Let it Roll: Waikato River Trails

Jag spenderade fem veckor i Juli och Augusti pa Nordon, for att surfa och cykla. Vi reste runt i var gamla husbil och spenderade en hel del tid vid kusten, for att surfa. Taranaki var en av favoriterna, med flera riktigt bra surfspots, supertrevliga manniskor och dessutom ar det latt att campa. Det blev inte mycket cykling for min del i Taranaki, men det finns en del mtb trails som kan vara varda att kolla upp i Egmont National park. Jag hade fullt upp med surf.

Jag gjorde istallet en del trails pa centrala Nordon, jag har tidigare skrivit om Tree Trunk Gorge trail (soder om Turangi), du kan hitta det inlagget har. Jag gjorde ocksa en del av Waikato River trail. Waikato River trail ar en 10 mil lang trail, graderad 2 (latt) till 4 (avancerad) som foljer Waikato River, Nya Zeelands langsta flod, med borjan utanfor Hamilton. Jag var valdigt sugen att gora hela, men det skulle ta en dag for mig, och jag hade tyvarr inte mojlighet att gora det. Jag gjorde Whakamaru delen, och det var superroligt. Den delen ar graderad 3 (intermediate) och ar 23 km snabb, rolig trail, lite upp och lite ner, men inga branta uppforsbackar eller drops, nagra rotter och stenar och med massor av fagelliv langs floden. Efterat kunde jag jamfora den turen med en 2-3 fot surf i Aramoana (vilket betyder helt enkelt roligt). Det finns minst en Department of Conservation camping langs floden, sa det ar latt att campa. Du kan lasa mer om Waikato River trails har.

I spent five weeks in July and August this year on the North Island, to surf and bike. We traveled around in our old camper van and spent quite a lot of time by the coast, to surf. Taranaki was a favourite, with lots of awesome surf spots, superfriendly locals and easy to freedom camp. I didn't do any biking in Taranaki, but there are mtb trails that could be worth checking out in Egmont National park. I was too busy surfing.

I did a few trails in central North Island, I wrote about Tree Trunk Gorge trail (south of Turangi) in an earlier post, that you can find here. I also did a part of Waikato River trail. Waikato River trail is a 100 km long trail, graded 2 (easy) to 4 (advanced) that follows Waikato River, the longest river in New Zealand, with start outside Hamilton. I was very tempted to do the whole trail, but that would take a day and unfortunately I didn't have a chance to do it. I did the Whakamaru section, and it was fun as. It's graded 3 (intermediate) and is 23 km fast flowing fun trail, a bit up and down but no big climbs or drops, a few roots and rocks, just enough to keep it interesting. It's beautiful along the river with lots and lots of birdlife. Afterwards I compared the ride to 2-3 foot glassy surf in Aramoana (which means just pure fun). There is at least a one and maybe two Deparment of Conservation campsites along the river, so pretty easy to camp. Read more about the Waikato River trails here.