Coromandel Capers New Zealand

Ride Leader:  Peter Skinner - peter@pgssuperannuation.com.au  0403222143

Dec 1, Saturday Day 1. Travel to Auckland, New Zealand. My plane arrives at 2.30 pm. Leave bike bag at hotel – Airport Garden Inn Hotel

Day 2. Ride to Ferry - Pier 4, Quay St, Ferry Terminal, Downtown Auckland. Cost NZ$95 return, 09 367 9111 booking required and mention bike.

Distance from Airport Garden Inn Hotel – 22 km – allow 1.5 hours. First Ferry departs 8.45 am and takes 2 hours.

Ride to Thames – 54 km, 650 m elevation sealed road. I am staying at Brookby Motel

Day 3. Start of the Hauraki Rail Trail. 35 km, 35m elevation to Paeroa. Staying at Pedlars Motel. Option to drop off cycle bags and continue to Te Aroha – 46 km return. All gravel.

Day 4. Paeroa to Waihi on Rail Trail – gravel – 24 km. Waihi to Tairua via Hikuai Settlement Road and Ferry at end of day. 80km, 750m elevation, sealed road.

Option to ride to Tairua via Highway 26/25A – 67 km – sealed road.

Staying at Paku Lodge Resort

Day 5. Tairua to Whenuakite, 15km, 270 elevation, sealed road.

Whenuakite to Hot Water beach, 8 km, 48 m elevation, gravel road

Hot Water Beach to Ferry Landing – 18km, 121m elevation, gravel road, Ferry to Whitianga

Whitianga to Coromandel, 33 km, Route 309, 450 elevation, challenging gravel road. Or 45km, 820 elevation via Highway 25, sealed road.

Staying at Abbey Court Motel, Coromandel Town

Day 6. North of Coromandel and return. Ferry leaves at 3.00pm, arrives Auckland 5.00pm then 1.5 hour ride to Hotel - Airport Garden Inn Hotel

Day 7. Leave Auckland for Brisbane. My plane departs at 6.30 am