Cape to Cape day one: Palliser to Carterton

Saturday 2 January 2016

Route
Cape Palliser Lighthouse, coast track to White Rock Road, inland to Carterton via Tuturumuri, Te Muna Road, Longbush Road and Millar Road.

Link to Map

Distance: 108 Km

Cape Palliser - first light

It’s not exactly early but getting from the Hutt to Cape Palliser in time for an 8am start is as much as can be expected from any long-suffering support crew.  It’s overcast and threatening rain as the bike is assembled at the road-end, below the lighthouse.  The peculiar, rank and sweaty smell of seals pervades the air.

The track up the coast continues from the Lighthouse carpark.  The signs on the gate are relatively mild but are more fierce at the north end so in retrospect it is probably best to seek permission from the landowners (the number is in the Kennett's Classic MTB rides book).  Today I’m only following the coast as far as White Rock Road but an alternative is to seek permission from various landowners and continue up the coast before heading inland and over Admiral Hill to Gladstone – maybe another time.

It’s about 10 km of coastal track to White Rock Road.  Somewhat bumpy and a bit of pushing required through a long sandy stretch but pretty straight forward.  It’s typically South Coast: bleak with wind battered scrub and angular sand collected in the lee of ridges.  The riding surface improves and after the northern gate it’s pretty good quality gravel.  White Rock is obvious with a cluster of camping surfers starting to stir then the road turns inland to follow the river and eventually a bit of climbing.  It starts to spit and pretty much keeps it up all day but that keeps the temperature down.

Getting started

The foothills to the Aorangi Forest Park lie to the left but there’s only a couple of climbs on the road, the last of which is after Tuturumuri and climbs steepishly to the wind farm (on seal to about 350m). But with little traffic it’s pleasant riding.  There’s no need to visit Martinborough so I take a right into Te Muna Rd (after Ruakokoputuna Rd on the left).  There’s some interesting vineyards along the road, which is a mix of gravel and seal, and pops you out on Hinakura Road a few kms before the left into Longbush Road (the famous Bell Tea corner - well, famous for old people that remember the TV ad).

The unaccustomed exercise calls for a bit of a rest on a soggy roadside before heading up to Millars Road (goes near Aotearoa Henge – well worth a visit) and a zigzag across the flats to Carterton and the comfort of number one brother’s house with a steep driveway designed to finish off weary cyclists.

After 108 or so km it’s a little after 3 and the bike is requiring a bit of TLC.  The body is also muttering about the unaccustomed treatment but a good meal and comfortable bed compensates.


Link to day two: Carterton to Palmerston North