Tuakau Taniwha-Tail

Taking in the beautiful Limestone Downs - used in LOTR for the Weathertop filming... so eye out for Hobbits. 

Both routes start and finish in Tuakau. They leave towards the west, climbing up the ridge to Onewhero then dropping down Klondike Road to the mouth of the mighty Waikato at Port Waikato. 

Continuing into the Limesttone Downs, the routs take a different course to reach the café at Nikau Caves, then heading along the west coast toward Raglan Harbour. 

The 200 km loops across the top of the harbour, past the mines into Huntly then back north to the finish.

The 300km visits the north side of the harbour before taking a loop into Ngaruawahia and hunting out more Taniwha in the Mangawhara Stream and Lake Waikare before finding a circuitous route back to Tuakau.

06:45 for equipment check. All mandatory equipment must be carried including minimum required lighting. Refer to the Kiwi Randonneurs page for mandatory equipment and rules for night riding. 

The route is remote, consider carrying additional location equipment other than a mobile phone. 

Evidence of checkpoints will be photo’s of the bike taken in a place that will confirm the location. 

200 km Route

200km Checkpoints – All dates 27/01/2024

0km, Tuakau. Open 07:00 hours. Close 08:00km

64km, Nikau Caves Café. Open 08:53 hours. Close 11:16 hours

137km, Taupiri Mine tunnel. Open 11:02 hours. Close 16:08 hours

172km, Opuatia Stream bridge (on Churchill Road) Open 12:04 hours. Close 18:28 hours

203km, Tuakau. Open 12:53 hours. Close 20:30 hours.

3,022 metres of climbing 45% unpaved

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44579658

300 km Route

300km Checkpoints - All dates 27/01/2024 unless stated differently.

0km, Tuakau. Open 07:00 hours. Close 08:00km

81km, Nikau Caves Café. Open 09:23 hours. Close 12:24 hours

119km, Te Akau Wharf. Open 10:30 hours. Close 14:56 hours

179km, Ngaruawahia. Open 12:16 hours. Close 18:56 hours

235km, Te Kauwhata. Open 13:59. Close 22:40

301km, Tuakau. Open 16:00 hours. Close 03:00 hours 28/01/2024

4,202 metres of climbing! 40% unpaved

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44579564