We woke well before the alarm went off at 6, as we were surrounded by a cacophony of birds. I opened the tent flap to see a cluster of quails hopping around – soon dispersed as I came lumbering out. The ground was wet but we were dry and it was almost sunny.

Oh it had been so tempting to ask for a room at the lodge last night with it’s lovely lounge, wood burner and hot showers but as the only people in this huge campsite in the early morning it was quite magical. I had been exhausted last night but felt invigorated.

Our routine of packing up camp fell back into place, fitting in 2 cups of coffee and honey flavoured porridge mixed with last night’s crumble – delicious. We had our packs back at the lodge by 8, ready to be taken down to the end of the trail and we were on our bikes and on our way again.

The trail passed through the bush and amazing forest.  The only people to be seen were the handful of bikers who had also started the trail yesterday, leapfrogging each other as we rested at different places – although the ebikers eventually were way ahead of us.  We were in no hurry, wanting to savour the environment, especially as the sun came out.  They say there is something different about the blue of the sky and the green of the land in New Zealand and it certainly seemed that way.  Maybe it’s the lack of ozone – an odd quirk of the climate catastrophe. 

I am not a mountain biker but was really enjoying the off road cycling.  Sometimes the trail was a narrow weaving track and more often today, a wider trail following the tramway where the logs were hauled out of the forest. It must have been lucrative business to justify the engineering blasting cuttings through rock and another series of amazing bridges across deep chasms to rivers below.  The old wooden bridges are now replaced with modern suspension bridges.  Not a fan of heights I kept by eyes ahead and peddled across them with a fixed stare – allowing myself more leisurely looks when safely the other side.

There was less climbing today, and generally the route was less steep, but my legs were still tired from the previous day. At the 70km mark though we started a glorious gradual descent.  I was more confident on the mountain bike and felt I could let the bike go. The forest gradually opened out into a wider valley with the last few Kms through meadows of grass, foxgloves and yellow broom.

Back at the car, our packs had arrived and we were off to stay in Turangi an hour or so away to rest up before our next adventure.  I was totally exhausted and was in bed by 8 but a brilliant ride and fantastic introduction to the amazing outdoors offered in New Zealand.