Drive time: 4 hours 20 min 293 kms
Depart at 10 am. There’s no riding today but sit back and enjoy the drive out to East Cape. Leaving Rotorua we will pass four lakes, before emerging on the coastal planes near Mt Edgecomb/ Putauaki and Awakeri. Passing through Whakatane, the popular beach township of Ohope and onto Opotiki… and out to the East Cape.

Your first day of riding starts at East Cape lighthouse. We’ll have you there for first light – that’s the world’s first light each day. At Te Araroa, you may wish to stop for a picture of the oldest Pohutakawa or a coffee at Twilight Cafe. Carry on through Hicks Bay and Cape Runaway and into Waihau Bay for lunch. Rest and then roll onto Te Kaha for the night.

The Pacific Oceans stretches off to your right. You’re in Whale Rider country now. Whaakari/White Island broods off shore. The first half of your day is on 55kms of sealed coastal road, then you turn south and start your first big climb on gravel of the tour towards Mōtū Village. It’ll be a demanding afternoon, but a rewarding one. You’re in Te Urewera now (and for the next two days).
Special Note: As of Jan 2026 Mōtū Rd is subject to a large slip blocking the road, so the map below shows a detour on the Dunes Trail finishing with a shuttle through the Waioeka Gorge to Mūtō Village.

Keep an eye out for weka — curious, brown, flightless birds often seen along the roadside between Mōtū Village and Matawai. Today’s ride takes you past the dramatic Rere Rockslide and the cascading Rere Falls, where we stop for lunch. In the afternoon we cycle to Eastwoodhill Arboretum to explore its celebrated gardens before finishing at our accommodation among grapevines near Gisborne.

Your topo map has 3 good sized climbs in it today. There’s no other way to say it –it’ll be a big day. You will cross over the boundary between Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay. You will pass the impressive Te Reinga waterfall, ride through the village of Ruakituri. You’ll be on high country farm roads with glimpses of the sea and way off on your left the Mahia Peninsula and the Rocket Lad launch site. There is spectacular downhill in the last quarter of the day so save your legs for that. The early Piripaua Power Station heralds more substantial hydro you will see in the next day’s ride. Overnighting in Wairoa.

Your topo map has 4 good sized climbs in it today. There’s no other way to say it –it’ll be a big day. You will cross over the boundary between Gisbourne and Hawke’s Bay. You will pass the impressive Te Reinga waterfall, ride through the village of Ruakituri. You’ll be on high country farm roads with glimpses of the sea and way off on your left the Mahia Peninsula and the Rocket Lab launch site. There is spectacular downhill in the last quarter of the day so save your legs for that. The early Piripaua Power Station heralds more substantial hydro you will see in the next day’s ride. Overnighting in Tuai.

The day starts with a climb to Lake Waikaremoana, then follows the lake’s edge past Mokau Falls before a 14km descent into Ruatahuna, then past the Minginui pou whenua and on to Murupara. You’ll ride over Mokau Falls and through the most beautiful rain forest. You may see the Whio or Blue duck in or near the streams that feed Waikaremoana. You will be able to get a coffee at the general store in Ruatahuna after riding through groups of free range horses that stand lazily on the town’s roads. Passing the Whirinaki Forest on your left (last untouched, old-growth forest in NZ), you will arrive in the comparative metropolis of Murupara. Then shuttle to Rotorua to overnight.

After a day’s rest we resume at Rainbow Mountain at the intersection of highways 5 and 38. We check out to boiling mud (see video) nearby before heading west to Ātiamuri, Whakamaru and onto Mangakino – all towns with dams and hydro power stations built in the 50s. In the morning we will be riding through the beautiful Waikite Valley to the Ātiamuria Dam, then on the southern section of the Waikato River trail to Whakamaru. We overnight in Mangakino close to Lake Maraetai and the domain.

A big day is ahead, with two major climbs to conquer. The first is on gravel road, climbing to 850 m, followed by a second climb inside the Pureora Forest, reaching 990 m. It’s a challenging day, but one packed with memorable moments.

There are excellent photo opportunities along the way, including the Arataki Suspension Bridge, the Centre of the North Island marker, and the entrance to the Timber Trail.

The high point of the day comes 13.5 km into the Timber Trail, at an elevation of 990 m. From here, the reward is immediate and unforgettable.

The descent from the Mount Pureora high point down to Bog Inn Creek Bridge is one of the true highlights of the entire trip—fast, flowing, and immensely satisfying after all the climbing.

Riding from the Lodge, the first half of the day completes the southern section of the Timber Trail, featuring more swing bridges, impressive rail cuttings, and the remarkable Ongarue Railway Spiral. Interpretive signs along the way bring the forest’s rich history to life, adding depth to the riding experience. Leaving the Pureora Forest, the route heads south and then west, climbing over the Okahukura Saddle before descending into the small King Country settlement of Matiere. From here, we shuttle to Taumarunui to overnight.

Leaving Matiere, you cycle 26 km to Ohura, then continue a further 59 km to Whangamomona. The route follows mostly quiet, sealed roads, climbing over short steep saddles and passing through a historic tunnel before delivering you to this iconic rural village. We stop for lunch at Joshua Morgan’s Grave, a beautiful and restful spot beside the Tangarakau River. Along the way, interpretive signs add depth to the journey, sharing intriguing stories about the region’s rail and road history, the people who lived here, and the lives they led. After emerging from the Moki Tunnel, you may be rewarded with a distant view of Mount Ruapehu, a fitting highlight near the end of the day’s ride.

Leaving Whangamomona, you tackle four challenging saddles before the landscape begins to open out, flattening and descending onto the coastal plains. After riding through the Tarata Tunnel, keep an eye to the south for glimpses of snow‑capped Mount Taranaki, and west towards the Tasman Sea. The route crosses the 125‑year‑old Bertrand Road suspension bridge into Lepperton, then continues over the Te Rewa Rewa Bridge before heading south to the coast. The day finishes with a spectacular ride into New Plymouth, following the Coastal Walkway beside Fitzroy Beach. Overnight in New Plymouth.

The morning’s ride sees you depart New Plymouth through a series of reserves and parks. Shortly, you climb steadily to Pukeiti on the western slope of Mt Taranaki, stopping for refreshments at garden’s cafe before descending through Parihaka and onto the lighthouse.

YAY! YOU MADE IT

4 hr 20 mins 308 kms driving
We return to Rotorua via Pio Pio, Te Kuiti and Highway 3 & 30.