Glow worms in the forest

It wasn't raining last night, so we went looking for glow worms along the Puarenga (Sulphur Flowers) track in Whaka forest...hard to photograph, but they looked amazing.

 The best viewing was just after dark.  The glow worms are all along the banks of the stream.  Very beautiful, like stars.

Fun in the Forest

Riding under the pongas on Puarenga Stream track

Summer holidays were spent mountain bike riding in the forest in the morning, and spending the hot afternoons at Lake Okereka.

Tighe leading everyone astray in the forest.

Puarenga Stream Track

The stream track is one of my favourites.  It's sheltered from the sun, the dragonflies keep you company, the pongas try and knock your handlebars.

Going up Nice Road, from the Stream track, makes a great loop with Chinese Menu, B rude not 2, and Mad if you Dont.

"Sweet and Sour"

"Sweet and Sour"

A small spiders web

At this stage, the natives and the pines and the larches all blend in well together.  A wonderful tapestry of greens and browns.

"Beam me up"

Lots of other plants and fungi to catch my eye while I am riding as well.

Fungi on a log

Foxglove alongside the trail

Sometimes we can see more than just the trees.

Going up Tokorangi hill

The pine trees will have grown up in a year, so seeing this view will disappear.

Mokioa Island from Tokorangi Hill

Rotorua from the top of Tokorangi hill

Looking south from the top of Tokorangi hill.

Always a great place to rest at the top of Tokorangi

The great thing about Whaka forest, is that there is something for everyone.  Different grades, each track has it's own "feel" to it.

Creek track

 Even the ride up Nursery hill, to go down Challenge is not beyond me.  I didn't walk up it this time!

Rode all the way.

Radio Hut road

Arepa track

 Since the trees have been harvested from "Genesis", another few tracks have been made.  Arepa (alpha) is a fun loop track, with an uphill at the end.

Pondy New

My favourite link, would be Yellow Brick Road, Pondy New, Roller Coaster, Chinese menu, B rude not 2, Mad if you Dont, finishing with the Puarenga Stream track.

Pondy New

Moonshine, off Rollercoaster, off Pondy New

Puarenga Stream track

Some days, the Kids Loop of Tahi, and Dipper are the best fun.

Enjoy the ride.  Have fun!

Playing tourist with Jesse from Germany

View from the start of Tokorangi

Jesse was keen to go Mountain biking, and the weather was perfect.  The Whakarewarewa Forest is 5 minutes from home.  Started at the Puarenga stream track, then up Nice Road and rode Chinese Menu.  Down be Rude not to, up the Lions Trail.  I walked up the hill on Katore Rd.

Jesse on Tokorangi

Down Tokorangi and into Turkish Delight and the Soakhole.  Challenge Roadside was fun.  Jesse's phone jumped out of his bag, luckily I was riding last, saw it and picked it up.  Back up the road to Dipper, out through The Creek, Mad if you Dont, another gentle ride on the other side of the Puarenga stream track, and then home.

Puarenga stream track

Managed to take Jesse to Kuirau Park, put his feet in hot water, and explore the thermal area.

Kuirau Park

The cooler afternoon allowed the steam to show up more.  Great colours, lots of hot water, boiling mud, and of course the smell...

Kuirau Park hot water

On Monday, our next mountain bike ride was shorter, as Jesse was going White Water Rafting later in the day.We started at Yellow Brick Rd, up the forest road to Pondy New.  Onto Rollercoaster, then Chop Suey.  The rest of Chinese menu again.  A rest and refill of water at the top of Red Tank, down Dragon's Tail, Mad if you dont, and finished with Puarenga again.  Fun, fast, and even I kissed the trail a couple of times.  No broken bones!

All of us

Exploring the Redwoods

Went today, where we haven't gone before... explored the flatish part of the Redwood forestry research part of Rotorua, riding the bikes through the pine trees, and different exotics I don't know the names of.  The boys loved it, and my bum was sore at the end.  There were enough small hills for little boys to get some speed up, but not too hard to ride up.  Had a treat at the info centre, and the children entertained themselves with climbing logs and riding down steps.

Anneke and Oscar and log

Oscar on steps

Quinn on Steps

Tighe on steps

Anneke enjoying the mud