Since Thursday is looking dodgy we will go with Wednesday instead for our standard harbourside ride. As the weather is a little variable then we will postpone if it comes up with heavy rain or high winds but will continue for just showers.
The starting point is the Buoy Cafe which is located next to the Roundabout under the Harbour Bridge (Coffee, Breakfast & Loos.)
Parking: If you want to pay for your parking then you can use Z pier. Note local street parking is only 120 minutes.
Free parking: best place is Point Erin Park which offers 240 minutes free. When you come out of the park on the bike go right, cross over motorway access to the bridge and you will then find a cycleway going alongside the water all the way to the Cafe just after the bridge.
The ride:
After gathering at Buoy Cafe we go down the marine boardwalk all the way to Beaumont Street, (quick check for anyone late at Pier Z), shortcut across Victoria Park up to Nelson Street and then across to the pink pathway and down Grafton Gully which is long glorious downhill run past the university towards the port. You need good brakes on this one and need to leave some room between cyclists.
We then head to Quay street and will pick up anyone that’s come into the city on the train or ferry ( or non e bikers. ) We follow the cycle track along side the harbour all the way to St Heliers.
Lunch : Sort of depends upon the day. There is a good bakery nearby and lunch on the grass by the beach is always nice however if weather is a bit dodgy will secure a cafe booking instead.
After lunch we track along to Kohi, along the Parade, up Fern Glen Road, along Long drive and St Heliers Bay Road to the beginning of Te Ara ki Uta ki Tai. Fern Glen Road is one long hill and St Heliers Bay Road is a bit messy for cyclists but the track at the end is worth it.
After swooping down Te Ara ki Uta ki Tai then we come out at Kings Plant barn in Orakei where we track along Ngapipi Road (no road works at present) back to the waterfront and through to Auckland via the viaduct back to the Buoy Cafe.
This is a good ride for non-ebikes as it is mostly flat and 100% concrete. There are however some hills on Nelson Street and Fern Glen Road but neither is particularly challenging or long. As normal then:
- Please bring a spare tube for your particular bike wheel size.
- We travel at circa 20 ks an hour except for down hills.
- We stop often to bunch up.
- We have a tail end Charlie to make sure riders do not get lost.
- We are not too fond of leaving people behind.
- Assistance will be rendered for any mechanical issues but we are not bike mechanics.
- If you are signed up for the ride but change your mind at the last minute please text or phone me on 021 348 979 to advise.
