Kaiteriteri Beach

On any extended tour there are always highlights (and lowlights, but we traditionally ignore those):

• The quality of the trail construction undertaken by the Nelson City Council, Tasman District Council and Heart of Biking, the public face of the Nelson Tasman Cycle Trails Trust
  • With the exception of the temporary trail through the Motueka River Valley, the majority of the riding on the Great Taste Tasman Trail is off-road, on dedicated cycle trails
    

    Where do I start?

  • Lots of lessons here for those involved in developing cycle trails in other areas
• Paul’s Seafood Platter (“Seafood Canoe”?) at Petite Fleur

• Breakfast at The Naked Bun in Mapua, while Paul checked out the local parks and gardens
• The break at The Jester House in Tasman for morning tea
• The rarely seen sight of an almost empty Kaiteriteri Beach on a perfectly still, warm night
  • Perhaps spoilt only by Steve’s “photobomb” antics
    

    Photobomb!

• Breakfast at Mrs Smth’s Café in Riwaka before the long ride to Wakefield
  • A good breakfast was essential given the lack of services on the road to Wakefield
• Dale’s running commentary of the historic rugby test between New Zealand and Ireland, played in Chicago
  • Also memorable as the first time NZ has lost to Ireland in 111 years – not exactly a highlight, but definitely memorable
• Achievement of our highest climb (326 metres) en-route to Wakefield
  • Completing it in heavy rain was “an added bonus”
• The wonderful hospitality from Maxine, Jennifer and Dot at the Wakefield Hotel
  • An ideal stopping off point on the first or last night of a full circuit of the Great Taste Trail.

Unusual sight: an empty Kaiteriteri Beach