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  • Published: 2 October 2017
  • ISBN: 9780143771319
  • Imprint: Random House NZ
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 304
  • RRP: $50.00
Categories:

The New Zealand Cycle Trails Nga Haerenga

A Guide to New Zealand's Great Rides



How to enjoy New Zealand's cycle trail network, by a writer who knows them like the back of his hand.

How to enjoy New Zealand's cycle trail network, by a writer who knows them like the back of his hand.

Nga Haerenga - the New Zealand Cycle Trails - began as a vision to inspire people to experience New Zealand's great outdoors by bike.

This book is stuffed full of useful information on the different trails - how to get there, what you will see, level of difficulty, things to take, places to eat and places to stay. There is fascinating background information on each area - its history and the local flora and fauna - as well as on the ride itself. This new edition covers several new sections of the trails, and provides updates on any on-going construction work.

There is also a highly practical section full of advice on choosing the right bike, gear to take, cell phone coverage in the different areas, weather and the best times of year for each trail, environmental care and useful websites.

Written by New Zealand's top cycling writer, the book is aimed at family groups and first-time cyclists as well as more experienced groups. It's accompanied by colour photos, elevation profiles and maps of each trail.

This new fully revised edition also provides an introduction to Tour Aotearoa which goes from Cape Reinga to Bluff. It's a 3000-km length of New Zealand ride, taking in many of the Great Rides, and connecting them together with the safest and most enjoyable roads and tracks available. The route is fully open to the public. It can be done in one highly adventurous hit, or divided up into shorter lengths and completed over a period of time.

Don't put your bike on the bike rack without this book!

  • Published: 2 October 2017
  • ISBN: 9780143771319
  • Imprint: Random House NZ
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 304
  • RRP: $50.00
Categories:

About the author

Jonathan Kennett

Jonathan Kennett, author of New Zealand Cycle Trails Nga Haerenga, was born in Christchurch but was raised in Invercargill, Dunedin and Wellington. He graduated from Victoria University of Wellington with a science degree.

After graduating, he spent six months cycling in the Himalayan foothills and in Europe. He was part of the first team to mountain-bike to Everest Base Camp without having the bikes carried by sherpas.

In the late 1990s Jonathan and his brothers, Paul and Simon, began working for councils around the Wellington region designing cycling tracks, and managing the development of the award winning Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park.

Throughout this time Jonathan developed a strong interest in cycle touring, and later road cycling.

From 2010 to 2016 he worked as a project manager for the New Zealand Cycle Trail overseeing the construction of trails around the country. He now works for the New Zealand Transport Agency developing a nationwide network of safe bike-packing routes and providing expert advice to the cycle trails.

In 2016 he organised the inaugural Tour Aotearoa ride, which saw over 200 people ride 3000 km from Cape Reinga to Bluff. In 2018, around 1000 people are expected to ride Tour Aotearoa, leading it to become one of the world's great cycling journeys
See more at www.kennett.co.nz.

Praise for The New Zealand Cycle Trails Nga Haerenga

If you have a mountain bike locked up in the garage and need motivation to actually use it, then Kennett's guide to New Zealand's burgeoning bike trails would be the perfect tonic.... Salivating like a kid in a lolly shop over Kennett's informative, thorough and often entertaining descriptions of each trail, I kept thinking I MUST DO THAT ONE! Kennett uses the same format for each trail: a stunning cover photo; a brief rundown to reveal a glimpse of the low-hanging fruit; a summary of the things you need to know, such as distance, difficulty and cellphone coverage; a more detailed description of each stage; then a fascinating backgrounder of the area called Trail Tales; finishing with Food and Accommodation, and Shortcuts and Detours. Add to that mouthwatering photos and excellent 3D-style maps, and you'll soon be wondering if you can remember the number of the combination lock on your bike.

Peter Shand, NZME Regional Press