June 2020 was a month to reset. After our aborted trip in March (thanks Covid!) we arranged 4 weekends away through June.
#1 – We went back to Waipu in Northland. Level 2 restrictions saw a reasonably long wait for a table at McLeods for pizza and beer, but well worth. We were delighted to be invited up to a soon-to-be-available “riders rest” accommodation in Ruakaka too – more news on that when it opens.
#2 – We couldn’t stay away from the Cyprus Tree restaurant in Ohakune and it didn’t disappoint. The Top 10 here has perhaps the best public facilities outside of the Hundertwasser Toilets in Kawakawa – must visit! It was fantastically scenic riding away – but too chilly to unlayer and pull out a camera!
#3 – Thank you to Oakura for a fantastic hidden gem of a campground right on the beach. We also ticked off part of a road we unbelievably hadn’t ridden on the bikes; Wiremu Road – which is the inner mountain road on Taranaki. We veered off to Opunake for a *marvellous* breakfast at the Arty Tarts (same side as the Allied gas station), then looped back around the coast road to avoid rain inland.
#4 – Turangi must be the home of long distance riding in NZ and we found some new accommodation at the Sportsman’s Lodge and had a fun meal at the Rust Gourmet Burger bar – look it up!
Thanks to everyone who came along, it was a brilliant idea and some fun riding.