part: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
map of the journeyRimutaka Incline, a rail trail converted to a cycle track is an alternative to the busy main road to Featherston. Passing through the vineyards of Martinborough and on small roads first to Masterton and further on Route 52 via Alfredton, Pongaroa, Wimbledon to Waipukurau. A nice surprise was the swimming pool near Wimbledon with an honesty box asking for 50ct for a swim. Weather was very hot these days.
At lunch time starting to walk out to Cape Kidnappers with its huge gannet colony. I started a bit early, well before the low tide and had to climb a few rocks and got my feet wet, but had the 8km to the colony for myself. On my way back about 150 people came in by different kind of transport, maybe 15 walking like me.
Napier and its Art Deco facades, built after an earthquake destroyed the city in 1931, welcomed me with sunshine.
I am heading to central plateau, Ohakune, now on the old and very hilly Napier- Taihape road.
Probably no Tongariro Crossing again due to bad weather... there will be a third opportunity after Mt Taranaki and Forgotten World Highway.
part: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21