Tour Aotearoa 2018

The tour Aotearoa was my first ever bike packing event. I had the privilege embarking on the event with my friend and business partner Marcus Baguley. I rode on my Singular Swift which I bought new back 2008, it is a steel frame with an an eccentric bottom bracket and this allows me to rule a 14-speed Rohloff Speed Hub which is super reliable and ideal for bike packing. I carried a Moment DW Tarp Tent, and used a set of Stealth bags with a custom frame bag. Everything performed fantastically - the full gear load is pictured here.

Day -1

I planned to meet Marcus at Cape Reinga, so I flew to Auckland and caught the chartered shuttle bus to the far North - however the bus had a clutch issue and then got stuck pulling off the highway on to a very wet verge.

14 Feb 2018 - Days 1-3

I got to Cape Reinga with the help of my Bro-in-Law Greg and then Marcus and his Bro. We set off and had a awesome 3 days down to an overnight stay with Marcus' folk in Auckland.
We had a sweet run down 90 Mile Beach with a finish in the dark at Broadwood. The next day we met our first trail angels a wee way before our stop for the night in Dargaville. The Pouto Point Ferry had broken down so we were diverted to Maungaturoto for a van ride to Helensville.

90 Mile Beach

Trail Angels

Marcus - early start towards Maungatoro

Mount Eden

Days 4-6

We rode to Miranda for a nights camping and soak in the hot springs. The down the Hauraki Rail Trail and Timber Trail to Mangakino.

Camping in Miranda

Matamata

Near Mangakino

Days 7-9

Next up the Pureora Forest / Timber Trail and then to Whakahoro for the Mangapurua/Kaiwhakauka Tracks to the Bridge to Nowhere followed by a jet boat to Pipiriki. Then a jaunt to Whanganui.

Swing bridge that signals the start of the Arataki Track into the Pureoa Forest

Centre of the North Island

Cook up on the Timber Trail

Wet and muddy on the Mangapurua Track

Bridge to Nowhere

Boarding the jet boat for Pipiriki

Days 10-12

The next three days to Apiti (a farm stay), Masterton and then home for a night in Wellington.

Heading to the elevator up Drury Hill. Whanganui

We were joined by Blair for a couple of days, and good sized flock!

Heading to Masterton in the evening - surprising how fast you'll go on gravel roads in the dark.

Almost home, on the Remutaka Rail Trail

But not home before a brew!

Days 13-17

After a day off (actually I had to spend the day at the office) in Wellington, we caught the overnight ferry to Picton, headed to Nelson for a night at Duncan's place, the Murchison, Reefton, via Big River to Greymouth and then the West Coast Wilderness Trail to Ross.

The overnight ferry

Heading down the Maungatapu Track

Duncan was very hospitable!

Dovedale Pass

Heading up the Maruia Saddle

Big River Track

Crossing Big River (note the bridge in the background)

The track briefly turns to a stream bed

Greymouth River Mouth

West Coast Wilderness Trail

Days 18-20

An occasionally wet spin down the West Coast of the South Island. With a forced stop for the night in Wanaka to replace my pedal crank, which came loose just south of Fox, but only fell off about 1km from Wanaka.