Cycling through Hawke's Bay

We’ve just completed a five day cycling tour around Hawke’s Bay. (Note to the apostrophe purists – the region is properly given with the possessive, the actual briny feature is just Hawke Bay). This is an initial posting with a general overview of the trip. Links to further posts with more details on each of the days are at the bottom of this.

Here we are, all bright and bouncy, setting off from the headquarters of Takaro Trails.
The first part was easy riding along a coastal footpath and cycleway, initially skirting round the port and seafront of Napier.

Later in the afternoon we are approaching Te Mata Peak, en route for the night's stay in Havelock North.

This is typical wine country. It must be a lucrative business as all the vineyards seem to have fairly palatial dwellings.

The next morning was another fine, sunny and warm day. We were off early cycling on back country roads

following the Tukituki river to Waipawa, one of the oldest towns in the area.

The third day I completed on my own as Noreen was a bit crook. It was on largely deserted roads, over gently rolling country

but well signposted.
The sheep were trying to blend into the background (as you can see it has been a very dry summer).
Noreen made a miraculous recovery so she could complete the last two days which involved travelling through the Gimbletts Gravels wine growing region. Here she is after a few tastings trying to prove that she is perfectly capable of cycling safely.
The last winery we visited was New Zealand's oldest - Mission, established by Marist Brothers in 1851.
Day 1 Napier to Havelock North

Day 2 Havelock North to Waipawa

Day 3 Waipawa to Hastings

Day 4 Hastings to Taradale

Day 5 Taradale to Napier