Cycling through the sounds

264km Seddon to Picton

On our way to Titirangi BayIt’s nearly time for us to start heading north, across Cook Strait and then up the North Island to Auckland, where in just over a month’s time we’ll board a plane for San Francisco. But we don’t want to get on that ferry. Not yet.

We think the picture says it all. It’s hard to find too many cycling photos that rival this view – the gorgeous sight as you reach the end of the Marlborough Sounds and look towards the North Island. Stunning, simply stunning.

Needless to say, the South Island’s charm has grown on us and we’ve forgiven it all those wet and miserable days at the start of our cycling here. Now we’re ooohing and aaahing at the many roads that run through the middle of nowhere and across hilltops, with views down over the cliffs to the aqua blue water far below.

It’s Kenepuru Road that’s caught our latest fancy. Right at the top end of the South Island, between the mussel capital of Havelock and the ferry docks at Picton, it dips and twists its way around a seemingly endless string of bays and sandy beaches. The traffic is light, there are practically no shops – just mile after mile of breathtaking landscapes.

Does it get more beautiful than this?We resolve to take it slow out here. Who needs to rush with five days of food on board, a plastic bottle full of petrol for our stove (it’s back to more primitive methods here for carrying extra fuel, none of these ‘approved filling containers’ for us) and a decision to give up showering for the better part of a week? These are the sacrifices we make for beautiful roads!

It’s three days – half of that on dirt – before we cover the 70km to Titirangi Bay, where the road runs out. We pitch our tent in the field of a rustic campground and do nothing other than play cards, feed the wekas, make endless cups of tea and read our books on the beach.

WekaThe next day we move on, stopping at one of the few shops for miles around for an ice cream before we reach our next destination, Mistletoe Bay. It’s another sheltered cove that’s so beautiful you can just sit happily and stare at it for hours on end. While we’re admiring our latest home for the night, a local fisherman comes by and shows us where to harvest mussels. Too bad it’s high tide and we’ve just missed our chance for a free seafood feast.

By now the food is running low and we know we have to head back to civilization but not before we hop on the Queen Charlotte Track for a bit of mountain biking. Normally we wouldn’t take on these rocky, muddy tracks but we just can’t pass up the chance to ride through a lush rainforest. Who knows when we’ll ever see such scenery again?

After a few nights feeling like we were really in the middle of nowhere, the short distance back to Picton is easily covered and we decide a celebration is in order. With lamb steaks, mussels straight from the wharf and a bottle of local white wine, we toast our successful tour of the south. Now it’s on to the north and hopefully many happy miles yet to come.

Comments

  1. Bergy
    9th April 2009 at 7:22 am #

    Just peeking in at your latest bit of adventure – What a fantastic time you are having – I guess a book is in the near future!
    Are you still on the original bikes or how many have you gone through – Keep on a rolling
    Wonderful photos. Thanks for sharing your trip

  2. Robin Bradey
    11th April 2009 at 3:58 pm #

    Hi you two from Robin and Nancy at the Cheesery and Dairy Goat Farm…….
    I am so glad you went to Walter Peaks and the Mavora Lakes…. But you realy should have gone to Milford Sound from Te Anau.
    “Do it next time”
    It is also nice to see that you are traveling with the essentials “Cheese” through the Molesworth Road.. You could have done with some of our Goat cheese 🙂

    Your tour of the South Island of NZ will
    allways be remembered I’m sure.

    Enjoy and keep intouch.
    Safe Journey.

    Robin.

    The Goat and Cheese People.

  3. hotshot bald cop
    25th April 2022 at 2:51 pm #

    Wonderful views on that!

  4. hot shot bald cop
    6th May 2022 at 9:10 pm #

    I was just telling my friend about that.

  5. hotshot bald cop
    7th May 2022 at 4:44 pm #

    I didn’t know that.

  6. vietnam cinnamon
    1st December 2022 at 8:08 pm #

    4 clip hair topper Moses Morrow hair style 3c Fateh Felix 1 hair color Aaron Castillo

  7. gdzie kupic lajki
    4th December 2022 at 1:04 am #

    Where To Purchase Progesterone By Money Order

  8. obserwacje instagram
    10th December 2022 at 2:35 am #

    But additionally, what has she evolved into, and a couple of things about her in this film, is she’snot Deputy Judy Hicks. watch Antlers online

  9. Printable Free Pulse Oximeter template
    19th December 2022 at 1:43 pm #

    Fooled once shame on you fooled twice shame on me.

  10. tchp for sale
    22nd December 2022 at 12:56 am #

    ed treatment pills medications for – vitamins for ed

  11. ??????
    2nd January 2023 at 2:21 am #

    ivermectin new zealand ivermectin pills for humans – ivermectin online

  12. Ruth Christie
    2nd January 2023 at 11:35 pm #

    Kudos to you, My partner and i discovered something new. Thank you so much. We look forward to working with you.

  13. Bengali News
    5th April 2023 at 11:00 pm #

    Wow, great blog.Much thanks again. Will read on…

  14. developed to teach
    7th April 2023 at 5:43 pm #

    Yes, in-play betting is readily available at many of themajor esports bookmakers.

  15. nettruyen
    8th April 2023 at 3:54 pm #

    Has anyone ever been to ECigwizard Vape Store located in 2941 W Hwy 90 #113?

  16. Earlene Hardy
    11th April 2023 at 3:03 am #

    It as a funny thing about life ?henever you

  17. Names For Your Baby
    15th April 2023 at 3:34 pm #

    Contemplate investments that offer immediate annuities.

  18. Instalasi gas medis
    16th April 2023 at 10:53 pm #

    pay for research paperpay someone to write a paper

  19. play at online
    18th April 2023 at 1:10 am #

    Lbdyju – search research papers Vxbsel bfnqum

  20. games of 2023
    20th April 2023 at 12:08 pm #

    order ivermectin online ivermectin tablets uk

  21. you can try here
    28th April 2023 at 4:07 am #

    hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets hydroxychloroquine coronavirus

  22. bronx movers
    28th April 2023 at 1:35 pm #

    Wow, great blog. Really Cool.

  23. thue xe an giang
    28th April 2023 at 4:58 pm #

    personal ads freekimberly guilfoyle dating bob beckel

  24. virtual counselor
    3rd May 2023 at 3:42 pm #

    Really enjoyed this post. Want more.

  25. pressure transducer
    13th August 2023 at 5:49 am #

    I value the blog.Much thanks again. Much obliged.

  26. lihat saja orang-orang ini
    24th September 2023 at 3:30 pm #

    I like looking through a post that can make people think. Also, many thanks for allowing me to comment.

  27. Silicone Emulsion
    28th October 2023 at 6:41 am #

    Hey, thanks for the article.

  28. 睪固酮
    1st December 2023 at 7:57 pm #

    Enjoyed every bit of your blog post. Want more.

  29. Future Choice Hospitality Reviews
    16th December 2023 at 5:18 pm #

    Im thankful for the article.

  30. AI NSFW Generator
    29th January 2024 at 2:45 am #

    I really enjoy the blog.Much thanks again. Cool.

Leave a Reply to games of 2023 Click here to cancel reply.