An easy ride around town, except for the up-hill bit

March 2012
[by Ian Miller]

Cycle around Motueka: This ride starts and finishes in Motueka, there is café on-route and it is pleasant way to fill in a couple of hours. One side effect is that by doing the hill every now and again you will really improve your fitness.

I was going to write a short article on a really easy ride around the outskirts of Motueka and call it something like the "The Great Circumnavigation" but you really don't need a guide book to circumnavigate Motueka. Just head in any direction, but if for example you head north and ride along Parker Street, turn into Atkins and then keep turning away from town when you can until you get to Chamberlain Street.

It's actually a very pretty ride, all flat and you can do all or any part of this route that suits you. On the way there's the new subdivision off Parker Street you might want to cycle around and the Maori cemetery to have a look at along Chamberlain Street.

Once on Chamberlain Street, near the intersection of Hursthouse Street (west) there is a sign on the west side of the road that make interesting reading as it tells of the orphanage that was once near there. From the very southern end of Chamberlain Street it's left into McBrydie Road and along to and into Central Road.

At the intersection with Central Road turn either left towards Motueka or right and cycle along until you get to turn left into Chings Road. Ride along Chings and over the small bridge across the Company Ditch and presto you have a cycle track all the way back to Motueka alongside the Moutere Highway.

On the eastern side of town don't forget the track along the estuary front behind Trewavas Street or the excellent track beside the cemetery, or even the network of rambling tracks between High Street and the estuary. If you are not already familiar with these tracks just jump on your bike and have an explore sometime.

Here is the map for this circumnavigation.

Conquer School Road: But if the evening's warm and you feel like you need a leg stretch then this route, or variations of it, are an enjoyable way to round off the day or to fill in a lazy Sunday afternoon with just enough exercise to wet the appetite for a pre-dinner wine and some evening television.

Since I decided not to write about that easy ride around Motueka I thought I'd be better take the fitter of you for a great slightly harder ride. Like all rides you can add to it if you wish but here I just concentrate on the shortest route. In a later article I will take you a long way further but you need to build your fitness before getting too ambitious.

You can easily start and finish this ride in Motueka but for some of the longer rides I will suggest in future, you can take your bike by car to various places and start along the way so you don't have a long ride from Motueka to the start of the ride and then have a long ride home afterwards.

The ride proper starts at Lower Moutere and turns into School Road where it's up the steep little hill that starts just past the Lower Moutere School. It's a tough little beast, this hill, so don't be ashamed if you have to get off and walk up it. Get into a low gear just as you start pedalling hard and work steadily away. Remember that bicycle gears do not change well under load so it is best to get into the correct gear before you really start applying power to the pedals.

At the top, stop for a breather and let your pulse settle down for a minute or two before carrying on and turn right at the T-intersection a few hundred meters ahead of you. You are now on Old Coach Road, which I understand will be part of the cycle trail.

Head south just a very short distance until you come to an un-named side road on your right. You can't miss it as there is a big gum tree at the intersection, so turn right and it's into Community Road you go.

This road takes you down through the Riverside Community and there is a café there that is very good but not always open. In the off season you will miss out on coffee. There is also a very interesting gallery built into a shed a sort walk from the café. It has some impressive metal sculpture on display and I think it is worth jumping off the saddle and going in for a look.

Here is the map for the School Road extension

To get home, turn right onto the cycle track along the Moutere Highway and head back to Motueka. It's not that far and apart from School Road, it is an easy enough ride with picturesque views and interesting sights along the way.

After some more cycling time you will find that you can ride up School Road without feeling as though you are about to expire half way up, as you do get reasonably fit cycling even if you are not specifically working on getting fit. However to get the most benefit from your rides you do need to do some hills and push yourself a little every so often.

Crossing the Company Ditch over the road from Riverside Community.

Old Coach Road seems now to be named Tasman View Road. This sign is at the intersection with School Road.

MORE CYCLING TRIPS: This is the eighth of a series of articles written by Ian Miller about various suggested cycle routes in and around Motueka for recreational cyclists. Read his other articles here »