From Tahuna Beach Holiday Park to Rotoroa Lake Basic DOC campsite, about 100 kms so I guess that's roughly 65 miles. We had a late start since we'd spread our possessions out a fair bit and they all needed to be put back into panniers.Very busy coast road, then quieter as we turned inland. A headwind slowed us down but it varied a fair bit, sometimes dropping to zero. Went through Wakefield which has a few quaint old houses and shops - took a photo of the 1909 former post office and ate most of the lunch we got from Wakefield's 4 Square. Wakefield, we later discovered, has a micro brewery and if we'd looked carefully we should likely have seen Totara Brewing Company's Drover's Draught, described in the village new 'on The Brightside' as Wakefield's Own Beer. Nice modest climb after Wakefield, and later a much bigger climb over Hope Saddle - 2085 feet at the viewpoint just above the road. Took photos of highish mountains - 7-8 thousand feet at their highest. Then on to Kaiteri (?spelling) Junction where there was a basic campsite but no water so, after a moment of horror at the little black flies that swarmed around us, we hurried on. Finally turned off the main valley to get to this simple dept of conservation campsite, which has water, lots of midges, and lake views. Fortunately they have not got inside the tent (mostly - as I typed that a midge landed on this little Nokia N900 display!) and we have got midge repellent.No showers so a semi wash in Lake Rotoroa. The evening is cloudy and cool so not tempting for a swim, sadly. Our evening meal has consisted of half a liqorice stick and a lot of peanuts washed down with water. There hasn't been a food shop on our route since Wakefield - which is, I suppose, the best part of 40 miles ago. No petrol stations either - good for ices and cool drinks
From Tahuna Beach Holiday Park to Rotoroa Lake Basic DOC campsite, about 100 kms so I guess that's roughly 65 miles. We had a late start since we'd spread our possessions out a fair bit and they all needed to be put back into panniers.Very busy coast road, then quieter as we turned inland. A headwind slowed us down but it varied a fair bit, sometimes dropping to zero. Went through Wakefield which has a few quaint old houses and shops - took a photo of the 1909 former post office and ate most of the lunch we got from Wakefield's 4 Square. Wakefield, we later discovered, has a micro brewery and if we'd looked carefully we should likely have seen Totara Brewing Company's Drover's Draught, described in the village new 'on The Brightside' as Wakefield's Own Beer. Nice modest climb after Wakefield, and later a much bigger climb over Hope Saddle - 2085 feet at the viewpoint just above the road. Took photos of highish mountains - 7-8 thousand feet at their highest. Then on to Kaiteri (?spelling) Junction where there was a basic campsite but no water so, after a moment of horror at the little black flies that swarmed around us, we hurried on. Finally turned off the main valley to get to this simple dept of conservation campsite, which has water, lots of midges, and lake views. Fortunately they have not got inside the tent (mostly - as I typed that a midge landed on this little Nokia N900 display!) and we have got midge repellent.No showers so a semi wash in Lake Rotoroa. The evening is cloudy and cool so not tempting for a swim, sadly. Our evening meal has consisted of half a liqorice stick and a lot of peanuts washed down with water. There hasn't been a food shop on our route since Wakefield - which is, I suppose, the best part of 40 miles ago. No petrol stations either - good for ices and cool drinks