Ride of the month - Waimahanga

Active Lifestyles – Janine Moy from Sport Northland, www.10000stepsnorthland.co.nz

This week marks the start of Bike Wise month – a nation wide campaign to promote cycling. During the month we are encouraging people to trade the vehicle option for the bike and participate in the activities happening around Northland during Bike Wise Month, or just simply get on your bike! For information on activities happening around Northland visit www.10000stepsnorthland.co.nz or ph 0800 ACTIVE (22 84 83).

This week we bring you a ‘ride of the month’ instead of a ‘walk of the month’ to celebrate Bike Wise month.  If you have a favourite ride in your community contact us by email at 10000steps@sportnorth.co.nz. 

Bike Wise Ride of the Month – Waimahanga Track & Beach Rd (Whangarei)

The Waimahanga Walkway, managed by the Whangarei District Council, also doubles as an off-road ride that is suitable for all level cyclists. The track is relatively wide and flat following the old Kioreroa-Onerahi railway embankment which winds through an off-shore section of mangroves. Please be aware that this is a multi-use track and you will need to watch out for walkers and runners using the track also.

To get to the start of the track, take Riverside Drive towards Onerahi. Before heading up the hill to the Onerahi township, turn onto Old Onerahi Road and then a right on to Waimahanga Road following it to the Waimahanga Walkway carpark (the cycle from the Whangarei Aquatic Centre to the turn off is approximately 4km, there is also a cycle lane cyclists can use along this section of road).

The length of the track from start to end (it is only one way) is approximately 2.55km. Along the way you will cross two bridges and get views of the Whangarei Harbour. At the end of the track you can either go back the way you came or choose to continue on and cycle the road back to the start of the track.


Pictured above - Cyclists riding along Beach Road at the 2009
Whangarei Mayoral Challenge

Two options you can take are to cycle along Beach Road, which is a nice winding scenic ride along the foreshore. Ride to the end of Cockburn St, turn right onto Raurimu Avenue and then onto Beach Road. If you follow this to Hill Street you will add another 3.6km to your ride (one way).

When you get to Hill St, there are a couple options to ride back to the Waimahanga carpark – Head up Hill St (steep, however short) and take a right on Church St following this back through the Onerahi township turning back onto Old Onerahi Road and then back to the carpark (total round trip 10.2km), or head up Hill Street and go left on Church Street riding around the airport back to Cockburn Street and then back along the Waimahanga track (total round trip 12.2km).

Active Lifestyles – Janine Moy from Sport Northland, www.10000stepsnorthland.co.nz

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