New Zealand Photo Journal #3 Cycling Karangahake Gorge By Scott David Plumlee

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1 New Zealand Photo Journal #3 Cycling Karangahake Gorge By Scott David Plumlee

2 New Zealand Photo Journal #3, Cycling Karangahake Gorge Copyright 2015 Scott David Plumlee. All text and photography by the author. Map image from Wikimedia Commons. Table of Contents: Hauraki Rail Trail 9 Karangahake Gorge 15 Windows Walkway 28 Te Aroha Holiday Park 38 Weirere Waterfall 41 About the Author 50 Discover more adventures at: And at:

3 Previously on NZ Photo Journal: After sailing from Auckland to the Coromandel Peninsula to cycle its amazing coastline for a few days, I am now turning inland. Once I get over the Coromandel Mountain Range and down to Thames, I will join the Hauraki Rail Trail south into the famous Karangahake Gorge. I am super excited that I will soon get to visit the Hobbiton Shire in Matamata, and then down to the volcanically active region of Rotorua where there are lots of hot springs. Wow, so much to see - let s go!

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5 Back in the saddle and pedaling down the left side of the road again, I am thankful for the overcast skies as the sun can be so intense here! I m now heading westward up over the Coromandel Mountain Range and then down to Thames to join up with a railway trail.

6 The top of the mountain pass looks rather flat, but it was a long way up! It became so steep that I ran out of steam a few times and had to humbly push my bike on the side of the road.

7 This is what the mountain tops look like in New Zealand -- impenetrable green on green.

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9 After a VERY steep descent, I m back into flat farmland to ride the Hauraki Rail Trail.

10 The old train bridges have been converted to bike trails and fenced to keep the sheep off.

11 I cycled 62km today, deviously camping for free under a rail trail bridge -- feeling like a troll.

12 December 11th: Up at 6am with the sun, but didn t have enough water for breakfast -- uggh. I packed my camp gear, and rode 3km to Paeroa, where I found a gas station to get water and buy a bag of chocolate cookies. I then went to the park for an overdue breakfast of coffee and protein shake, did my yoga routine, and the world looked a lot brighter -- yeah.

13 The city of Paeroa is famous for its lemon soda that is sold throughout New Zealand, so I had to get an image of the oversized bottle statue. After studying the map, I happily realized that I could hide my yellow pannier bags here, as I would need to backtrack to Paeroa after visiting the Karangahake Gorge. Afterwards, it s only 22km down to Te Aroha where I had heard a rumor that there is a holiday park with a hot tub.

14 Cycling without the extra weight of my panniers is like added wings as I fly down the road.

15 This is a view over the mighty Ohinemuri River that carved out the Karangahake Gorge.

16 This train tunnel travels over one kilometer (3,300 feet) through the mountain; a long ride, but halfway through I looked up and saw the iridescent-green glow worms on the ceiling.

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18 Discarded railcars from the gold-mining era litter the side of the trail -- rusting in the sun.

19 This looks like a perfect place to take a lunch break and have a nice swim in the waterfall.

20 Always nice to find a trickling waterfall to wash the salt off my perpetually sweating body.

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22 This unique concrete building with its beehive structure was used to purify the gold ore.

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24 Rusting gears illustrate the scale of the gold-mining operation that once ruled this valley.

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28 At this point I locked up my bike, happily switched my bike shoes for sandals, and walked the Windows Walkway loop around an abandoned gold mine along the Ohinemuri River.

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30 Necessity being the mother of invention, they really know how to build strong bridges in NZ.

31 Stairs up into the black void of an abandoned gold mine. Once inside you find there are more stairs upwards to a speck of bright light high above you. This experience reminded me of the lotus flower metaphor: We all start our quest at the bottom of the pond buried in the mud, and as we grow upwards to the light, the currents push and pull us from side to side as we strengthen our stem and stretch upward to finally reach the surface of the pond where we bloom our lotus flower.

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33 This image helps to explain why the loop is called the Windows Walkway. As the train tracks weave in and out of the mountain, narrow ledges are exposed, with many of them having a 100-meter drop down to the river below.

34 I think this was a water pump system, but it s really hard to know as it lays here rusting.

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36 This is the end of the Windows Walkway. It s time for me to get back on the bike and roll.

37 I retrieved my hidden panniers and had a quick lunch in Paeroa. I m back on the rail trail, pedaling south to Te Aroha to find the rumored hot tub, which is extremely motivating!

38 Perfect timing to find the Te Aroha Holiday Park and pitch my tent in the setting sunlight.

39 I cycled 70km today and I have never been so grateful to soak my sore muscles in a hot tub.

40 December 12th: Up at 7am, made coffee and a protein shake, cut both of my guide books in half, did an awesome yoga session, and got rolling at 9am; only 27km to the Weirere Falls.

41 So happy to read this sign -- the expectation of water to cool my searing skin is pure ecstasy!

42 I see you my friend -- so close, yet so far -- the anticipation of swimming is intoxicating.

43 I was so blissfully happy to soak in these cold pristine waters and dry off in the hot sun.

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45 This palm tree cross-section reminds me of the Maori tattoo designs inspired by nature.

46 Now this is some serious stair building -- only in New Zealand would they encourage this.

47 What a view! I would love to get closer, but this is the end of the trail and I m exhausted.

48 It s time for an overdue lunch break of candied ginger, almonds, and cashews -- YUM.

49 Down in the valley, I found a flat space big enough for my tent next to this babbling river. I cooked a pasta dinner and I had a great night s sleep dreaming of Hobbiton tomorrow.

50 Thank you for joining me to cycle down the Karangahake Gorge; hope you liked the photos. Won t you join me for my next adventure to visit the Hobbiton Shire from Matamata? If you LOVE this photo journal ebook, please leave a review on Amazon -- Thank You. The author, Scott David Plumlee, seen with a monkey on his head below, is an avid world traveler, photographer, and writer. He has traveled to over 40 countries, taken millions of photos, and is always willing to share his jokes, stories, and philosophies. Plumlee is also the author of the five book Chain and Bead Jewelry series, and currently loving life in Guatemala. Discover more adventures at: Visit my Amazon author page at: /e/b001js5hk0 Friend me on Facebook at: View my jewelry designs at: