Inspired by, but ultimately unable to ride the Kopiko Aotearoa at the end of February (a 1100 km bikepacking event between Cape Egmont and East Cape with about a hundred people riding each way), I hatched my own little plan to steal away and ride a more direct route that had far more sections I was unfamiliar with (thanks for the route, Pete). This shorter route meant that I, optimistically, had enough time to ride from home across the North Island to Cape Egmont, meet Pete and ride to East Cape with him, before riding home solo. So with a week off work I set off to traverse the North Island twice and then back to Napier – the NITT was born.
The first day was expected to be the toughest – the notoriously hilly route from Napier to Taihape. It’s all sealed, but I’d found a gravel alternate to make the last third to Taihape new and more interesting – not to mention slower. Similar to the start of last year’s Easter Escapade, I was confident I’d get this big day done and therefore meet Pete as planned on Monday evening.
Early morning, I also worked in a roadies’ favourite that I’d not ridden before.
Gradually I climbed above the Ngaruroro and headed to join Napier-Taihape Rd.
After sixty-five kilometres the climbing began in earnest as the sun really started to beat down, there was a gentle westerly which cooled things a little. With no resupply until Taihape, I was well loaded with food and being particularly careful not to succumb yet again to some level of heat stroke. One big climb and descent done, I figured I had the time and need for a break off route at Kuripapango.
It certainly was tranquil back down at the Ngaruroro.
Refreshingly cool water, I soaked my legs for some time before climbing back up to the road.
The Gentle Annie climb to the highest point of the day done by early afternoon, it was again clear enough to see Ruapehu – in fact, the mountain would keep popping into view rather pleasingly throughout the afternoon. Then, my turn-off to the unknown. I’d not found any intel of people biking this road, just one report online of a motorbike ride through – at least I knew the road went.
I was about to drop a lot of height – but the sealed road does that too.
It was a big descent, as expected – but very corrugated, it wasn’t exactly fast. Treating some water from a stream, I then happened across a big sheep station complex of buildings – there is a convenient tap on the outside of the Otupae Station office.
Alongside the Mangaohane Stream, things flattened nicely.
I enjoyed this 150 m climb.
The descent to and then climb away from the Rangitikei is far gentler than on the main road and really quite nice.
Thirty kilometres of gravel over, I was pleased to find a school and more water at Pukeokahu. The hills got smaller and much more shaded for the eighty minutes remaining to Taihape; I started to salivate thinking of a large steak dinner.
After such a clear day, over here I was surprised that there was a fair bit of smoke sitting around having drifted again over the Tasman.
Into town after twelve hours in the sun and plenty of hills, my search of the main street for a decent feed was fruitless. I filled up on an ordinary burger and good chocolate milkshake, resupplied for the next section to Ohakune and rode north out of town. Whereupon, I promptly found a recently opened steakhouse. I couldn’t go past that, so quickly settled in for second dinner. Such friendly service, it was disappointing I couldn’t fit much of the steak in – but I did leave holding a box full of steak cut into small pieces (someone wasn’t carrying a knife) for ten leisurely kilometres to Mataroa, where I figured I’d bivy at the school for the night.
Suddenly, Ruapehu again.
A last little climb and descent, I found the school and settled in for the night – taking care to protect my takeout from the school cat. According to the chart on the window, it hadn’t been fed for a week – I found the biscuits, fed it and marked the chart; my breakfast was safe, I thought.
In my bivy bag to avoid the mosquitos, it was warm – but I tried to sleep satisfied with the first day going to plan. Plenty of hills, some new roads, all day in the sun and heat with no heat stroke and much more exploring to look forward to the following days.