Asked last night what the highlight of over six years in Hawke’s Bay was, I struggled at first to answer. Far too big a question; then I struggled to stop listing just some of the things that have made my time in this region so wonderful. Naturally, I’ll try to write it instead, although I fear a long list and huge photo-dump…
Moving to Napier for work and an area completely new to me, I was fortunate to have stable employment at a large local employer in a role that developed and challenged me for five or so years, working with many who soon became firm friends. The mountain-bike park next door in company forest was a bonus and there was never a shortage of people to go for an after-work ride with, or riding adventures further afield.
Ah, the Pulpmill.
The forty-odd minute bike-commute to work was also easily achievable (except in the strongest of winds!) and as one former-colleague pointed out, the coastal section was one that people would come from afar to ride – often spectacular. The highway section was to be tolerated and survived – which I am only too pleased to have done, I only remember two very scary moments. Not bad in 25,000 km of riding – which certainly helped me keep a good base fitness and my vehicle expenses low.
Winter rides to work were often compensated for with the sunrise.
Having such a job enabled me to quickly buy a small house close to the city centre – very fortunate timing as prices were just beginning their ridiculous rise. A great little house, it quickly became home and I particularly appreciated being within easy walking distance of many attractions. Exploring the surrounding area by foot and bike was a favourite activity, always something new and interesting to find. Having my own home to welcome friends, family, cycle-touring and Airbnb guests was fantastic, as was having my own space to come home to. Various maintenance and improvement tasks were novel for quite a while, but the having time to explore the region became the priority in later years. The city’s annual Art Deco festival was always fun and a good reason to have visitors – a days-long dress-up party with plenty of old cars, buildings and so on to help celebrate.
I’ll miss this little home (still too big for me), but particularly that couch.
My favourite way to walk to town – to the end of the street, and down one of the many staircases/ramps to be discovered on the Hill.
Still amusing that work had this, but while it was available – I was happy to take it out for a run on a fitting occasion.
Eventually convinced that I should give running a go to use some different non-cycling muscles, the local parkrun proved a suitable gateway. That was the bulk of my running and part of a favourite Saturday morning routine of biking to, running, biking home via the Saturday morning Farmers’ Market, and then struggling up the hill with a loaded bike. I surprised myself in actually being able to run five kilometres, and was bewildered as I gradually got somewhat fast. A social and supportive environment for a wide variety, it was fun to catch-up with friends there. Completing the Hawke’s Bay Marathon was about as serious as my running ever got (all that training time could have been far better spent biking!), once was enough; too late, I made time to do a little trail running – far more fun!
Anderson parkrun is a flat, easy course!
Which brings me to the biking. Clearly I’ve loved the riding opportunities all over Hawke’s Bay. Dozens of rides up Te Mata Peak and still the view grabs me, always changing – sometimes subtly, sometimes more. The large network of flat cycle trails around and between the urban areas were my first gateway to exploring the area and are such an asset to the area. But it wasn’t long before I was looking beyond the Heretaunga Plains to the hills that were so enticing. The more I explored, I found there was the possibility riding from the south to north of the province with few busy roads to be negotiated. Initially it was just a challenge just for me, but I quickly realised there was a chance a couple of others might like to come along for the ride.
Looking back to Napier from the Peak.
Mt Erin from the Peak.
Somehow I ended up on Triple Peaks promotional shoot. I did eventually get to race the iconic local event.
So the Hawke’s Bay Anniversary Tour and Hawke’s Bay Bikepacking were soon fledgling, they always stayed rather low-key. That led to a lot of time and fun traipsing all over the region with my bike trying to find the best bits to share with others. It didn’t always work out, there are plenty of great bits that are difficult to connect – but I sure enjoyed working on it. But amongst the two HBATs and shorter, more casual overnighters I hope I’ve been able to show off some great bits off the beaten track – and hills, plenty of hills. On top of the HBBP page as a resource, I was pleased to get three routes in and help with the excellent Bikepacking Aotearoa guidebook – which far more people will ever use for a bikepacking resource than this rambling site.
Some favourites:
Waipunga Road was my most ridden gravel road – close to work and with an ever-changing gravel surface, a forty kilometre ride would provide over a thousand metres of climbing, views all over the place (especially with a lot of pine-felling in the last year or two), a chance to visit friends, little traffic and the opportunity to go further afield.
The very hilly ride out to the Mangatutu Hot Springs soon became an annual overnighter, the hot soak at the end ample compensation for the effort – the last ten kilometres being especially tiring.
Camping at Waipatiki Beach was always a good option to get away close to home for a casual overnighter – only two or three hours riding after work. Lovely beach too.
HBAT19, the first one, I was thrilled with – people seemed to have a great time, make new friends and enjoy the route. (I got a bit ambitious with HBAT20 in trying to please others and bringing it back to finish in Napier – no one finished! Still, people got out and saw new places on bikes with others; not a complete waste of time.)
The HBOP loop was excellent, if a big weekend – hills of northern Hawke’s Bay, past Waikaremoana, the immense Whirinaki Forest and then more hills back to Tutira. Would have loved to do that again, just somehow cutting out the Napier-Taupo highway section.
Mahia Peninsula is very special, some great riding and sights; unfortunately I didn’t make it up there more than four or five times.
The beaches of Central Hawke’s Bay, and getting there, were a nice point of difference on HBAT and the scouting out there was fun.
Out the back of Tutira, dropping down to the Mohaka, crossing the Te Hoe and then pushing up through farmland before grovelling up the hill out of Willowflat was a treat, albeit tough, of a day ride.
Just last weekend up north of Wairoa was fantastic too – still finding more places I need to ride.
My favourite of all Hawke’s Bay views as they extend all around the bay and one is so high while so close to the ocean, and the ride is pretty good too – Ridgemount and Tiwhanui.
Through all above, so many wonderful friends. But not just for the highlights – the lowlights too, which don’t tend to make it here. Not really having visited before moving here, I knew two people in the area. Some workmates were soon added to the lists of riding buddies and close friends (some both); gradually my small social circles expanded with parkrun, Italian club/lessons, occasional quizzes and other things to friends that I’m going to miss a whole lot.
But that just gives more reason to return soon, amongst whatever else life brings. Still plenty of places to see more of – particularly the Kaweka and Whirinaki Forest Parks (with more time, I should be able to fit more running on top of excessive amounts of biking!).
Thanks Hawke’s Bay, it’s been a great six years; alas, it’s time to move on and spend more time with family further south. Further adventures await.