Day 17: Kaka Point to Mclean Falls

Started the day with blue skies and some clouds on the horizon. We got going around 8:30 and decided to skip the 16km gravel road to Nugget Point. It is supposed to be very pretty, but we got a long distance view last night from Kaka Point and couldn’t justify the climb up the gravel road and back to see it.

We started a slow climb away from the coast and towards Owaka. The road was quiet and well enough graded with a river running next to it for some ways. The views were of green fields and sheep, pretty standard New Zealand views.

Making our way inland we got to the first large climb which had a short steep section and then we were going down the other side. Went through the small town of Owaka and pushed on towards Papatowai.

Not too many km’s later we got to the biggest climb of the day. This climb routinely took us in to the double digits for percent grade which is just brutal. Our bicycles are geared to handle easily up to 8-9% grade, and short bursts of higher, but these sustained 12-14% grades just kill us. This climb also had a false top which conveniently enough had a bench at the top. We settled down for lunch, PB&J of course. We have been trying several different types of whole grain, multi grain bread, and they all have been spectacular, puts the bread from the USA to shame.

After lunch we finished the last bit of the climb and started our big downhill. We had been anticipating signs for a waterfall hike all day and found them barreling down the side of the hill at 50kmh. We stopped and set the bikes to the side of the path. An English couple stopped to chat with us, they had been cycling in South East Asia and were finishing up their holiday in New Zealand. Was fun to chat but we forgot to give them a card so we missed the opportunity for more friends abroad.

We did the short hike down to the waterfalls, the Matai and the Horseshoe Falls. Both were stunning in their own ways with the Matai being taller, but the Horseshoe falls were coming down around a larger area and had heavier falls, but then little trickling falls that just sparkled in the sun. We lingered for a while having the falls to ourselves and then hiked back.

Hopping on the road we continued our downhill speed run then into rolling hills before the small town of Papatowai. We paused at the really small store for meat pies and an energy drink labeled “V” which had a small 450mg of Guarano and 105mg of caffeine. Both of us were just beat and our legs were exhausted, however the campground in Papatowai was basic with no showers and we really wanted to get to Mclean Falls 12km further.

We tiredly got back on the bicycles and proceeded up the climb out of town which led us to several amazing ocean overlooks. After climbing with already exhausted legs getting to these beautiful places is a reminder of why we exert the effort, it is also a good metaphor for life, work hard and reap the rewards. Anyways I’ll step off my whimsical soap box now.  

The views of Tautuku Bay from the Florence Hill Lookout were just amazing and even better we were at the top of the hill. As we were cruising down the hill we had a bit of an odd moment as out of the bush stepped an older gentlemen and several teenage girls all in yellow ponchos covered in mud. We were flying past way too fast to really even think or ask questions, but shortly afterwards we passed a sign for an “adventure camp.”

We paused again at Wilkie Lake to do a brief walk to see the lake, which was okay, but nothing terribly great. A bit further down the road we paused for a short walk to a logging exhibit that showed relics from a 1930’s logging operation. They did some crazy things to save money like using wood rails instead of metal rails for the logging carts to operate on, they had specially modified wheels to run on the wood rails but because there was just smooth metal on smooth wood the carts were prone to running away or slipping down the tracks.

Finally we pedaled some smooth flat-ish roads until we hit a sign telling us it was 1km to the Mclean Holiday Park. 1.5km later we hit another sign saying 400m, then 25m later a sign saying it was 50m. Finally 200m later we ended up in the holiday park that we were beginning to doubt the existence of. They were very welcoming and we are going to be staying for two days as our bodies are in need of some recovery time and it is within walking distance of some more waterfalls.

Distance: 55.87km

Time: 4:20

Average: 12.87kmh

Max: 55.27kmh

Climb: 920m

First road of the day with a creek next to it

Owaka Teapotland... Interesting

Matai Falls

About half of Horseshoe Falls, it wraps around to the right with small trickling falss

Horeshoe Falls trickling falls

Neat Tree

View of Tautuku Beach