Oh, what a day. Day 4 of the Northern Explorer 6-day Guided Tour. Left Paihia and made our way to Highway 1, where we all thoroughly enjoyed riding over the Mangamukas. We stopped at Houhora for the wonderful Paua pies and then the ride to Cape Reinga. On a blue day, it is always spectacular, and today was no different. Then it was back down to Te Paki Stream to access 90-Mile Beach. We all struggled a little with the soft sand but got to the firm stuff without too much strife. Then rode the full length of the beach to Ahipara.

Day 2 and 3 of the Northern Explorer 6-day Guided Tour. Departed Waipu Cove and visited the Waipu Caves for some glow worms and caving, then rode some more beautiful gravel backroads before hitting the sealed roads. Some great twisty roads around the Tutukaka Coast, stopping for lunch on the beach at the beautiful Whale Bay. Some more twisties from there and some more gravel to bring us on to the Old Russell Road. This is one of my all-time favourite roads to ride, with kilometre after kilometre of corners. This brought us to our destination of Paihia for our 2-night stay. Once again, the little Himalayan shone. Day 3 was a rest day where we could visit the Treaty Grounds at Waitangi or sit by the pool before experiencing the amazing boat trip out to Motukōkako to pass through the Hole in the Rock.

Day 1 of the Northern Explorer Guided Tour. An amazing start to this 6-day tour of the Far North of New Zealand. We started in Auckland's beautiful Maraeta Beach, then took Highway 16, West Coast Rd to Warkworth. Stopped at Matheson Bay and Te Arai Beach before ending the day in Waipu Cove. The riding included a mix of gravel and sealed back roads, well away from the main highways. Perfect for the Himalayan 450.