Sulphur Point / Fergusson Park / Whakapaewaka Bridge / Waikareao
Estuary Loop
Approx: 27.43km
Time: 1 hr 42 minutes
About this ride: This is a mainly flat ride some quiet roads and off road paths
Area: Tauranga
Bike Type: A wider tyre is the sensible option.
Park and start: Sulphur Point, Cross Rd by the boat ramp and Nautilus Restaurant and Bar.
The directions are from Cross Rd, where there is plenty of parking and toilets.
Directions:
Ride towards the Nautilus Restaurant taking the bridge over the water way to the on the right by
the boat launching area. From this vantage point you get a fabulous view down the harbour to
the Mount. Carefully under the rail bridge, turning right at the road bridge onto the footpath, this
is Chapel St, for 300m. Right onto Maxwell’s Road ( also on your left and where you will
come out of on your return ), for 240m, this flows left into Harbour drive for appox 1.6km on
the waterside shared path to Kulim park and on to Beach Rd to the end of Fergusson Park for
approx. 2.3km.
Exit Fergusson Park entry gates turning right into Tainui St, right into Matua Rd which flows
into Manuwai Drive to the end and left through Kings Ave Reserve which comes out onto
Kings Ave, directly right into Levers Rd, right into Sunny Bay Rd to the end where it meets
the Start of the Matua Saltmarsh path. ( steep concrete path down then onto boardwalk ) Follow
the paths veering right at intersecting pathways until you get to the wooden arch way on your
left, ride through this, then veer right. At the end of the path under the railway and up onto
Ngatai Rd, turning right for 500m . Right into Margaret Rd for 250m, Right into Princess Rd
for 450m, Right into Westwood St for 120m turning right just past mail box 31., This side path
takes you out onto the wetlands. Sign posted Bethlehem. Turn left at the bottom of the path,
following the Bethlehem signs. With the lake on your left take a left under the hill ( not the
Bethlehem route which goes right. Follow the path along under the hill taking a middle path (
also goes left and right ) This takes you out onto the Gordon Carmichael Reserve car park. Lake,
toilets and playground on your left. Veer left between the large popular trees then right. and
follow sign to Waihi Rd .Cross over Carmichael Rd continuing on the wetland path, this comes
out onto an access way with Kelvin Way on your left. Follow this access way to the end and up a
small footpath, Turn right onto the foot path with the traffic coming towards you. Cross over one
road and bridge, and turn right down Follow the footpath to roundabout ( Waihi Rd –
Beaumairs Blvd ) follow the direction of Beaumairs Blvd, turn right over the expressway access
road and ride down to Bethlehem Wetlands Reserve. Ride anticlockwise and take a left turn at
the single white railing, right before you get to the double railing.
( this is a rough tractor track and also gravel ) riding left when you reach the lake which takes
you out onto Castlewold Drive, Ride left and then immediately right into Wakefield Drive, up a
steady hill to Cambridge Rd. turn left and then immediately right into Cambridge Park and
BMX track. Go down the hill over 5 speed humps past toilets on your right ( BMX track
access path on your left ) follow the signs for Kopurererua Valley.this path is parallel to the toll
road ( Route K) Ride over Whakapaewaka Bridge ( Eel and river current patterns on this bridge) turning left at the T intersection onto the sealed E Highway path
Optional extension to this trail at this point
Turning right here for 2.9km will take you up to the Lakes round about
Refer to Sulphur Point to Lakes and return route maps and instructions.
Follow the path to the end with the river on your right, until you come to the steps ( and bike
gutter ) which will take you up onto Mccord Ave, turn left here for 85m. Right into Birch Ave
for 220 turning right at the lights into Waihi Rd for 77m, then immediately up onto the footpath
on your left then left again before you reach the bridge. Do not cross the bridge. You are now on
the Waikareao Estuary track. , Follow the Estuary in a clockwise direction ( keep veering right )
, over the boardwalks, riding through McCardles bush and the Daisy Hardwick section. Turning
right into Maxwell’s Rd at the end of the path for 180m, ( crossing at the pedestrian crossing on
your left, this is Chapel St ) right into Chapel St and over the bridge for 300m turning
immediately left onto the path you came in on. Arriving at the Nautilus and Sulphur Point
carpark.
Option Extension:
Refer to Optional extension notes: Sulphur Point to the Marina and The Strand.
Click here to download the detailed Route description
Estuary Loop
Approx: 27.43km
Time: 1 hr 42 minutes
About this ride: This is a mainly flat ride some quiet roads and off road paths
Area: Tauranga
Bike Type: A wider tyre is the sensible option.
Park and start: Sulphur Point, Cross Rd by the boat ramp and Nautilus Restaurant and Bar.
The directions are from Cross Rd, where there is plenty of parking and toilets.
Directions:
Ride towards the Nautilus Restaurant taking the bridge over the water way to the on the right by
the boat launching area. From this vantage point you get a fabulous view down the harbour to
the Mount. Carefully under the rail bridge, turning right at the road bridge onto the footpath, this
is Chapel St, for 300m. Right onto Maxwell’s Road ( also on your left and where you will
come out of on your return ), for 240m, this flows left into Harbour drive for appox 1.6km on
the waterside shared path to Kulim park and on to Beach Rd to the end of Fergusson Park for
approx. 2.3km.
Exit Fergusson Park entry gates turning right into Tainui St, right into Matua Rd which flows
into Manuwai Drive to the end and left through Kings Ave Reserve which comes out onto
Kings Ave, directly right into Levers Rd, right into Sunny Bay Rd to the end where it meets
the Start of the Matua Saltmarsh path. ( steep concrete path down then onto boardwalk ) Follow
the paths veering right at intersecting pathways until you get to the wooden arch way on your
left, ride through this, then veer right. At the end of the path under the railway and up onto
Ngatai Rd, turning right for 500m . Right into Margaret Rd for 250m, Right into Princess Rd
for 450m, Right into Westwood St for 120m turning right just past mail box 31., This side path
takes you out onto the wetlands. Sign posted Bethlehem. Turn left at the bottom of the path,
following the Bethlehem signs. With the lake on your left take a left under the hill ( not the
Bethlehem route which goes right. Follow the path along under the hill taking a middle path (
also goes left and right ) This takes you out onto the Gordon Carmichael Reserve car park. Lake,
toilets and playground on your left. Veer left between the large popular trees then right. and
follow sign to Waihi Rd .Cross over Carmichael Rd continuing on the wetland path, this comes
out onto an access way with Kelvin Way on your left. Follow this access way to the end and up a
small footpath, Turn right onto the foot path with the traffic coming towards you. Cross over one
road and bridge, and turn right down Follow the footpath to roundabout ( Waihi Rd –
Beaumairs Blvd ) follow the direction of Beaumairs Blvd, turn right over the expressway access
road and ride down to Bethlehem Wetlands Reserve. Ride anticlockwise and take a left turn at
the single white railing, right before you get to the double railing.
( this is a rough tractor track and also gravel ) riding left when you reach the lake which takes
you out onto Castlewold Drive, Ride left and then immediately right into Wakefield Drive, up a
steady hill to Cambridge Rd. turn left and then immediately right into Cambridge Park and
BMX track. Go down the hill over 5 speed humps past toilets on your right ( BMX track
access path on your left ) follow the signs for Kopurererua Valley.this path is parallel to the toll
road ( Route K) Ride over Whakapaewaka Bridge ( Eel and river current patterns on this bridge) turning left at the T intersection onto the sealed E Highway path
Optional extension to this trail at this point
Turning right here for 2.9km will take you up to the Lakes round about
Refer to Sulphur Point to Lakes and return route maps and instructions.
Follow the path to the end with the river on your right, until you come to the steps ( and bike
gutter ) which will take you up onto Mccord Ave, turn left here for 85m. Right into Birch Ave
for 220 turning right at the lights into Waihi Rd for 77m, then immediately up onto the footpath
on your left then left again before you reach the bridge. Do not cross the bridge. You are now on
the Waikareao Estuary track. , Follow the Estuary in a clockwise direction ( keep veering right )
, over the boardwalks, riding through McCardles bush and the Daisy Hardwick section. Turning
right into Maxwell’s Rd at the end of the path for 180m, ( crossing at the pedestrian crossing on
your left, this is Chapel St ) right into Chapel St and over the bridge for 300m turning
immediately left onto the path you came in on. Arriving at the Nautilus and Sulphur Point
carpark.
Option Extension:
Refer to Optional extension notes: Sulphur Point to the Marina and The Strand.
Click here to download the detailed Route description
