoid the busy SH1. Very excited to get back to civilisation so had a fab Thai meal with a bottle of red as a treat - wonderful. Going to get ferry over to the Coromandel tomorrow and continue the journey south.
Wednesday 21 October 2009
Jeanette made a friend in Auckland
Penguins this size actually existed - what a great pet it would have made! but maybe a bit smelly!
Arrived in Whangarei (big city!)
Not had internet for a while but we have done loads in the last week.
The bus trip to Cape Reinga was fantastic and then we cycled to a Matai Bay (stunnng beach)
and camped. Then we headed to Kahoe and stayed at the most amazing hostel (very posh) with fantastic hosts; the husband was italian and we had a great meal there, with huge portions (perfect for cyclists). Then we headed to Whangaroa Harbour 
and around a very very hilly road (worst hlls yet) to Matauri Bay and stayted at another hostel (not quite as nice as the Kahoe one). Then we got to the Bay of Islands and stayed for 3 nights in our own little flat at Paihia. We went on a 4 hour boat trip and saw 3 adult dolphins, amazing beaches and wonderful rock formations including a massive hole under an island that boats go through. 
As we didn't see loads of wildlife they gave us a free return ticket so we did the trip again the next day (much choppier) and only saw seals (very cute) 
so we have another free ticket! We left rested and ready to go and got the ferry over to Russell and had a fab days cycling, it was quite hilly but we must have seen about 10 gorgeous bays, to Oakura, where we camped next to the beach and the most gorgeous view. We then decided to try a gravel road, which was fine at first but the gravel got deeper and I fell off! Luckily I was Ok but helmet now has a small crack. Eventually arrived at a tarmac road (hurray) but because it had taken us so long we had to change our plans for getting to Tutukaka and head instead to Whananaki. We stayed in a cabin and walked along the longest wooden footbridge in the southern hemisphere! The next day we pushed our bikes over this bridge.
and onto another gravel road, which thankfully was OK and we had another great ride with gorgeous views and beaches via Tutukaka to Whangarei. We're having 2 nights at a hostel to take stock and plan the next part of the journey. We've had days and days of sun with some heavy rain showers. We've been bitten by sand flies and god knows what else! We've seen loads of kingfishers and other exotic birds. 
The scenery is as good as expected and everyone keeps telling us it gets better. Tomorrow we head off towards Goat Island and then go back to Auckland before getting to Coromandel.
The bus trip to Cape Reinga was fantastic and then we cycled to a Matai Bay (stunnng beach)
and camped. Then we headed to Kahoe and stayed at the most amazing hostel (very posh) with fantastic hosts; the husband was italian and we had a great meal there, with huge portions (perfect for cyclists). Then we headed to Whangaroa Harbour and around a very very hilly road (worst hlls yet) to Matauri Bay and stayted at another hostel (not quite as nice as the Kahoe one). Then we got to the Bay of Islands and stayed for 3 nights in our own little flat at Paihia. We went on a 4 hour boat trip and saw 3 adult dolphins, amazing beaches and wonderful rock formations including a massive hole under an island that boats go through. As we didn't see loads of wildlife they gave us a free return ticket so we did the trip again the next day (much choppier) and only saw seals (very cute) so we have another free ticket! We left rested and ready to go and got the ferry over to Russell and had a fab days cycling, it was quite hilly but we must have seen about 10 gorgeous bays, to Oakura, where we camped next to the beach and the most gorgeous view. We then decided to try a gravel road, which was fine at first but the gravel got deeper and I fell off! Luckily I was Ok but helmet now has a small crack. Eventually arrived at a tarmac road (hurray) but because it had taken us so long we had to change our plans for getting to Tutukaka and head instead to Whananaki. We stayed in a cabin and walked along the longest wooden footbridge in the southern hemisphere! The next day we pushed our bikes over this bridge.and onto another gravel road, which thankfully was OK and we had another great ride with gorgeous views and beaches via Tutukaka to Whangarei. We're having 2 nights at a hostel to take stock and plan the next part of the journey. We've had days and days of sun with some heavy rain showers. We've been bitten by sand flies and god knows what else! We've seen loads of kingfishers and other exotic birds. The scenery is as good as expected and everyone keeps telling us it gets better. Tomorrow we head off towards Goat Island and then go back to Auckland before getting to Coromandel.Sunday 11 October 2009
Arrived at the Beach!!
After leaving Dargaville, we slept in the tent in the forest at Waipoua - stunning place next with a very loud river. Nick went for a dip but I chickened out. Had gorgeous ride through forest and through amazing countryside and got 12 mins ferry over to Kohukohu. We stayed at another great hostel and had a room in the tree tops.
After another amazing day of cycling we arrived at Ahipara, the base of 90 mile beach. The hostel was built in 1880 and is stunning. This is base camp for our ascent to Cape Reinga the most northerly point of the North Island. Tomorrow we cheat and take a bus to Cape Reinga as it's 120km each way! It's all down hill from there on in back to Auckland and beyond.
Having a day off today and trying to catch up with all the internet stuff while we can. The weather has been kind to us today and think we'll take a walk later along the beach looking out at the Tasman Sea - heaven!
Met some great people along the way including a Japanese guy who is cycling the world!! he's only 18months in with another five years to go! We signed his t-shirt and he gave us his blog details, which we will put on our blog later.
After another amazing day of cycling we arrived at Ahipara, the base of 90 mile beach. The hostel was built in 1880 and is stunning. This is base camp for our ascent to Cape Reinga the most northerly point of the North Island. Tomorrow we cheat and take a bus to Cape Reinga as it's 120km each way! It's all down hill from there on in back to Auckland and beyond.
Having a day off today and trying to catch up with all the internet stuff while we can. The weather has been kind to us today and think we'll take a walk later along the beach looking out at the Tasman Sea - heaven!
Met some great people along the way including a Japanese guy who is cycling the world!! he's only 18months in with another five years to go! We signed his t-shirt and he gave us his blog details, which we will put on our blog later.
Wednesday 7 October 2009
Dargaville
after 5 days of cycling we are having a day off in Dargaville a small town in the Northland of NZ
Its got most things we need and a chance to catch up on washing and sleeping
the also don't like possums around here as the road sign above will testify!!
they also grow a lot of sweet potatoes round here (kumara)and seem very proud of the fact.
the roads are very like lincolnshire with loads of flat open roads and a mean head wind ;-)
Sun has shined all day maybe spring is really here?
Its got most things we need and a chance to catch up on washing and sleeping
the also don't like possums around here as the road sign above will testify!!they also grow a lot of sweet potatoes round here (kumara)and seem very proud of the fact.
the roads are very like lincolnshire with loads of flat open roads and a mean head wind ;-)
Sun has shined all day maybe spring is really here?
Monday 5 October 2009
SH1 :-(
Set off from Auckland on Friday. Got the train out of town to avoid the busy roads and had our first night under canvas at Piha beach. Lovely setting and natives friendly ;-) Only problem was huge downhill to Piha which we had to climb the next morning, lots of huffing and puffing for about 2 hours!!
weather getting wetter and cooler but some great roads and views.
First problem with kiwi maps are they have lots of place names every 10km or so but when you arrive there is nothing there, literally no houses or civilisation!!
Second problem is they don't like roads signs over here or if you do get one they like to keep the distance to the next place secret.
So lots of beautiful open spaces and rolling roads and weather changes every 10 minutes!!
stayed at Wellsford last night in lovely old dears B&B and currently cycling our way up SH1 (think A1) for 28kms until we get back on the quite roads.
weather getting wetter and cooler but some great roads and views.
First problem with kiwi maps are they have lots of place names every 10km or so but when you arrive there is nothing there, literally no houses or civilisation!!
Second problem is they don't like roads signs over here or if you do get one they like to keep the distance to the next place secret.
So lots of beautiful open spaces and rolling roads and weather changes every 10 minutes!!
stayed at Wellsford last night in lovely old dears B&B and currently cycling our way up SH1 (think A1) for 28kms until we get back on the quite roads.
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