Waitangi Day

Waitangi day is a holiday in honour of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi between a group of Maori Chiefs and the British. But for most New Zealanders it is another excuse for a public holiday and this year the weather in Wellington was unusually sunny and hot. So we headed over to Eastbourne on the other side of the bay.

Wellington from the other side of the bay.

The plan was to ride a big loop up to the head of the Wainui valley and follow the Wainuiomata River, past the Rimutaka Forest Park to the coast at Baring Head. Baring Head is a popular spot for bouldering, so we packed our climbing shoes in our camelbacks so we could have a little play. Unfortunately we were pretty tired by the time we got there– riding along the beach through the sand was hard work, so we didn’t get much bouldering done. We will have to go back another day and do it some justice.

A dirt track continues around the coast past the light houses at Pencarrow Head and back along the coast to Eastbourne. It was a beautiful sunny day and there were a lot of people out riding this section of the track, and fishing and swimming along the coast. We enjoyed a cooling dip in the sea at the end of the ride.



Bouldering at Baring Head.