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**saralou** · #**2971** 12 Mar 2018

Getting up today it was less cloudy and warmer and we arrived to the dock just as the boat was loading.

Screen Shot 2018-01-14 at 20.19.58 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE0454 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE0457 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

North Island NZ 1-27 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

North Island NZ 1-28 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

The scenery in NZ is right out of Hobbiton from Lord of the rings (we wont be visiting the set as it is 70$pp), with rolling hill and small winding roads past farms and villages.

FILE0473 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #**2972** 12 Mar 2018

We gassed up in Kaitaia and found a hardware store to get a tarp (we did not want to deal with bringing our old one thru quarantine to NZ). And we grabbed some sandwich fixings and rode back 10 km to the 90 mile beach access point at Ahipara. The tide is still rising and we arrived at 130 with the high at 230. That said we did get some riding up and down the beach.

FILE0500 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #**2973** 12 Mar 2018

From here it was a short trip to Waiharara and the nearby home of fellow riders Roscoe and Raewyn. They have a lovely farm and we will tent in their back paddock ( full shower and flush facilities to boot). They were kind enough to feed us a lovely dinner and we slept well in the peace and quiet.

North Island NZ 1-47 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE0636 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

North Island NZ 1-46 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

This was a huge Emu/Ostrich farm, but they now only have a few mating pairs and their pet Emu Carol!

IMG_1809 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

IMG_1814 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #**2974** 12 Mar 2018

Today’s plan is to make it to the north tip of the island at Cape Reinga and then ride some of the gravel roads to the coasts and ultimately to get back on the 90 mile beach.

Screen Shot 2018-01-14 at 20.27.14 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE0672 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

The ride up to the cape is lovely and the parking is perched on the cliff side.

North Island NZ 1-51 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

North Island NZ 1-52 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

There is supposed to be 90 mile beach and dunes access by driving down a gravel (or as they are called here metal road) and then down the stream at Te Paki. We arrived down the 5 km road to the base of the big dunes.

Here the energetic climb up and sand board down the slopes. There are off road buses heading at full speed down the stream to the beach. Dan decided to scout the water before we ride down with low low Lulu after the heavy rains this week. It started out well with water at most a foot deep, but it got very deep in some spots and Dan turned back when he had water almost to his seat

FILE0715 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE0722 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #**2975** 12 Mar 2018

We rode out again to the main road and then out on another “white” road 10 km to Te Hapua to see the locals fishing. You can see the white Silica dunes in the distance.

FILE1186 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE1199 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE1220 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE1222 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

After another 20 or so Km on the highway we took the gravel 8 km down to Henderson Bay. This is again a beautiful beach with cliff access only and we decided in the heat we were not keen on the hike back up.

FILE1231 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

The last road was 10 km of at times deeper gravel to Hukatere. Here there is easy beach access with firm wet sand that leaves off from the gravel and you can ride all along the beach. The tide is receding now as it is after 4 pm.

IMG_1819 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

IMG_1816 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

IMG_1825 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

IMG_1828 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

North Island NZ 1-53 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #**2976** 12 Mar 2018

90 mile beach!

https://youtu.be/_TxwcER8iiU

**saralou** · #**2977** 12 Mar 2018

When we arrived back to the home stead Roscoe was frying up some tuatua (clam) fritters for us all!! This included Rosco’s sister Connie and her husband John as well as his long term rider friends David and Sally. What a fantastic group of people who so warmly welcomed us!

Screen Shot 2018-01-14 at 20.31.00 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

It is like Hotel California here and you never want to leave, but leave we must.

North Island NZ 1-50 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

North Island NZ 1-58 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #**2978** 13 Mar 2018

We rode just down to Kaitaia to a cafe for brunch and then took a ride out onto the Karikari Peninsula. The road is paved until the last 10 km and you drive thru the campground and can park on Maitai Bay.

IMG_1830 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Screen Shot 2018-01-14 at 20.32.29 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE1294 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE1303 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

This is a very sheltered large bay with no surf and very shallow water for swimming. We stripped off and enjoyed the beach for an hour or so.

IMG_1836 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #**2979** 13 Mar 2018

Then it was back to the scenic “Costal Discovery” route south with a side trip out around the peninsula to Matauri Bay.

Screen Shot 2018-01-14 at 20.32.43 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Most of the bridges here in NZ are one way only even on the main roads.

FILE1306 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

The road initially follows the coast before turning inland.

FILE1308 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE1314 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #**2980** 13 Mar 2018

The road around here is narrow and windy and steep at times, but there is very little traffic. You can stop on the way to admire the vista of the farmland, islands, and bays.

FILE1393 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE1411 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

For lunch we had some burgers at a take away and Kiddie cones as this is what single scoop looked like!

North Island NZ 1-60 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

It is now 3 pm and we have 177 km to go to get to Janet and Charlie’s batch in Mangawhai Heads…we will be late!! We stopped in Whangarei to get some meat and garlic bread for the BBQ and unfortunately they all had to wait for us to arrive after 630 for dinner. We pitched the tent in the yard as they had a full house with all their kids and grand kids. We had a very quiet and comfy night.

Screen Shot 2018-01-14 at 20.31.00 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #**2981** 13 Mar 2018

We want to get out onto the Coromandel Peninsula and are hoping for clear skies to get some Milky Way shots, but it is pretty cloudy today.

Screen Shot 2018-01-14 at 20.34.34 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE1427 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Leaving Mangawhai heads we gassed up with 91 and then we took the back roads, but had to get on the Highway 1 after 30 km just before Wellsford.

Screen Shot 2018-01-14 at 20.35.03 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

There was heavy stop and go traffic here and Dan’s 800 would not stay running. We pulled into a small park and set up the 911, which said there were no fault codes. The fuel pump and the injectors were are functioning correctly. This has happened a few times in the past as well. Is it bad gas or did he flood the bike at Te Paki!? We limped 600 m to the BP and purchased some octane booster and so far so good.

From here and thru Auckland and will stay on the motorway until we exit to get to Clevedon on the small roads. There is a really good pub here called the Corner!

FILE1435 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #**2982** 14 Mar 2018

Again we had a late start and the delay with the bike and by the time we made it to the base of the peninsula at Thames it was after 5. We got some groceries and then headed 20 km to Tapu to camp on the beach. The road north here has just opened after the damage done by the storm last week and the King tide.

FILE1499 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE1510 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

The camp spot is a huge grass field right on the water. We set the alarm for midnight, but it was totally cloudy and not good for star shots.

North Island NZ 1-61 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #**2983** 14 Mar 2018

Today we want to explore the Coromandel Peninsula and ultimately make it to stay in Papamoa.

Screen Shot 2018-02-20 at 15.22.45 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

First we set off on the Tapu-Coroglen cross road. The first 5 km is paved and then the rest of the 22 km is gravel (except the last 2 km which had just been grated and the watered and was now packed mud). We only met 2 vehicles.

FILE1536 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE1542 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE1625 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE1640 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #**2984** 14 Mar 2018

We then headed up the 25 to Kaimaramara and then after 10 km you are on the gravel again for 25 km to Coromandel City. There is a bit more traffic on this road, but it is not too dusty.

FILE1659 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE1672 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE1707 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE1717 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr