After leaving the Waikato where we spent time with Alan and Linda, riding part of the Te Awa trail Cambridge to the Velodrome a pleasant 11 km, of course great coffee at the Bikery cafe.
Onto Tamahere where we stay with Jeremy and Annie, ride from Hamilton Gardens which are fabulous “note to one self go back in the spring!” We follow the Waikato river via the Te Awa river trail a well maintained trail on the banks of the river being early winter the trees losing there leaves a beautiful starkness. It was easy ride with some undulations we rode 15 km to Pukete then returned to gardens, a very pleasant 2.5 hr ride. The weather then decided to change, a great thunder and lightning show overnight and the rain fair bucketed down, love the sound of rain on the roof of Moho. The following day was not much better but we enjoyed the hospitality of Jeremy and Annie. I was thoroughly spoilt by Shane taking me out to dinner for my birthday to a lovely restaurant in Hamilton “Palate” wonderful cuisine, impeccable service made for a very memorable evening. We decided to move on for the long weekend of Queen’s Birthday, heading for Waihi Beach as the weather looks to be most settled.
Heading away from Hamilton on a cool showery day driving through the Waikato countryside green from recent rain, plenty of grass going forward for winter.
Driving through Matamata was delighted to see on every corner beautiful painted cows, no not real cows, sculptures, was very impressive, sadly we didn’t get any photos must go back.
Waihi Beach itself is 10km long a beautiful piece of coastline. We walked along the estuary to Bowentown and back along the beach on a lovely winters day sea flat and great views over to Major Island. On Monday on a clear cool day we cycle part of the Hauraki Cycle Trail Waihi to Paeroa yep that place the BIG L&P bottle town! The trail starts at the Waihi Railway station, we follow the Ohinemuri River meandering through farmland down towards the Karangahake Gorge, which is rich in mining history, pass by the Victoria battery which was built in the 1890s to process ore. Then onto the 1.1 km tunnel thru to Karangahake village. Being a holiday great to see plenty of other cyclists and walkers out enjoying and exploring a slice of our history. We then are out on the open down to Paeroa.. enjoy a late lunch at funky cafe with great food, it was a very enjoyable 22 km ride. Our return trip was slightly uphill but not too strenuous arriving back to Waihi in good time. So all in all 44 km picturesque ride.
Tuesday we awoke to another lovely day.. today we decide to do the coastal walk to Orokawa Bay. A beautiful walk through lush dense bush, Kauri, puriri ,nikau and of course pohutukawa trees, the thing we didn’t hear was bird song only the occasional fantail chatter. Spectacular views out over the coast and a very flat sea with crystal clear water. 45 minutes later we reach the Bay fringed with giant Pohutukawa, a stunningly beautiful beach. An enjoyable couple of hours exploring what the Bay of Plenty has to offer.
Wednesday we woke to a very soggy day… mundane chores today! Laundry done, daily coffee, thunderstorms rumbling round the hills more down pours and finally we see the sun again late afternoon.
Thursday time to move on. Stop in Katikati known as the “mural town” and sure enough on many walls murals depicting history of Katikati. After a pleasant walk in the town we head to Omokoroa translated ‘ place of the long lizard’ 20 min from Tauranga. Staying tonight down by the beach and domain. A beautiful beach with the comings and goings of the ferry goings to Matakana Island and a fab cafe to boot. We head off on a walk round the Omokoroa peninsular through the Gerald Crapp Reserve with magnificent exotic trees planted from 1877 onward. Pass through Wai-Huri Pa site and follow coastline round peninsula with lovely views out to Tauranga Harbour.

Arriving at Whakatane on a calm clear winter afternoon we decide a good walk was in order, or should I say ” Shane if we do this walk we could have fish and chips at Gibbos afterwards ” now with the promise of that he thought the walk would be a good idea! We choose the Nga Tapuwae o Toi ( The footsteps of Toi) as it traverses the heart of what was once the great chieftain Toi’s domain, his stronghold Kapu-te-Rangi ( Pa of Gentle Breezes) is one of the oldest pa sites in NZ. It is a beautiful walk through native bush gradually climbing, fabulous views of Whakatane and the surrounding districts White Island and Mt Tarawera. We continue onwards and up to the east we glimpse Ohope. Reaching Kohi Point we enjoy watching the piwakawaka (fantails) flitting and darting feeding on insects in late afternoon sun, bell birds feeding on nectar of late flowering native, Tui’s chortling from high in the trees, Welcome Swallows swooping past in constant motion. With the sun dropping fast to, the horizon we head back at a fast clip. We stop and watch the sun drop below the horizon an incredibly spectacular sunset. Arriving back to our start point it was a brilliant 2 hour walk, we surely did deserve fish and chips! Gibbos on the wharf a perfect spot to enjoy fresh Tarakihi and chips, thoroughly recommended by us.