04/02/2015 - Cycle Touring New Zealand - Day 25 - Kerosene Creek - a hot spring, waterfall and bath all in one.

Distance cycled: 39.5km from Rotorua to Kerosene creek, North island, New Zealand.
Average speed: 14.3km/h
Moving Time: 2h45m
Elevation Ascended: 614km
Total Distance on Current trip: 1635km
Distance until I have cycled the circumference of Earth: 6772km

Leaving Rotorua there was a bicycle path running parallel to the main road, it was smooth and mostly well maintained. It led to Volcanic valley where tourists could see a variety of heated lakes, geysers and other volcanic related things but annoyingly and unfortunately these phenomena came at a price and although these sights were natural the entrance into the area were fenced off and only accessible through the office of which you have to pay $36. This was the entrance fee to enable you to walk on the trail. Silly tourist trap, Bull shit right!? Of course Marlieke and I being frugal with our money turned around and left but not before I attempted to see if it's possible to sneak in. You have two possibilities, the gate on the right side of the tourist office is wide enough to squeeze through and there doesn't seem to be any security so I think it would be possible to distract the one woman working at the ticket office/souvenir shop and get past her. This info is for those who agree paying such an excessive amount to see something natural; yes, I paid $100 yesterday to see Hobbiton but this was something man made.
Continuing further south to Taupo we went to check out a "free" hot spring area in Kerosene Creek, a severely relaxing literal hot spot where the thermal properties of the earth heated the swift flowing creek.
It was such a wonderful place where the people we met here were so friendly, friendly to a point were we received several beers and even accommodation in places we will soon be cycling through.
We even ended up camping beside the waterfall listening to the constant splash of  water.

Nice to see  !

Going through some (somewhat) rough terrain.

Oh, yeah!

03/02/2015 - Hobbiton

 

We spent a little over $100 for the tour of Hobbiton to see the movie set of which the hobbit films and Lord of the Rings were shot.
It took an hour from Rotorua to get there and upon arriving we were carted around with a guide to see the hobbit village. totaling 44 hobbit holes, many of which were not shown in the movies were great to see. As it was just a movie set many of the hobbit holes were just a door way to some dirt with no space to live at all, a simple fixture,however the attention to detail was incredible with smoke machines pumping smoke out the tiny brick chimneys and the method used to create moss on the picket fences. It all seemed a little too much for a few seconds of footage for a few films but it was Peter Jacksons vision for it to be near perfect and maintained in almost the same state as it was during the time of filming.
Many people work at the location whether it be maintenance upkeep, serving the specifically brewed beer for the visitors of Hobbiton in the Green dragon inn, a guide or just watering the grass rooftops of the hobbit holes it really was a busy place.
A little too busy for my liking as the groups of 30 to 40 would shuffle along the narrow paths of Hobbiton to see the sights.

One highlight was the included beer received at the end of the tour when taken to the Green Dragon inn, which was, like everything else seen today, themed to the set of Middle Earth.

It was a worthwhile visit but at $100 per person I can't help but think that it's far too expensive for what it is. Especially when hundreds of people flock here every day.

 

02/02/2015 - Cycle Touring New Zealand - Day 24 - Shitty tires.

Distance cycled: 69.7km from Welcome bay, Tauranga to Rotorua, north island, New Zealand.
Average speed: 14.9km/h
Moving Time: 4h38m
Elevation Ascended: 1159m
Total Distance on Current trip: 1588km
Distance until I have cycled the circumference of Earth: 6,819km

Even though it was still drizzling this morning we had to set off to cover more distance; the weather forecast was predicting that it would clear up for the afternoon and we wanted to get to Rotorua as I had organized another warm-shower host to stay with for the evening.
10km out of the Tauranga I experienced yet another flat tire, the last three days of riding my bike I have had three punctures on the same inner tube but all different spots; these tires are shit! Don't buy Bontrager tires.
Anyway, it was a very wet day of cycling with a few gorges we had to descend into and cycle out of but a shout out for Marlieke as she has now cycled 1,000km on this journey in New Zealand. She didn't believe she could do it but now she has!

Making it into Rotorua we found our way to John's place 5km from the city center, John, a real pleasant guy who allowed us to stay in his house for two nights as tomorrow we wanted to go to Hobbiton on the bus which is the set of which the hobbit village was filmed for the two trilogies of movies of Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.
It was a long day and both Marlieke and I were tired so after cooking and eating dinner.. And drank some wine.. we went to bed.

All smiles from Marlieke

31/01/2015 - 01/02/2015 - The incredible hospitality of the Browne Family.

 

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, Helen, the mother of three was kind enough to allow Marlieke and I to stay for a night at their place in Welcome Bay over looking Tauranga and Manguanui mountain; before contacting them a couple of days ago they didn't even know we existed yet they directed us to their home and allowed us to enter even though nobody was home - they didn't arrive back till the late hours of the evening.
As it turned out Helen and Philip (the father) often let guests through warm-showers stay with them and the reviews from the others listed on the website were listed as all glowing reviews.
This family could quite possibly be the most friendly, generous and open armed people on the planet.
Marlieke and I ended up spending longer than anticipated as the weather turned and wasn't so conducive for cycling.
At times the weather did clear up and Marlieke and I climbed to the top of mount Manguanui a 230m mountain that sprouts out the top of a small peninsula surrounded by bays and offered an awesome 360 degree panoramic view of the coastline, ocean and city.
I also helped out the Browne family with some household chores in exchange for their hospitality - with something I had never done before, hedge trimming - it went well, much better than I expected. I also cooked up a meal for one of the nights, a plethora of Asian food that turned out to be just enough for the family and another warm-showers guest who was invited to stay.
It was an absolute pleasure to have met the Browne family and we were very happy to cross paths with them because if we didn't Marlieke and I would have spent a lot of time cycling in the rain.
Truly awesome people.

30/01/2015 - Cycle Touring New Zealand - Day 23 - Big trucks and tiny shoulders.

 

Distance cycled: 68.7km from Waihi to Welcome Bay, North island, New Zealand.
Average speed: 16.2km/h
Moving Time: 4h15m
Elevation Ascended: 706m
Total Distance on Current trip: 1,481km
Distance until I have cycled the circumference of Earth: 6,926km
Money spent: $28

Yesterday was spent entirely on bicycle trails however today was the exact opposite, cycling on a busy highway with logging trucks and semi's but the worst thing about this was that the shoulder was awful and at times non existent.
Unfortunately there wasn't an alternative road leading to Mt. Maunganui which was our destination for the day so we pushed on alongside the constant flow of traffic and large vehicles on highway 2.
Currently I am not a fan of the tires I have mounted to my bicycle as they seem to be prone to punctures especially when the shoulder is often covered in small sharp objects like glass and rocks. Right now my tally for puncture repairs in NZ over 3 weeks is 4 when Japan I only experienced one or two over 2 months.
On this trip Marlieke and I have tried only once to use warm-showers.org to contact other cycle-touring enthusiasts for accommodation and so today we tried again and we were lucky to have Helen and Philip host us, they lived a few kilometers outside of Mt. maunganui in an area called Welcome Bay and lived near the top of a hill overlooking the bay and surrounding area.
Weirdly but kindly they welcomed us into their home without even being there and told us they would return in the late hours of the evening. How kind of them.

29/01/2015 - Cycle Touring New Zealand - Day 22 - Cycling the bike trail from (near) Thames to Waihi

Distance cycled: 59.5km from Pipiroa to Waihi, North island, New Zealand.
Average speed: 14.6km/h
Moving Time: 4h4m
Elevation Ascended: 306m
Total Distance on Current trip: 1,412km
Distance until I have cycled the circumference of Earth: 6,995km
Money spent: $50

I have now found my new favorite fish, it's flounder; Marlieke and I were offered some for breakfast this morning where we were readying ourselves to leave Pete and Gales place. I had to cook it up using my broken stove that was working at 200% and as flames spurted 20cm high I knew it was time to make another (Pop can drive). Still, the fish was delicate yet tasty and I will certainly get hold of this fish again when I next encounter it.

At going today we fought some of the worst head and cross wind imaginable we spent most of the day in a bicycle trail that ran from Kopu to Paeroa and through a gorge to Waihi. It was a dedicated cycle trail and it took us through some lovely scenery, basic foot (cycling) bridges and even a kilometer tunnel through a mountain. I suggest for anyone cycling through this tunnel a flashlight because doing so without is somewhat unnerving.
It was a fun day to enjoy with little to no climbing up steep gradients, we met a whole bunch of friendly and happy people, something that New Zealand is renown for but also some strange people too.
Lunch consisted, like most days of a pie and coke but today was a treat and we splurged on some delicious waffle coned ice cream in Paeroa.
The bicycle trails are well marked along the route and the gravel is packed down well enough that anyone with "thin" (700x38) tires like mine will not have an issue.
Making it into Waihi we were lucky to find a free camping area out front of the small novelty train station that ran passengers "tourists" to Waikino.
It was another awesome day to be moving about on two wheels and by far the best way to see the beautiful landscapes between Paeroa and Waihi.

 

Flounder for brekky!!!

a neat bridge crossing

Llamas in NZ!?