Paengaroa - Maketu - Papamoa loop
Approx: 50.5km / 32.6 miles
Time: 2 hours 7 minutes
About this ride:
Area – Paengaroa / Maketu / Paengaroa
This is a flat ride, ( one hill ) on concrete paths, sealed road cycle lanes or sealed / fine gravel off road paths. Passing through Kiwifruit orchards, Avocado Orchards and Dairy farms, ( Historic Maketu – www.maketu.nz/ click on ‘ this is Maketu ‘ then ‘ Our History ‘ ) There are several cafes at Paengaroa including a café at Comvita and the Trading Post French Bistro. Also toilets at the playground of Eastern Districts playing fields, Paengaroa Domain just south of the Gull Service station on SHW 33. Also a café and toilets on the waterfront at Maketu.
Bike Type: Suitable for road bikes.
Park and Start:
Paengaroa ( just south of Te Puke) A good parking area is outside Paengaroa Community Hall on 4 Old Coach Road. It is always easiest to ride to Maketu first, the one hill of the ride has a kinder gradient and the views out to the coast are magnificent riding in this direction.
With your back to Paengaroa Community hall, ride left into Old Coach Rd towards Paengaroa Village shops with Comvita on your left, for 2.6 km on Wilson Rd South.
Across SHW 2 with a little veer to the right onto Wilson Rd North ( sign posted Maketu ), for 4.7km Right into Arawa Ave for your one small hill. From the top of Arawa Ave you get magnificent views east along the coast and also of the whole hinterland, Papamoa Hills, and coast to the West to Mount Maunganui.
Optional side trip : 1.6km along Arawa Ave on your right is Bledisloe Park Ave, it is worth a small 210m detour or full 1.3km one way down Bledisloe Park Ave to Little Waihi. Seeing the East Coast towards Whakatane, Pukehina Beach and Estuary just below you, Whale Island, active Volcanic White Island and on a clear day down to Cape Runaway, or all the way to the bottom of this hill through the park & white barrier arm on your left to the beach, this hill has a surprisingly friendly gradient to return up. )
Continue along Arawa Ave. Stop on your veer left into Rauporoa Rd, opposite Williams Cres to admire the spectacular view. Right into Williams Cres for 300m ( do not get too much speed up down hill for your next right turning into Town Point Rd at the T intersection !)
Right into Town Point Rd ( sign posted Newdicks Beach ) for 300m to the end, from here you get a good view of Plate Island on your right, on the left, low Motiti Island and behind that Mayor Island. Also the Mount and Coromandel peninsular. Cycle back along Town Point Rd for 1.1km, down the hill, you come to Historic Maketu, Maketu Surf Club, Maketu Beachside Cafe and Holiday Park.
Take the time to read the excellent information boards throughout Maketu.
Continue past the Surf Club riding along the side of the Estuary for 400m turning right at the playground car park. Through the car park along the path and into the next car park
Left into Park Rd
Right at the roundabout ( third exit ) into Maketu Rd for 2km
Right into Kaituna Rd, another 2.7km takes you to Ford Rd on your right
Optional side trip : a side trip if you wish, turning right down Ford Rd, 1.7km one way – commonly called ‘The Cut’ where a White Heron can sometimes be seen, plentiful bird life and plenty of anglers fish and whitebaiters congregate where the Kaituna River meets the sea with a fabulous view down the coast to the Mount.)
Otherwise proceed straight ahead until you come to the TEL ( Tauranga Eastern Link Highway ) and turn right onto the trail for 2.6 km over the Kaituna bridge continue on directly ahead passed the table and chairs until you come to the turn off on your right into the wetland area, ride between the white bollards. Ride around the lake following the signs, this brings you out ( left ) onto Te Okuroa Drive, turn right at the 1st Round about into Stevenson Drive for 450m, Left at the roundabout into The Boulevard for 450 m , Right into Harding Drive for 500m. Left at the end onto a trail crossing over the water way for 110m and turning left
For the Refreshement option : after turning left from crossing the water way, ride along the path for 300m taking the third path on your right, turning right off the path into Sarah Place for 210 m. Left into Wairakei Ave for 86m, Right into Turutu Lane ( car park ) and you will see Henry and Ted’s café ( 5 Golden Sands Drive ) on your left or Rise Artisan Bakery at 4 Golden Sands Drive across the road.
Otherwise continue straight along the waterway - Te Ara O Wairakei Storm Water Reserve -for 1.9km crossing over Golden Sands Drive and Palm Springs Blvd. right into Mandalay Key turn right as you come out of the path for 80m, Left into Santa Cruz for 180m riding through a shared path just before you get to house 75 on your left.
This brings you out onto Simpson Rd for 500m, Opposite Kirkpatrick Rd take the grass reserve path on your left. Please respect this access way owned by Nga Potiki. This comes out into Hou Hou Cres for 170m Right into (Kopukairoa Blvd which flows into Ashley Place ) for 200m. Taking the dirt path between the avenue of trees on your right, flowing left carefully onto a sealed path which comes out at Parton Rd
Proceed left on Parton Rd for 130m on the cycle lane to the roundabout, Pacifica Home and Garden Centre refreshment options below in red other wise ride left at the roundabout onto Te Okuroa Drive.
Optional side trip: At the Tara Rd/ Parton Rd / Te Okuroa Drive Roundabout turn right, if you cross the road there is a wide concrete shared path, through the next round about, a total of 1km flat ride, each way, down Tara Rd to Pacifica Home and Garden Centre ( 112 Tara Rd ) on your right for refreshments. Bike parking left of the main door by some outdoor tables. A lovely café/ garden centre and gift shop. Retrace your path back to Parton Rd afterwards. Directly through the roundabout to Te Okuroa Drive.
Riding along Te Okuroa Drive on the shared concrete path / cycle Lane for 3.8km turning right at the end between the white bollards onto the Te Okuroa Wetland road / path you came in on. Continue riding the whole length of the TEL ( Tauranga Eastern Link Motorway ) path when you exit the wetlands for 6.8km. This shared path brings you out onto Te Tumu Rd, turning right for 0.7km, right into Maketu Rd on the concrete shared path for 0.3km staying on the path and turning left over the rail way line. At the roundabout cross immediately anticlockwise around the roundabout to the Maori carving. Continue following the concrete path all the way to Paengaroa exiting the path opposite the Trading Post. Turn right and continue on to the Paengaroa Hall.
Click here to download the detailed Route description
Approx: 50.5km / 32.6 miles
Time: 2 hours 7 minutes
About this ride:
Area – Paengaroa / Maketu / Paengaroa
This is a flat ride, ( one hill ) on concrete paths, sealed road cycle lanes or sealed / fine gravel off road paths. Passing through Kiwifruit orchards, Avocado Orchards and Dairy farms, ( Historic Maketu – www.maketu.nz/ click on ‘ this is Maketu ‘ then ‘ Our History ‘ ) There are several cafes at Paengaroa including a café at Comvita and the Trading Post French Bistro. Also toilets at the playground of Eastern Districts playing fields, Paengaroa Domain just south of the Gull Service station on SHW 33. Also a café and toilets on the waterfront at Maketu.
Bike Type: Suitable for road bikes.
Park and Start:
Paengaroa ( just south of Te Puke) A good parking area is outside Paengaroa Community Hall on 4 Old Coach Road. It is always easiest to ride to Maketu first, the one hill of the ride has a kinder gradient and the views out to the coast are magnificent riding in this direction.
With your back to Paengaroa Community hall, ride left into Old Coach Rd towards Paengaroa Village shops with Comvita on your left, for 2.6 km on Wilson Rd South.
Across SHW 2 with a little veer to the right onto Wilson Rd North ( sign posted Maketu ), for 4.7km Right into Arawa Ave for your one small hill. From the top of Arawa Ave you get magnificent views east along the coast and also of the whole hinterland, Papamoa Hills, and coast to the West to Mount Maunganui.
Optional side trip : 1.6km along Arawa Ave on your right is Bledisloe Park Ave, it is worth a small 210m detour or full 1.3km one way down Bledisloe Park Ave to Little Waihi. Seeing the East Coast towards Whakatane, Pukehina Beach and Estuary just below you, Whale Island, active Volcanic White Island and on a clear day down to Cape Runaway, or all the way to the bottom of this hill through the park & white barrier arm on your left to the beach, this hill has a surprisingly friendly gradient to return up. )
Continue along Arawa Ave. Stop on your veer left into Rauporoa Rd, opposite Williams Cres to admire the spectacular view. Right into Williams Cres for 300m ( do not get too much speed up down hill for your next right turning into Town Point Rd at the T intersection !)
Right into Town Point Rd ( sign posted Newdicks Beach ) for 300m to the end, from here you get a good view of Plate Island on your right, on the left, low Motiti Island and behind that Mayor Island. Also the Mount and Coromandel peninsular. Cycle back along Town Point Rd for 1.1km, down the hill, you come to Historic Maketu, Maketu Surf Club, Maketu Beachside Cafe and Holiday Park.
Take the time to read the excellent information boards throughout Maketu.
Continue past the Surf Club riding along the side of the Estuary for 400m turning right at the playground car park. Through the car park along the path and into the next car park
Left into Park Rd
Right at the roundabout ( third exit ) into Maketu Rd for 2km
Right into Kaituna Rd, another 2.7km takes you to Ford Rd on your right
Optional side trip : a side trip if you wish, turning right down Ford Rd, 1.7km one way – commonly called ‘The Cut’ where a White Heron can sometimes be seen, plentiful bird life and plenty of anglers fish and whitebaiters congregate where the Kaituna River meets the sea with a fabulous view down the coast to the Mount.)
Otherwise proceed straight ahead until you come to the TEL ( Tauranga Eastern Link Highway ) and turn right onto the trail for 2.6 km over the Kaituna bridge continue on directly ahead passed the table and chairs until you come to the turn off on your right into the wetland area, ride between the white bollards. Ride around the lake following the signs, this brings you out ( left ) onto Te Okuroa Drive, turn right at the 1st Round about into Stevenson Drive for 450m, Left at the roundabout into The Boulevard for 450 m , Right into Harding Drive for 500m. Left at the end onto a trail crossing over the water way for 110m and turning left
For the Refreshement option : after turning left from crossing the water way, ride along the path for 300m taking the third path on your right, turning right off the path into Sarah Place for 210 m. Left into Wairakei Ave for 86m, Right into Turutu Lane ( car park ) and you will see Henry and Ted’s café ( 5 Golden Sands Drive ) on your left or Rise Artisan Bakery at 4 Golden Sands Drive across the road.
Otherwise continue straight along the waterway - Te Ara O Wairakei Storm Water Reserve -for 1.9km crossing over Golden Sands Drive and Palm Springs Blvd. right into Mandalay Key turn right as you come out of the path for 80m, Left into Santa Cruz for 180m riding through a shared path just before you get to house 75 on your left.
This brings you out onto Simpson Rd for 500m, Opposite Kirkpatrick Rd take the grass reserve path on your left. Please respect this access way owned by Nga Potiki. This comes out into Hou Hou Cres for 170m Right into (Kopukairoa Blvd which flows into Ashley Place ) for 200m. Taking the dirt path between the avenue of trees on your right, flowing left carefully onto a sealed path which comes out at Parton Rd
Proceed left on Parton Rd for 130m on the cycle lane to the roundabout, Pacifica Home and Garden Centre refreshment options below in red other wise ride left at the roundabout onto Te Okuroa Drive.
Optional side trip: At the Tara Rd/ Parton Rd / Te Okuroa Drive Roundabout turn right, if you cross the road there is a wide concrete shared path, through the next round about, a total of 1km flat ride, each way, down Tara Rd to Pacifica Home and Garden Centre ( 112 Tara Rd ) on your right for refreshments. Bike parking left of the main door by some outdoor tables. A lovely café/ garden centre and gift shop. Retrace your path back to Parton Rd afterwards. Directly through the roundabout to Te Okuroa Drive.
Riding along Te Okuroa Drive on the shared concrete path / cycle Lane for 3.8km turning right at the end between the white bollards onto the Te Okuroa Wetland road / path you came in on. Continue riding the whole length of the TEL ( Tauranga Eastern Link Motorway ) path when you exit the wetlands for 6.8km. This shared path brings you out onto Te Tumu Rd, turning right for 0.7km, right into Maketu Rd on the concrete shared path for 0.3km staying on the path and turning left over the rail way line. At the roundabout cross immediately anticlockwise around the roundabout to the Maori carving. Continue following the concrete path all the way to Paengaroa exiting the path opposite the Trading Post. Turn right and continue on to the Paengaroa Hall.
Click here to download the detailed Route description