As a 30km there-and-back ride, the Hawke’s Bay Cycle Trails Cape Coast ride from Clive to Clifton is an awesome showcase of Hawke’s Bays coastal and wetland communities with a few great wineries and cafés thrown in too.
Scenery
Rivers and bridges, wetlands, beaches, Cape Kidnappers and Te Mata Peak
Pitstops
Clive River Bar, Gannets Bar, Elephant Hill Winery, Clearview Estate, Hygge Café
Grade
Grade 1 easy riding, 80% limestone pathways, 20% roads
Stats
2 hours ride time
30kms in length
no climbs
Starting in Clive, you have plenty of options for food and drink before heading out for your ride and a great place to park up for the start of your ride is the Evers Swindell Reserve by the Clive Bridge (there’s toilets here too).
Following the Clive River downstream towards the outlet, the trail turns south and begins offering a stunning view of Te Mata Peak and Cape Kidnappers before swinging back inland towards Black Bridge at Tukituki River.
Across the bridge and heading back out towards the sea you are greeted by a stunning wetland by the Springfield Road reserve at Haumoana. Here you take a pedal down Grange Road through Haumoana to Beach Road heading around to Te Awanga and back onto a waterfront limestone pathway.
If you’re in need of a pitstop, there’s Gannets Bar and a Foursquare, or for something a more luxurious, a little further up the road is Elephant Hill Winery or the more relaxed Clearview Estate, both great spots to sip and savour some of Hawke’s Bays finest wines.
There are toilets and a shelter at the Clifton Road Reserve and Clifton Beach too where they also have a water fountain to refill your water bottles if needed.
Continuing towards the Te Awanga Domain and then across the Maraetotora River bridge before you head out to Clifton where you will find Hygge Café, a great place to park up before your return journey to Clive.
Looking for other rides in Hawke’s bay, check out the Water Ride.
