Bike Ride on the North Island

I just returned from a 2 week bike ride of the North Island, starting near Auckland and circling back to Auckland over a 547 mile course.  See details of the ride at this LINK. We had a tough ride some days, but saw stunning scenery. The weather was warm/hot, and food and accommodations were terrific. 

A typical day started with breakfast at the hotel or resort. We  were on  the road by 9. The sag wagon leapfrogged ahead with water and snacks. The driver set up a picnic lunch for us on the road, that included treats such as smoked salmon, avocados, marinated mussels, fresh bread, cheese, hummus,  and fruit. We then rode on to the next hotel and dinner, finishing the ride in the late afternoon. 

Every day had substantial steep uphills in this hilly country.  Here is an example of an altitude profile. It was only 30 miles, but this part of the ride was almost entirely uphill.  











The views from the road included volcanic hills, fields of indigenous plants, waterfalls, streams, and exotic signage.