New Plymouth to Kaupokonui beach

Tuesday March 13, 2018, 55 miles (88 km) - Total so far: 4,196 miles

(6,753 km)

We headed out of New Plymouth along the coastal cycleway - very pleasant. Then it was onto SH45 which, unsurprisingly, was pretty busy through the outskirts of the city. It did quieten down quite a bit, but the trucks were steadily increasing, and it was very windy once again - an alarming combination. So, we decided to head inland at Okato. This proved to be a great move - the additional ascent is mostly in the form of false flat, and the roads and mostly blissfully quiet....although there's still the odd truck to keep you on your toes.

Once we'd turned towards Kapaukonui, we were helped by a roaring tailwind AND slight downhill - this never happens!! We did turn into the wind for the last 1km or so to the campground, but that was more than bearable. Check out our full route here:
https://www.strava.com/activities/1452047254

The campground is great - cheap and at the slightly more random end of things but well equipped and nicely situated. It was incredibly windy, so the host showed us the most sheltered spot behind the small kitchen......however, we still slept very badly as a result of the flapping tent! At what point should one worry about a tent actually breaking?? We worry all the time - probably unecessarily. Answers on a postcard :)