WAIHEKE WONDERLAND
Picturesque views, refreshing waters, gravel roads. Waiheke has a lot to offer riders who are after a short escape from Auckland. Only a 30-40 minute ferry ride away from Auckland city centre, this lollipop loop encompasses most of the island, starting in Matiatia before heading to Oneroa, Onetangi and all the way to Man o’War Bay along undulating sealed and gravel roads with stunning sea views out over the Coromandel & Auckland. Be sure to go early as it doesn’t take long for the roads to get busy.
The alarm goes off, it’s 5:30am but it’s never hard to get out of bed when an epic day is planned. A quick breakfast and coffee and I’m on the road by 5:50am, and meeting my sister at 6:00am for the 20min ride from our meeting point to the ferry terminal. It’s still dark but the clear skies promise a beautiful day to come.
We’re at the ferry terminal by 6:30, plenty of time for another coffee before we depart for Waiheke at 6:45am. Perfectly timed for a spectacular sunrise over the harbour and surrounding islands. The ferry ride is bliss, the first light of the day illuminates the glassy waters along with Rangitoto and Auckland’s East Coast as New Zealand’s biggest city wakes up and prepares for the day. I love this moment in the morning, where it feels like time is your own and anything is possible. After a 40min ferry ride, Waiheke harbour greets us with boats docked, hills looming and the morning sun glancing off the jetty.
7:30am we are on our bikes again and off to continue our adventure. Through Oneroa, barely awoken, and down to the south side of the island for a brief taste of gravel along Huruhi Bay. After crisscrossing back to the north side of the island and riding our first big climb of the day, we are suddenly greeted by beautiful views of Onetangi and the Coromandel Peninsula in the distance. We contemplate an early morning swim but the thought of the kms to come keep us moving. From Onetangi the roads feel more remote and houses are fewer and far between but the hills remain constant. It’s not long before we hit the gravel and potholes that will guide us through the next 30km of the ride. Roadworks await but the traffic controller ushers us through and we weave our way across the road, trying to find the smoothest line. After a few steep hills, a few high speed trucks blowing dust into our eyes, and a few stops to admire the view we make it to Man o’War Bay. The chat has reduced to minimum now and with just over halfway to go, it is a quick stop to admire the view, find a toilet and reapply sunscreen before heading off.
It’s a steep ascent out of the bay followed by a very undulating 15km. By this stage the work day is well and truly underway and we are passed by more than one trade vehicle kicking up clouds of dust onto our faces and bikes… the woes of gravel riding. At an attempt to regain some of our earlier motivation, we make a pitstop to admire another beautiful view out over the Coromandel Peninsula. The break sure does the trick and the smiles are back for the remaining 15km to Onetangi. It’s lunch and a coke at the fish and chip shop before heading up the switchback of Seventh Avenue which only a few hours ago we had descended with glee. With a planned swim stop at Oneroa it’s head down for the next 10km and before we know it we are in our togs and running into the refreshing waters of Oneroa Bay. Just what we needed to top off an epic ride on the Island.
The ferry ride back to the city is contemplative. Two tired yet fulfilled sisters, in one part mentally preparing for the 10km ride back home from the ferry terminal and on the other feeling the accomplishment our adventure. The legs are definitely protesting when we wheel our bikes off the ferry and start the ride home but the thought of a hot shower and a relaxing evening keep us pedaling, one leg at a time. When the time comes to part ways, we say our farewells, and promise to meet up again soon for another gravel adventure. All in all a day well spent.