March 2010
Masterton - Wellington - Napier
Coastal Tour
Orongorongo Station - White Rock Station
- sheep stations –
during the trip up the coast we cycled across 14 sheep stations. When entering a station we talked to the manager : none could remember cyclists attempting to cross their land - only horse treks - and we got directions for the coastal farm tracks. They were amazed at our braveness & self sufficiency (food & camping gear). Most of the stations have been handed down through the generations & it was great to look at photos from a bygone era when they used to load the wool and stock onto barges for transport by sea.
Negotiating a rock and shingle fan formed by the Kotumu Stream.
It was 1km wide and we had to walk our bikes over the rocks.
Check out the shingle fan from the air.
Have a play with the map.
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A challenging cycleway - and terrain. Heading towards Wharekauhau and Ocean Beach
View across Palliser Bay.
Windy Point - walking through sand and gravel.
Further on the track was conducive to cycling..
Leaving the shore at Wharekauhau. Natuarally the road goes UP!!
Fixit Time.
A great downhill on Western Lake Road approaching Lake Onoke. A narrow gravel bank separates the lake from Palliser Bay.
Lake Ferry is the settlement on the opposite shore.
Heading towards Lake Ferry from the Lake Onoke outlet.
Reward time at the Lake Ferry Hotel.
Nothing like a cold beer and a feed of fish 'n' chips at the end of the day.
Another reward as the sun sinks slowly in the west.
Next day gave Donald the opportunity to get acquainted with Tinky Winky at Ngawi.
- wildlife –
coming over a hillock Donald almost rode over a seal, we saw the young sunning themselves in rock pools, seals fishing for dinner – all a few metres away. Loads of farm life – often stopping for stock to pass as it was mustering time for lambs & cattle. On one stretch we rode 10kms along the beach at low tide and, thanks to some generous snorkelers, dined on fresh paua that evening.
Navigating the road north of Cape Palliser.
Riding towards Te Kaukau Point, with a shingle fan coming up.
Approaching the sand and shingle fan.
- terrain –
We cycled/pushed our bikes over pasture, rocky outcrops, sand, farm tracks, sealed roads, streams, fences, washouts and became experienced at opening & shutting of farm gates, which Donald excelled at - he always seemed to be there holding the gate open and giving us directions to the next way point. Perhaps the most challenging were some of the gravel roads (Tararua council likes to spend money piling layer upon layer of gravel, especially on corners – we likened the experience to riding on a surface of marbles) and shingle/boulder fans (1km of pushing bikes over a rock fan spilling into the ocean). The journey was completed with 3 broken spokes, 1 sheared through carrier, a couple of broken chains, the odd spill from the bike & no punctures.
More walking!!!
Onwards and upwards.
Our shearers' quarters at White Rock Station.
The restless sea at White Rock Station.
Time for a lovely evening stroll along the beach.
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