Day 17 – Into the Home Stretch

We’ve now booked our flights home for early next week — about a week ahead of schedule.

After mapping out the remaining days, it feels like we’ve moved into the final phase of the trip. Just a matter of getting the kilometres done, with the added bonus of a couple of spare days to visit friends and sample a bit of Marlborough wine.

Not a bad way to finish.

The day started in what can only be described as a real pea-souper. Thick fog sat over everything and didn’t lift for a couple of hours.

Once it finally cleared, it turned into another magnificent day — mid-20s, almost no wind, and just a slight headwind creeping in as we approached Reefton.

Today’s ride was relatively flat, following a corridor alongside the old railway line between Greymouth and Reefton. At one point we even had a stretch of dead straight road for several kilometres, which is something of a novelty around here.


Of course, it wouldn’t be a proper day of cycling in New Zealand without at least a small reminder, and a short sharp climb just before Reefton ensured the granny gear still got a run.

Not much of a photo, but that’s about a 5 km straight stretch of road

With the Southern Alps and temperate rainforest now behind us, the landscape has changed again. The country has opened up into more cattle and dairy farming, still very picturesque, just in a different way.

Reefton is a good-sized town with plenty of facilities. We’ve set up camp tonight down on the local soccer pitch, which is becoming a familiar sort of accommodation.

We haven’t really taken any rest days on this trip, and the legs are starting to feel it a bit.

That said, there’s still more than enough left in them to get through the final few days.

Tomorrow: Murchison
Then on to Nelson

Day Summary

Route: Greymouth → Reefton
Distance: 80 km
Riding Time: 4 hr 39 min
Climbing: 501 m
Weather: Fog early, clearing to warm and calm
Best moment: Riding through the morning fog as it lifted

Ride Link

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/22277790011

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