Urenui Loop 16 November, 2010
This was almost a
rest day. Just a nice little loop ride up to Okoki, up (the operative word)
to the top of Kaka Road, through the Uruti Road Tunnel, out to SH3 at Uruti, & back to
Urenui.
54km without the vans. Easy!!
Picturesque Kaiwaru Road follows the Urenui River along the valley floor to Okoki.
Photo: Margaret
Looks like Neale has a plan. Possibly a mischievous one.
Photo: Mack
Thought so!!
Photo: Lyn
At least he's trained - refer 1st photo of day 1.
Photo: Margaret
The school at Okoki has been bought by locals and will be converted to a backpackers' lodge.
Photo: Selwyn
The Neapolitan
Mastiff had never seen so many people before,
let alone strangely dressed ones. He was not a happy chappy.
Photo: Mack
The climb up to the Kaka Road summit is about 2km long. At least the gravel was in good condition.
Photo: Margaret
Getting close to the top.
Photo: Margaret
The little climb is rewarded by some great views of Taranaki hinterland.
Photo: Colin
This is from the summit looking down the valley towards Uruti Road.
Photo: Mack
A local told us that, apart from the roads up the mountain, this is one of the highest roads in Taranaki.
Photo: Lyn or Neale
The northern end of Uruti Road Tunnel
Photo: Lyn or Neale
Neale has a justifiable fascination with tunnel roof linings - or lack thereof!
Photo: Neale
This smooth cliff
face looked a bit like a breaking wave. Eagle eyed people saw a goat up on these
cliffs,
seemingly defying gravity.
Photo: Margaret
Uruti Church.
Photo: Margaret
Some tourists
preferred to not discover the pain and the joy that Kaka Road had to offer.
They had other plans!!
Selwyn shows Briar and Bryan, on his GPS, where the next Geo-Cache hunt will be.
Photo: Caroll
The GPS reckons
that Ted and his helpers need to be searching around this log -
and they should be thinking like a snake.
Photo: Lyn
The hunt continues.
Photo: Mack
Success!!
Ted has done it again. He had to get Selwyn to stick his arm in the
hole just above his head to find the Cache.
Photo: Selwyn
Urenui Beach, north end.
Photo: Mack
Urenui Beach, south end.
Photo: Mack
Urenui Beach, the river meets the sea.
Photo: Mack
Urenui - oil and gas lurk out on the horizon.
Photo: Mack
Time to cross the suspension bridge and head back to the motel.
Photo: Caroll
Urenui River.
Photo: Mack
Meanwhile,
Margaret had gone off to have a look at the southern end of Waikawau Beach, near
Pukearuhe.
You will recall that there is a tunnel at the northern end of the beach.
Photo: Margaret
The time in Auckland, New Zealand is
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