Extended Trip - Wednesday 16 March 2016 to Saturday 19 March 2016 (4 days)

Te Ara Ahi from Roturua to Waikite Thermal Valley has a variety of riding surfaces, including mountain bike tracks, sealed and gravel roads, boardwalks and cycle paths and lanes, but what makes it special is the geothermal activity along the way.

Our group of 11 Cycle Tourists were doing it in 3 stages based at Waikite Valley Thermal Pools about 30 minutes south of Rotorua via SH5 and Waiotapu. Our 5 cars and a Camper van, all arrived within 10 minutes of each other mid-day Friday. A pretty impressive effort as the instructions were just to arrive in time to ride 42 kms after lunch.

The pools are the largest source of 100% boiling water in NZ and as campers we had unlimited use of them . They are sited at the bottom of a very steep downhill and you can see the steam venting from the surrounding hillsides

After lunch we rode further west 18.8 km on Te Kopia Road, past farms, stopping at the impressive Paeroa Thermal Bluffs where we climbed up a DOC boardwalk to view extensive mud-pools and read that there has been Maori occupation of the area since 1250 AD.

Continuing on to Lake Ohakuri ,descending fast, and rounding a corner, the tar-seal suddenly turned to deep gravel.

With my skinny tyres I don’t know how I didn’t come off but all the others had the same "life flashing past the eyes" moment. Shortly after that we arrived at Lake Ohakuri, also known as Paradise, and the end of the trail.

It was lovely wading out into a warm lake and nibbling on the blackberries lining the lake access track.

Returning to camp, we soaked in the pools, drank wine, socialised and cooked dinner. Don’t you love these hard out tramps?

Next morning we realised the significance of our camp site at the bottom of a small steep mountain as we were planning to ride backwards to Waimangu Volcanic Valley, the first 6.6 km, straight back up to Waiotapu.

I am pleased to report that 5 of the 11 rode and that only 6 drove up to the Tavern to unload the bikes for the cycle round Rainbow Mountain.

These were Grade 2 tracks but in places wash-outs had upped them to Grade 4,making them testing for novice mountain bikers so we did well to successfully negotiate them.

We did have wonderful views from the top before descending and cycling past Lake Okare to Waimangu, another stunning thermal area on the trail, for coffee.

Back down the hill to Okare, peaceful and scenic ,we had lunch before retracing our ride back around Rainbow Mountain, detouring 2 km to Kerosene Creek which is popular for its free hot-pools ,which were a highlight of the day.

It was great fun sitting under the waterfall, like having a strong massage, and sharing the experience with a variety of overseas visitors.

We then rode back up to the Waiotapu Tavern for a drink ,and then on to Waikite for, you guessed it, soaking in the pools, wine, socialising and dinner.

Sunday morning there was only time for a quick early morning ,blissful swim before packing up and driving back into Rotorua and Government Gardens, to the official start of Te Ara Ahi Trail.

The ride around the lake through Sulphur Bay was fascinating and Information panels recited the geology and history of the area along the way. Among the cures claimed for the pools was one for Alcoholism, and laughing gas was also an attraction in colonial times!

The trail continued past Whakarewarewa Village and out to the Whakarewarewa Mountain Bike Park with 130km of mountain bike tracks. We had a coffee at a really quirky café there before flying down the" Big Dipper" under Di’s watchful eye. Maybe she will make Mountain Bikers of us yet! The party then split with some going back to re-ride the "Dipper" and the rest of us cycling back into the city and through The Princess Gate Archway to the Government Gardens.

It was a great weekend and with a great team so thanks guys.

We were Diane Dowle, Lynda Langridge, Catherine Doyle, Terry Chubb, Deb and Allen Small, Dave and Marilyn Best, Anita and Louie (visitors from Henderson) and Kay Willcocks.