Cambridge is a good sized country town 20 minutes from Hamilton metropolis - we are here to see friends and to explore some of the Te Awa River Ride Waikato River Trails we have heard so much about. In between rides, we can explore the galleries, cafēs and antique shops that line the main street. Te Awa River ride towards Hamilton via the Velodrome An easy gentle ride to … [Read more...]
Frankton is our base for some Queenstown Cycleways
Cycling Trip March 2022 Otago Queenstown Part 3 Queenstown is not my favourite place - but it is in one of the most beautiful locations in New Zealand. The secret is stay in – Arrowtown, or Frankton or Lake Hayes. All of these have an amazing network of hundreds of kilometres of cycle trails linking you to the great outdoors. Tip 1: Don’t stay in QueenstownTip 2: … [Read more...]
Lake Dunstan Trail
Cycling Trip March 2022 Otago Queenstown Part 2 Last year we did the Pisa Landing to Bannockburn part of the trail a week before the rest of the trail opened. So this year we are back to do the real thing – it seems about 500 other people have the same idea. Bannockburn Bridge is our starting point – only 33.9 kms from here – less range anxiety with my Moustache … [Read more...]
Rakiura – Land of the Glowing Skies
Rakiura is the third main island of New Zealand - at the bottom of the South Island. An invitation to step back in time, to an ancient landscape where the forest and its wildlife is reclaiming the land and the 400 residents are largely left to hug the shoreline of the island’s eastern bays. It is summer time and we are some of the 400 visitors visiting Rakiura/Stewart … [Read more...]
On the Coastal Pacific to Blenheim for the weekend
Waiharakeke is the name for Blenheim and we have decided to do an overnight mid winter trip on the Coastal Pacific Train and take our ebikes. Loading our bikes on the train in Christchurch at 6.30am in the middle of winter was a stretch for this normally late riser. (You can leave your car at the station for free) But it was worth it. I dozed a little until the sun came … [Read more...]
Cycle Trails around Arrowtown – Magic to visit in Autumn
I am told Central Otago has weathered the Covid storm well, with strong support from kiwis who are thriving on exploring their own backyard. Campervans and caravans have been flying out the door. Out of school holidays, it is often the ‘Grey Nomads’ who are out and about, with electric bikes and the cycleways of Central Otago are a great attraction. As part of our … [Read more...]
10 Must dos in Te Anau – first stay longer
As the gateway to the New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park, Te Anau is somewhere people usually pass through on their way to Milford Sound, or to do the Milford or Kepler Track. As part of our Covid driven local explorations, we have decided to stay four nights and explore. As we have started to find out – these ‘gateway’ places are magical in themselves, and well worth the … [Read more...]
Peel Forest – Ancient and Accessible Legacy
Peel Forest is somewhere we had talked about staying some time, now we have a caravan to aid our exploring of New Zealand. We have finally carved out some time for a visit. Peel Forest is at the foot of the Southern Alps - 23 kms north of Geraldine in South Canterbury, 140 kms from Christchurch. It is part of the Mt Peel/Waikari Hills Conservation Area, situated by the … [Read more...]
Cycling in Oamaru
We carry our Moustache electric bikes upfront on our caravan and we are keen to use them as much as possible. We decided to do do the last day of the Alps to Ocean Cycle Trail – Duntroon to Oamaru. We drove to Duntroon and left the car there to be picked up tomorrow. Rail Journeys service this trail with accommodation, bag transport and bike hire if you do … [Read more...]
Secrets of North Canterbury – Camping at Gore Bay
In the end it was the Bellbirds that called us – they were cavorting noisily in the pohutukawa trees out to the corner of the flat paddock which was the Buxton campground at Gore Bay. Easy choice for our first night in our new caravan. The second campground was nearer the swimming end of the beach, has slightly more facilities, and looked out more on the beach, but … [Read more...]