Popular rides

THE WINERIES RIDE:

A leisurely ride on a lime-sand pathway with short on-road sections. The short loop is 30km and starts at Roys

Hill Reserve near Unison Vineyard, heading towards the Gimblett Gravels region and vineyards, including Trinity Hill and Oak Estate (or an additional 11km detour to Sileni Estate Winery).

The longer route (60km): Start at Clive near the Evers Swindell Reserve and follow the path between the Clive and Ngaruroro Rivers. This trail takes riders through the gorgeous Ormond Road aka “Oak Avenue”, a 1.4km stretch of road planted with 211 oaks as well as elms, redwoods and cedar planted in 1874. It was formerly the avenue entrance to the Karamu homestead of the provincial superintendent and politician John Davies Ormond (1831 to 1917).

Nearby bike-hire companies: On Yer Bike Winery Tours

is based at Ash Ridge Winery and offers cruising bikes as well as tandems and e-bikes. It also has alternative cycle routes for the Bridge Pā and Gimblett Gravels vineyards.

2543 SH50, Roys Hill, Hastings. (06) 650 4627, onyerbikehb.co.nz

HAVELOCK NORTH TO CLIVE:

(18.5km one-way or 37km return). Start with a coffee in Havelock North before riding up Te Mata Road past Blackbarn Vineyards and Te Mata Estate, then taking the river road and joining the elevated cycle trail with the Tukituki River on one side and orchards, farmlands and vineyards on the other. The path goes past Black Bridge and the Waitangi Regional Park wetlands and ends at the map board near Evers Swindell Reserve.

Nearby bike-hire companies: Cycle Nation:

27 Te Mata Road, Havelock North. (06) 877 6254, cyclenation.co.nz

Good Fun Bike Rides:

8 Donnelly Street, Havelock North. (06) 650 7722, goodfunbikerides.co.nz