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Setting out from Hamilton
On a whistful Wednesday in November, Chronic packed up a few items and tied them onto a mountain bike. Photos, map and commentary.
Raglan
A village on the west coast of the North Island about 50km due west of Hamilton. Its very much a surfer's spot, but plenty of families were there on holiday too.
Raglan beach and footbridge (169.9KB)
Houses down towards the village (114.9KB)
Raglan to Kawhia
The road from Raglan to Kawhia is stated as being a route for the more intrepid. It was certainly that. Taking litres of water and extra food in case I was unable to make the distance in one day, I arrived in Kawhia with nearly all of it to spare.
Bridal Veil Falls (138.7KB)
Me sitting in the river below Bridal Veil Falls (82.9KB)
Karioi is the just beyond Raglan (96.1KB)
See the piccies (110.9KB)
The road from Raglan to Kawhia (147.7KB)
Kawhia
Kawhia is a smaller village than Raglan and is about 50km down the coast from Raglan. Its quiet way lends to a more relaxing stop over.
Secret hot springs on Kawhia beach (115.9KB)
Wooden Tiki carving (73KB)
Marokopa to Waitomo
The day I cycled this started hot and dry, but later the rain clouds came over and let loose their load. About 10km from Waitomo the driving rain was puching my back too hard, so each time it really stormed down, I jumped into the ditch just to duck under the little amount of tree canopy there was. Luckily at the campsite was a tumble dryer and an open sided marquee where I pitched my tent and carried it out to peg it down.
Marokopa Falls (143.7KB)
The Natural Limestone Bridge with oyster fossils (174KB)
Waitomo
At Waitomo I tried tubing. They hire you a wetsuit, wellies (gum boots), helmet and head torch. They also throw in a pumped up inner tube. We abseiled down into a deep dark hole in the ground on a wet gloomy day. We walked up river under ground then turned out the torches. The glow worms glowed and we floated down stream on the tubes.
Tubers de-suiting (130.6KB)
Waitomo to Hamilton
This route was 107km. On the way I stopped at the Otrohanga Kiwi house and cycled up Pirongia. What a great day.
Kiwis (173.6KB)
Otrohanga (155.9KB)
Pirongia (the high bit) (191.6KB)
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