Omaio to Lake Tarawera Outlet

Day 2 - Monday 28th February

Omaio to Lake Tarawera Outlet - 163km

1. Omaio to Ohiwa (72km Road Bike)
2. Ohiwa to Port Ohope (8km Kayak)
3. Port Ohope to Ohope Beach (9km Road Bike)
4. Ohope Beach to Whakatane (5km Run)
5. Whakatane to Kawarau (36km Road Bike)
6. Kawarau to Tarawera Falls car park (27 by car dammit)
7. Tarawera Falls car park to Tarawera Outlet Camp (5km Run)

We woke to the sound of logging trucks grinding their way up a long, steep hill. It was a sign of things to come - both the trucks and the hills! It was only 6.40am and we had to give way to two cars and a logging truck (rush hour in Omaio) before rolling out on to the highway west. We were headed for an appointment with a big breakfast in Opotiki. It was a pretty nice ride and apart from the pigs running loose on the road side, the logging trucks (did I mention the logging trucks?) and the road works it was pretty uneventful and straightforward. Our legs were a little bit jaded after yesterday but all things considered we were feeling ok.

We arrived at the café in Opotiki at 9am for a great breakfast and managed to get phone reception and a few texts away before heading off on the bikes again to Ohiwa. The transition from bike to kayak was pretty slick and we were soon paddling out the low tide channel towards Port Ohope. Once in the main channel we made good progress through the calm water to the wharf where our support crews were again already waiting.

Another quick transition had us back on the bikes pedalling to the north end of Ohope Beach where we ditched the bikes, strapped on the runners and jogged up the beach to the Hopi Point Walkway which leads around the headland to Whakatane. From one of the lookout points it was amazing to look back east and see East Cape slipping under the horizon. We paused for a minute to reflect on the fact that only a day and a half ago we had started way around there. Reid joined us for the run and did a great job, he entertained us with a perfectly executed commando roll along the track after tripping on a tree root.

A picnic lunch was waiting for us at Whakatane’s big rock after we descended the steps from the walkway but we couldn’t stay too long before we were back on the road bikes headed for Kawerau. The traffic picked up from here, especially the trucks, and there was lots of that wonderful kiwi inch diameter new chip seal to vibrate the eyes out their sockets, sandpaper the butt and knock our average speed. Nice!

We arrived in Kawarau just after the support crews and went to the Information Centre to get a permit to drive through the forest - to our chagrin we discovered we wouldn’t be able to mountain bike the 2nd to last leg up to Tarawera Falls car park and after failing to find a suitable plan B we conceded defeat and went by car - dammit. We still did the magnificent run from the falls to the Tarawera Outlet Camp so all wasn’t lost.

When we arrived at the camp Adam and Reid were already bombing off the bridge into the crystal clear, warm lake outlet stream so we jumped in after them and it felt fantastic to finally get a fresh water ‘bath’ and feel really clean. I feel terrible saying that knowing many people in Christchurch haven’t had a shower for a week…

The weather forecast for tomorrow looks good so we should be fine for a dawn kayak across the lake to the Tarawera Café.

East Cape to Omaio

Day 1 - Sunday 27th February

East Cape to Omaio -127km

1. East Cape to Te Araroa (27km MTB)
2. Te Araroa to Omaio (100km Road Bike)

4am alarm… doh! It’s raining… Shari suggested (tongue in cheek) that since there wouldn’t be a sunrise, we might as well all stay in bed. Nice try but there’s always hope, so after a quick snack and finally convincing Reid to get up we were off on the half hour drive to the Cape.

As per script the rain gradually abated as we headed east. We walked up the 500 steps to the lighthouse in the dark in about 15 minutes and were immediately impressed by the pattern cast by the lighthouse spotlight on the sea. The sky was gloomy but slowly stars started to appear and the sky brightened. Unfortunately it stayed dark out to sea and we didn’t actually get to witness the sun pop over the horizon so we made a call to get the Cape to Cape underway at 6.30 regardless.

We jogged down the steps, boarded the mountain bikes and pedalled west back towards Te Araroa. 27km and just over an hour later we arrived back at the camp ground for breakfast. The ride was pretty straightforward but the scenery spectacular as the sun peeped through and illuminated the craggy rock formations, the amazing post-storm clouds and the cattle and horses wandering on the sandy beach.

After breakfast we saddled up the road bikes and our first assignment was to tackle the long, winding hill out of Te Araroa. It didn’t turn out too bad and was really just a warm-up for what lay ahead for the rest of the day. The contour was ‘undulating’ but the superb scenery kept our minds from worrying about climbing and focussed on the important things like enjoying the environment around us.

The highlights of the day included Shari and the kids’ swim at Waihou Bay, the coffee stop at Waihau Bay and the never-ending views from the cliff tops out to a smoking White Island. The biggest highlight though came when we pulled off the road for no other reason than to ogle at the view and just happened to coincide it with the passing of a pod of Orca. Two of the magnificent beasts were very close to shore, just below the cliff we were standing on. A spectacular site highlighted by the brilliant blue of the ocean on such a crystal clear day.

After 100km we rolled in to the Omaio Reserve camping area at 3 o’clock to find our camp all set up and food ready and waiting - perfect! The reserve overlooks the coast and has a great swimming spot just down from our tents so we all went for a dip (bath really) to cool down and clean up.

Day one was a winner! No drama, everything went smoothly and we’re feeling good about the BIG, multi-discipline day up to Tarawera Outlet Camp tomorrow. It will be an early night tonight…

Waihi to Te Araroa

Prelogue - Sat 26th Feb

Waihi to Te Araroa

After a check on the latest from Christchurch, a look at the long range weather forecast, some last minute organising and rushed packing we finally headed out of Waihi about nine this morning.

The situation is Christchurch is tragic and we’ve all discussed how it feels a bit wrong to be heading off on an adventure when so many people are suffering and close friends are struggling day to day. Out thoughts are with you always. Wish you were here…

The drive east was reasonably straight forward. We met up with Keith and Kel in Te Puke where we had our first break. They’re doing it real tough, glamping in Keith’s Mercedes glamper van! We’re in tents. It was great to get to the Motu Road turnoff and finally be on new road (for our family), it really felt like the adventure had begun.

My initial impressions of the East Coast Road were - “hmmm, there are a few more ups and downs than I was able to identify on Google Earth“. Maybe I should have sprung for the 3D Pro version? I hope we can sustain my estimated 25km/hr average or we’ll be in for some long days. It’s going to be tricky to draft and get into any rhythm too. However it’s very picturesque so at least by going slow we’ll get to appreciate the countryside more.

We’ve seen several ‘scenes’ from the movie Boy already - the pace of life has slowed, making it easy to get into holiday mode. Nothing wrong with that!

We did a quick reckie out to the Cape after checking in to the Te Araroa Motor Camp. We needed to check how long it will take to drive out there tomorrow and look for things we hadn’t allowed for that might foil our plan. There were none - but it’s going to be a 4am wake up call tomorrow if we’re going to be at the lighthouse in time to see the sunrise - ouch. I’m not sure Adam and Reid realise there is in fact a 4 in the morning!

Oh yeah, it’s raining so I hope we actually get to see the sun… ha.

CAPE to CAPE 2011 Schedule

CAPE TO CAPE 2011 - (710 km)

Saturday 26th February = Transport Day, Waihi to East Cape: 344km

Day 1 (Sunday 27th February) East Cape to Omaio

1) Walk to East Cape lighthouse to watch the sun rise over NZ. Then run back to road end

2) Road end to Te Araroa = 20km gravel MTB

3) Te Araroa to Omaio = 105km road bike

Day 2 (Monday 28th February) Omaio to Tarawera Outlet Camp

1) Omaio to Ohiwa = 69km Road Bike

2) Ohiwa to Port Ohope = 4.5km Kayak

3) Port Ohope to Ohope Beach North = 8km Road Bike

4) Ohope Beach North to Whakatane = 4.5km Off Road Run

5) Whakatane to Kawarau = 35km Road Bike

6) Kawarau to Tarawera Falls = 27km MTB

7) Tarawera Falls to Tarawera Outlet = 5km Off Road Run

Day 3 (Tuesday 1st March) Tarawera Outlet to Kinloch

1) Tarawera Outlet to Lake Tarawera Cafe = 9km Kayak

2) Lake Tarawera Cafe to Whirinaki Valley Rd, Ngakuru = 41km Road bike

3) Whirinaki Valley Rd, Ngakuru to Orakeikorako = 19km Kayak on Lake Ohakuri

4) Orakeikorako to Kinloch = 41km Road Bike

Day 4 (Wednesday 2nd March) Kinloch to Te Maire (Taumarunui)

1) Kinloch to Waihaha Beach (Lake Taupo) = 20km Kayak

2) Waihaha Beach to Car Park = 0.7km Portage

3) Car Park to Western Access Road = 5km MTB

3) Western Access Road to Taumaranui = 70km Road Bike

4) Taumaranui to Te Maire = 15km Kayak

Day 5 (Thursday 3rd March) Te Maire (Taumarunui) to Stratford

1) Te Maire to Stratford = 122km Road Bike - Forgotten World Highway

Day 6 (Friday 4th March)

Stratford to Cape Egmont

1) Stratford to East Egmont (Plateau Car Park) = 15km Road Bike

2) East Egmont (Plateau Car Park) to Dawson Falls = 4km Off Road Run

3) Dawson Falls to Cape Egmont to watch the sun set over NZ = 53km Road Bike

Saturday 5th March =

Transport Day

Cape Egmont to Waihi:

346 km