East Cape Explorer Tour
- Duration: 5 Days
- Location: Martinborough, Wellington
You get to Gisborne and the worries of the world melt from your shoulders. Te Puia Springs, Te Araroa, we have entered "do-it-tomorrow-land". Life as it is meant to be, living in the moment.
Day One - Travel to The East Cape
Our first travel day is all the way from Martinborough to Te Puia. Those who would prefer not to drive all that way could choose to fly into Gisborne and be collected there.
We have a relaxed evening in Te Puia/Tokomaru Bay, a hot pool in this "quaint" accommodation.
Accommodation: Te Puia Springs Hotel.
Day Two - Te Araroa - East Cape - Hicks Bay (55km riding)
A further drive to Te Araroa, where we get on our bikes for a ride to East Cape. 800 steps away is the East Cape Lighthouse, the first place in the world to see the sun each day.
Ride back into Te Araroa for a relaxing lunch and continue the ride across to Hicks Bay, where we enjoy a drink at the old wharf, in the setting sun.
Bikes are loaded onto the trailer and we continue to Waihau Bay - recognisable from the Taika Waititi movie "Boy" where we spend a night.
Accommodation: Waihau Bay Lodge
Day 3 - Waihau Bay to Motu River (60km)We depart Waihau Bay for a very scenic ride along the coast beneath arching Pohutukawa Trees.
This is a spectacular day of riding with windy undulating roads, very light on traffic. We ride through to the Motu River, at which point there is an option of a Jet Boat ride (depending on interest), continued riding (depending on time), or rapid exit to Opotiki (Depending on hunger!).
We shuttle to Opotiki and settle in for two nights in cabins at Ohiwa Top Ten Holiday Park.
Accomodation: Ohiwa Top 10 Holiday Park
Day 4 - Motu Road - Dunes Trail
We start the day by grabbing a coffee and Shuttling through the Waiohine Gorge to Matawai and onto the township of Motu (75-90minutes).
We ride From Motu to Ohiwa, following the old Motu Road. Although it is still open to vehicles, traffic is extremely light. Then we join the Dunes Trail which takes us into Opotiki, and onto Ohiwa Harbour once again.
Accommodation: Ohiwa Top 10 Holiday Park.
Day 5: Matawai to Patutahi (50-75km)
We roar down Wharekopae Road stopping in at the Rere Rockslide (who dares!), Rere Falls and Eastwood Hill Arboretum, New Zealand's National Arboretum. Some will stop here, others will take the opportunity to push out an extra 25km to our accommodation in Patutahi. Some will cool off with a swim, others might just sip a beer or wine and wait for dinner to be served, an exceptional end, to an exceptional ride.
Accomodation: Naurea Homestay (exceptional)
Day 6: Hometime
But Wait -there's more! For the eager beavers, we will take a morning ride, 18kms, along the newly formed Waipoua River Trail into Gisborne, where we might find strong coffee.
Some may choose to alight and fly home from here, for others the southbound drive home begins. Plenty of stops if desired, to be negotiated along the way,
