Sulphur Point Lakes return
Approx: 29.81km
Time: 1 hour 57 minutes
About this ride:
Area: Tauranga
This is a flat ride, mainly off road on concrete, gravel paths and board walks taking you around
the Waikareao Estuary with wild life and harbour views and on up to the Lakes area. A great
coffee stop. There are two small hills at the Lakes to the viewing area.
Bike Type: A wider tyre is the sensible option.
Park and start: The directions are from Cross Rd, by the boat ramp and Nautilus Restaurant.
where there is plenty of parking and toilets.
Directions:
Ride towards the Nautilus Restaurant and boat ramp, taking the bridge over the water way to the
Boat Dry Stack on the right. 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. Cross the road to Maxwell’s Road on your left ( also on your right
), there is a pedestrian crossing further on if the road is busy. Ride for 180m along Maxwells Rd
turning left onto the track around the edge of the Estuary. Keep veering left nearest the water.
When you reach the Kopurererua Stream bridge bordering busy Waihi Rd ride right on the
footpath into Oak Lane. With your back to Oak lane you need to cross over Waihi Rd at the
traffic lights into Birch Ave. Ride for 500 m up Birch Ave, turning left at the LIMS sign (
opposite Faulkner Reserve ) down a small alley way, turning right at the end onto a sealed path.
Follow this path right up to the Lakes area. Up and over the black shared walk/ ride bridge
turning right on the other side, then veering left coming out at Ngakumama Reserve (
playground) and turning right into Landing Rd for 160m, Left into Lakeview Quay for 67m.
Right onto a path opposite Fender Close, riding anticlockwise around the lake, left over the large
bridge. Coming out onto Double Bay Rd and Koikoi Reserve, following the footpath and
crossing the road before you get to North Bay Rd, continuing on an off road path veering right
onto bottom pathway and riding clockwise around the next lake coming out at the playground,
toilets and shopping centre on Caslani Lane. Maude café is here !
Ride down Caslani Lane with the Four Square on your right, Right into Lakes Blvd for 85m
turning left at the bus stop onto the path ( mind the bollards ) riding steadily up hill, veering left
when intersecting with the main path. Continue past steep steps, at next intersection veer left
down hill straight through cross pathway intersection ( Pyes Pa pathway ) and after veering right
ride up steep hill to Rexford Heights roundabout, turning briefly left and left again onto the
path to the Lookout. (close to the Lookout you can also take a right turn onto the grass for a
better amazing view. There are two hills to get to this point and well worth the ride or walk.
Return the way you have come turning right at the path junction to Pyes Pa ( going right ) riding
down the hill. This comes out onto Bathurst Cres ( turn right ) for 120m, right into Lakes Blvd
for 69m , left into Double Bay Rd ( this is where you came in ) at North Bay road cross over to
the footpath on right and head towards wooden bridge. This time instead of riding over the large
bridge turn right going around the lake anticlockwise, left into Lakeview Quay, right into
Landing Drive, left into Ngakumama Reserve and playground following the path you came in
on ( there are signs on the path and arrows to point out the route to the shared black bridge.) .
Carry on the way you have come in over the black bridge.
Ride all the way down the sealed path you came up the valley on to the very end. Up the stairs (
and bike gutter ) onto Mccord Ave, turn left on this road for 80m. Right into Birch Ave for
210m, crossing at the lights again into Oak Lane, right back to the Kopurererua Stream bridge
which you will cross turning left on the other side to continue riding around the Estuary in an
anticlockwise direction. You are on an off road path with Takitimu Drive on your right.
Turn left onto Chapel St for 250 metres at the lights, crossing the road at the traffic lights to Bay
Central Shopping Centre ( there are plenty of refreshment options at this shopping centre or the
Nautilus Restaurant where you have parked.) Ride for another 190 metres turning right onto the
path you came in on before you crossed the Chapel St bridge, riding back to the car park.
Place of interest
Fort Nautilus Dry Stack boat storage, Nautilus Buffett Restaurant & Bar. There is a bike
parking area and outdoor space and tables for you to enjoy refreshments here and or walk back to
the gate left of the bridge ( or through the restaurant ) to the most interesting Fort Nautilus Dry
Stack, a three boat high storage area. ( the only other one of these in New Zealand is in
Auckland ) All the more interesting if they are taking a boat in or out by a fork lift arrangement
into the waterway while you are there ! www.fortnautilus.co.nz
If you wish to continue riding Sulphur Point / Strand Loop or Sulphur Point to the Mount are
perfect extensions.
Click here to download the detailed Route description
Approx: 29.81km
Time: 1 hour 57 minutes
About this ride:
Area: Tauranga
This is a flat ride, mainly off road on concrete, gravel paths and board walks taking you around
the Waikareao Estuary with wild life and harbour views and on up to the Lakes area. A great
coffee stop. There are two small hills at the Lakes to the viewing area.
Bike Type: A wider tyre is the sensible option.
Park and start: The directions are from Cross Rd, by the boat ramp and Nautilus Restaurant.
where there is plenty of parking and toilets.
Directions:
Ride towards the Nautilus Restaurant and boat ramp, taking the bridge over the water way to the
Boat Dry Stack on the right. 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. Cross the road to Maxwell’s Road on your left ( also on your right
), there is a pedestrian crossing further on if the road is busy. Ride for 180m along Maxwells Rd
turning left onto the track around the edge of the Estuary. Keep veering left nearest the water.
When you reach the Kopurererua Stream bridge bordering busy Waihi Rd ride right on the
footpath into Oak Lane. With your back to Oak lane you need to cross over Waihi Rd at the
traffic lights into Birch Ave. Ride for 500 m up Birch Ave, turning left at the LIMS sign (
opposite Faulkner Reserve ) down a small alley way, turning right at the end onto a sealed path.
Follow this path right up to the Lakes area. Up and over the black shared walk/ ride bridge
turning right on the other side, then veering left coming out at Ngakumama Reserve (
playground) and turning right into Landing Rd for 160m, Left into Lakeview Quay for 67m.
Right onto a path opposite Fender Close, riding anticlockwise around the lake, left over the large
bridge. Coming out onto Double Bay Rd and Koikoi Reserve, following the footpath and
crossing the road before you get to North Bay Rd, continuing on an off road path veering right
onto bottom pathway and riding clockwise around the next lake coming out at the playground,
toilets and shopping centre on Caslani Lane. Maude café is here !
Ride down Caslani Lane with the Four Square on your right, Right into Lakes Blvd for 85m
turning left at the bus stop onto the path ( mind the bollards ) riding steadily up hill, veering left
when intersecting with the main path. Continue past steep steps, at next intersection veer left
down hill straight through cross pathway intersection ( Pyes Pa pathway ) and after veering right
ride up steep hill to Rexford Heights roundabout, turning briefly left and left again onto the
path to the Lookout. (close to the Lookout you can also take a right turn onto the grass for a
better amazing view. There are two hills to get to this point and well worth the ride or walk.
Return the way you have come turning right at the path junction to Pyes Pa ( going right ) riding
down the hill. This comes out onto Bathurst Cres ( turn right ) for 120m, right into Lakes Blvd
for 69m , left into Double Bay Rd ( this is where you came in ) at North Bay road cross over to
the footpath on right and head towards wooden bridge. This time instead of riding over the large
bridge turn right going around the lake anticlockwise, left into Lakeview Quay, right into
Landing Drive, left into Ngakumama Reserve and playground following the path you came in
on ( there are signs on the path and arrows to point out the route to the shared black bridge.) .
Carry on the way you have come in over the black bridge.
Ride all the way down the sealed path you came up the valley on to the very end. Up the stairs (
and bike gutter ) onto Mccord Ave, turn left on this road for 80m. Right into Birch Ave for
210m, crossing at the lights again into Oak Lane, right back to the Kopurererua Stream bridge
which you will cross turning left on the other side to continue riding around the Estuary in an
anticlockwise direction. You are on an off road path with Takitimu Drive on your right.
Turn left onto Chapel St for 250 metres at the lights, crossing the road at the traffic lights to Bay
Central Shopping Centre ( there are plenty of refreshment options at this shopping centre or the
Nautilus Restaurant where you have parked.) Ride for another 190 metres turning right onto the
path you came in on before you crossed the Chapel St bridge, riding back to the car park.
Place of interest
Fort Nautilus Dry Stack boat storage, Nautilus Buffett Restaurant & Bar. There is a bike
parking area and outdoor space and tables for you to enjoy refreshments here and or walk back to
the gate left of the bridge ( or through the restaurant ) to the most interesting Fort Nautilus Dry
Stack, a three boat high storage area. ( the only other one of these in New Zealand is in
Auckland ) All the more interesting if they are taking a boat in or out by a fork lift arrangement
into the waterway while you are there ! www.fortnautilus.co.nz
If you wish to continue riding Sulphur Point / Strand Loop or Sulphur Point to the Mount are
perfect extensions.
Click here to download the detailed Route description