The Twin Coast Cycle Trail

Wednesday we thought we might do a little cycle in Kaikohe.

Along the Twin Coast Cycle Trail From Kaikohe to the Mangungu Mission House (circa 1839) in Horeke.

Probably one of the best cycle trails I have been on thus far.

47.34km according to my Strava.

Seeeeee……….

That seems a lot for me, and I guess the old butt may have told me later it was.

But what it actually was, was really enjoyable, a bit of everything.

Mountain tracks, flat riding (of which I am quite good at), hills (of which I am not), stunning scenery and lots of wildlife.

We started off in the little town of Kaikohe, population about 4820, the largest inland town and highest community above sea level in the Northland Region.

Interestingly also the site of the largest grass strip airfield in the Southern Hemisphere, built in 1942 as a U.S. Marines bomber base.

Our TG organised to rent some mountain bikes from Twin Coast Adventures, who were brilliant.

So we rode.

We took photos.

Stopped for caffeine in a cute little coffee hole in the wall called Kiwi Kai on the Waihou. Also had a meat pie there. Because we could.

And then rode some more.

The weather was good to us so we got to the Mission in very good time for a wander around before our bike hire people picked us up to transport us back to Kaikohe.

The Mangungu Mission is a Wesleyan Mission Society Settlement which was in operation from 1828-55. The Mission House itself was built about 1838.

In February 1840, more than 70 Hokianga chiefs gathered at the house for the largest signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.

So, a fairly significant historical place.

Part of the settlement is a cemetery. I was really surprised to see one old fella, George Frederick Russell, had passed over in 1855. At the ripe old age of 76 years.

The average life expectancy at that time was about 43.

Good living George, pretty damn amazing 🤩

Thursday, we headed up to the Cape Reinga Lighthouse at the top of the North Island.

On the way we stopped at the Kerikeri Mission Station.

Home to New Zealand’s oldest building, Kemp House and the Stone Store along with beautiful heritage gardens and orchards.

Truly gorgeous and definitely worth a visit.

Had a wander around, had the mandatory coffee and morning tea and headed off to ride some sand dunes.

Unfortunately the wind was not our friend so we decided to look at the Giant Te Paki Sand Dunes through the car window.

The sand dunes are actually huge and it did look like fun when we watched a couple of people flying down there on toboggans. But at my age, probably not worth the sand in the pants and the discomfort that might bring…..

We continued our journey to the Cape.

Where we were unfortunate enough to experience rain.

And a lot of it.

Right when we wanted to get out and visit the Lighthouse.

But in true Southlander form we persisted on that long 800m walk out to the Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua Lighthouse, only to take a selfie, run around said lighthouse and make a wet dash back to the car.

Soaking wet.