The journey has come to an end

After 60 days of traveling around NZ by bike, I arrived back to Auckland on 10th of January 2015. My flight was about to leave back to Finland in 36 hours and my feelings were surrealistic - this is it.


Some statistics of the 60-day trip:

• 3722 km by bicycle & trailer
• Average day distance: 76km (longest:136km)
• 49 nights in a tent, of which 28 days at a $-campsite)
• 11 days in a hostel
• 3 hiking days + 3 days at the new years festival
• Several flat tyres
• 3 broken spokes
• 1 broken rim
• 1 broken trailer fork
• 10+ caught salmons/trouts

Start from Auckland to Wellington 11.11.2014, return from New Plymouth to Auckland 10.1.2015

Across the North island

The 3 last days of 2014 were really fun in Gisborne, but the cycling had to continue already 1st of January, so that I could reach western coast in 10 days.

Highlights of the route were the beautiful and sunny city of Taupo and Tongariro National Park, where I did the world famous Tongariro Crossing day hike (see post below). From Taumaranui to Stratford I cycled through the "Forgotten World Highway" which offered plenty of remoteness and rural landscapes. Nothing extraordinary, but quite beautiful though.

New Plymouth was my mental end station for the bicycle trip, even though I cycled some 20km more close to Waitomo Caves and in Auckland, but otherwise I did my way from New Plymouth to Auckland by bus.

From Gisborne to New Plymouth, 1.1 - 9.1

Staying in Glens Innis Backpackers. Thank you for the lovely family who hosted me that evening!

Cycling around Lake Waikaremoana

Lake Waikaremoana, unfortunately in a cloudy weather

Lake Waikaremoana

Thermal Energy power plant, close to Taupo

Just before Taupo, 3333 km done!

Lake Taupo, just a wonderful sunset over there

Time for sauna, in Rainbow Lodge in Taupo

In the horizon: Mt. Ruapehu and Tongariro National Park

Time for a break under a birch (=koivu)

Road 43, aka Forgotten World Highway

Laurens Lavender Café

A typical landscape in North Island

Reaching Stratford late in the evening, after cycling 136 km from Ohinepane campsite

Finally in New Plymouth!

Tongariro Crossing

Tongariro crossin is a world famous day hike which leads you between the stunning views of Mt. Tongariro and Mt. Ngauruhoe. The 19,4km hike takes usually 6-8 hours, but if you decide to take some extra hikes, you can spend a whole day at Tongariro Crossing.

I was super lucky with the weather on the day I did my crossing. Sometimes weather conditions are at the crossing are so rough that it is better not to do it, but I just enjoyed sun and light winds the whole day. In the morning I saw something extraordinary and unusual: The summit of Mount Taranaki was clearly visible in the horizon above the clouds. According to the local people, this phenomena happens very seldom.

Starting the hike from Mangatepopo car park

In the horizon you can see Mount taranaki which is 136km to West from Tongariro. Apparently this kind of view is available very seldom!

Mt. Ngauruhoe, 2291m

At the summit of Mt. Ngauruhoe

The Red Crater

The Blue Lakes