Hawke's Bay Art Deco & Vineyards Loop

Welcome to Aotearoa New Zealand and your Hawke's Bay Adventure! Hopefully you should all have arrived yesterday and be ready to ride this morning, with any personal bikes built up and gear prepared. Meeting at a central location in Napier, we'll start with an introduction and short tour briefing before loading up and heading off inland to the rural community of Crownthorpe for a delightful loop ride on quiet, country back-roads. The terraced landscape, with its backdrop of rolling limestone hills to the north and the spectacular braided deep shingle Ngaruroro River to the south is incredibly scenic. There are vast vineyards, as well as farmland and orchards amongst the rolling hills. Lunch at Hawke’s Bay’s only earth brick winery, where the owners now hand-craft their own wines, having handcrafted the business from scratch. Constructing the winery and café, they made and installed the joinery and even created the furniture from recycled native timber in the rammed earth workshop adjacent to the winery. We finish the day with a short transfer to Marine Parade in Napier, a 3km stretch of iconic seafront connecting the Art Deco city with the Pacific Ocean. On arrival, we'll settle into our accommodation before enjoying our first group dinner Cycle Options : Back country roads, 100% asphalt Standard : 49km, +571m Avid : 63km, +658m

Meals:  L,D

On a February morning in 1931, Napier was all but destroyed in New Zealand's deadliest earthquake. When the city was rebuilt, Art Deco was all the fashion and today Napier boasts one of the finest concentrations of Art Deco style anywhere in the world. After breakfast, we'll enjoy a guided walk around this remarkable city with a professionally trained Art Deco Trust guide. Next, we join the Hawke's Bay cycle trail network, part of Nga Haerenga’s 23 Great Rides of New Zealand. The trails wind across the Heretaunga Plains and New Zealand cycling guru Jonathan Kennett describes them as 'the closest you can get to a European cycling holiday without travelling to Europe'. The limesand surface is wide, smooth and mostly flat, perfect for enjoying the region's mini Mediterranean climate. The first stretch follows the Tukaekuri River to the coast, entering the Waitangi Regional Park, a sanctuary for breeding birds and home to the impressive Star Compass. This was a training tool used by the ancestors of the Maori, who sailed traditionally throughout the Pacific using the sun, moon and stars to navigate. Following the coast, we then pick up the Tukituki River and ride through idyllic rural and riverside scenery, including plenty of vineyards and orchards. There are shorter and longer hillier ride options but both take you beside the majestic Te Mata Peak and finish at our accommodation in Havelock North. You’ll have time to wander this pretty country town, with dinner at your leisure at one of the several restaurants on offer. Cycle Options : Hawkes Bay Cycle Trails, easy unpaved Standard : 40km, +181m Avid : 53km, +617m

Meals:  B,L

Today is a favourite road ride for the locals, heading out to Waimarama's long stretches of golden sandy beach. Starting from Havelock, we ride past award winning vineyards as well as the tall limestone crags of Te Mata and Te Hau. Crossing the Tukituki River the route continues past Lake Lopez, a water-bird haven and onto the scenic Maraetotara Falls. Next landmark to look for is Te Aratipi Station, the site of at least 2 historic Maori battles, and then the Matanginui Viewpoint overlooking the Pacific Ocean including the seaside resort of Waimarama and Bare Island, the high and craggy piece of rock that cuts a jagged figure across the southern seascape where the Waimarama people would take refuge during tribal attacks. Detour to the beautiful surfing beach and park-like Domain before looping back upto the settlement of Waimarama and the Tukituki River. Tonight we'll enjoy a group dinner back in the delightful village of Havelock North. Cycle Options : 100% paved/asphalt Standard : 60km, +915m Avid : 69km, +1022m

Meals:  B,D

Southern Hawke's Bay is blessed with a great network of quiet, back-country roads. There are many options for heading south, and our route is through quintessential rural New Zealand, heading towards the stunning East Coast. A mix of sealed and gravel roads, it all feels pretty remote with occasional farms and settlements. The gravel section is well graded, fairly level and easily rideable with great views out to the coast. We’ll finish our standard ride at Te Paerahi Beach, the best old-school NZ beach ever! Vast and golden, sheltered by large headlands at both ends and offering walks down to the rocks or up to the river mouth, it’s a great spot to explore. From there it’s an optional extra 20k ride to our accommodation at Wallingford Homestead, first built in 1858 and at the heart of a 34,000 acre sheep and cattle station in the 1900’s. Now a boutique, fully catered stay, it offers peace and quiet in beautiful surroundings. Cycle Options : Standard 57km, +570m - 28% easy gravel Avid : 78km, +800m - 20% easy gravel

Meals:  B,L,D

Today's ride continues yesterday’s rural theme on more stunning back-country roads, riding across rolling limestone hills that are synonymous with Hawke's Bay, keeping the Tukituki River company back to the base of Te Mata Peak. Steeped in Maori legend, the Peak is both a visual feast and an integral part of Hawke’s Bay’s history, Maori and European. Heading up to its summit seems the perfect way to end this Hawke's Bay adventure. You can choose to get to the top by pedal power or motor but either way the 360 degree views from the top are stunning and a great spot for a picnic lunch to celebrate meeting new friends and conquering some fantastic rides in this wonderful region. After lunch, we'll transfer in the van back to central Napier, with drop off options in the centre of town, for those choosing to stay longer, or at the airport. Please book flights for departure no earlier than 5pm. Cycle Options : 100% paved/asphalt Standard : Parangata to base of Te Mata Peak : 47km, +585m Avid : Parangata to summit of Te Mata Peak : 52km, +930m

Meals:  B,L