Sulphur Point / Fergusson Park / Matua Saltmarsh / Waikareao Estuary Loop ( short loop )
Approx: 18.9km
Time: 1 hr 13 minutes
About this ride: This is mainly flat ride and on road 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. Left through the wooden arch, then 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.on your right. , 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 concrete footpath,
ride left into Waihi Rd, left into Jonathon St, ride to the end and follow narrow path on right up
to Otumoetai Rd. Turn left and immediately right into Linley St. Follow to end and out to
Bellevue Rd ( very busy at peak times. Turn left moving to middle of road and turn right into
Sutherland St, ride down turning left into Maharaia Winiata Memorial Park ( just past Heronvale
St ) Ride past the barrier if it is down, veering right past the green water tanks. This takes you out
onto the Waikareao Estuary track veering left , Follow the Estuary in a clockwise direction,
over the boardwalks, riding through McCardles bush and the Daisy Hardwick section. Turning
right into Maxwell’s Rd for 180m, ( crossing at the pedestrian crossing ) 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 route description
Approx: 18.9km
Time: 1 hr 13 minutes
About this ride: This is mainly flat ride and on road 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. Left through the wooden arch, then 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.on your right. , 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 concrete footpath,
ride left into Waihi Rd, left into Jonathon St, ride to the end and follow narrow path on right up
to Otumoetai Rd. Turn left and immediately right into Linley St. Follow to end and out to
Bellevue Rd ( very busy at peak times. Turn left moving to middle of road and turn right into
Sutherland St, ride down turning left into Maharaia Winiata Memorial Park ( just past Heronvale
St ) Ride past the barrier if it is down, veering right past the green water tanks. This takes you out
onto the Waikareao Estuary track veering left , Follow the Estuary in a clockwise direction,
over the boardwalks, riding through McCardles bush and the Daisy Hardwick section. Turning
right into Maxwell’s Rd for 180m, ( crossing at the pedestrian crossing ) 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 route description