Touring on two wheels

Classic New Zealand Cycle Trails, Authors: Paul, Simon and Jonathan Kennett. Published by the Kennett Brothers. RRP $29.90. Reviewed by Simon Bloomberg The Tasman Great Taste Trail is just one of New Zealand’s great bike rides listed in a definitive guide to the country’s cycle trails.

Classic New Zealand Cycle Trails has been written by the best in the business when it comes to New Zealand cycling guides, the Wellington-based brothers Paul, Simon and Jonathan Kennett.

The Kennetts have already written several popular cycling guides and their latest publication features 46 classic trails including the initial stages of the Tasman Great Taste Trail.

The book claims to be a guide to 46 fantastic holidays and looking through its 280 pages, that is not an exaggeration. It covers some of the country’s most spectacular landscapes including the Heaphy Track in the Nelson-Tasman region and Marlborough’s Queen Charlotte Track.

The Kauri Coast trail in Northland, Great Lake Trail in Taupo and the original Otago Central Rail Trail are some of the better know trails but there are more obscure ones like the underconstruction Old Ghost Road which starts near Lyell in the Buller Gorge.

The book is an essential guide for touring cyclists and grades the difficulty of the trails, provides maps with information on the distances and times of the rides, shows vertical profiles of them and lists of support services. It is also illustrated with spectacular photos. Then it collates many of the trails in the ultimate ride from Cape Reinga to Bluff. The 3000km journey is mostly off-road and is estimated to take ‘‘a couple of months at a relaxed pace’’.

Hmmmm . . . how much leave have I got owing?