Thursday, 27 January 2022

Mangakino to Waikite Valley Thermal Pools

 Another good start and we  rode  through to Whakamaru where we picked up the Kopiko route again and rode on throght to Atiamuri on the Waikato River Trail – a good purpose built cycle trail that is nicce to ride. Although supposedly running alongside the length of the lake there were quite a few ups and downs and zigs and zags which meant by the time we got to Artiamuri we had probably cllimbed 300 of our 1100 metres for the day. If the trail was not down by the Lake then it was alongside S H Way 30. After Artiamuri there was a short section of probably 2 km on the shoulder of S H Way 1 and the quicker we were off that the better. We then had some more gravel road and a couple of hills to get over.

After a couple of hours riding we began to see more and more riders going in the opposite direction and it was just as well we were clear of the River  Trail as quite a few of the bends did not allow for good visibility and it would have been a pain to have met someone coming the other way.

The day started in typical Waikato mist adjacent to the Lake and finished in perhaps 30 degrees – fortunately the campsite includes access to the thermal pools. As well as a shower, a swim, a soak in the hot pools it also allowed us to wash all our clothes – hand washing is only so good until there is the chance of a proper wash.

It seems strange that although Waikite is relatively close to Rotorua – there is no cell phone coverage or internet as a result.








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