Reweti Te Mete leads a historic bike ride to Pukehinahina - Gate Pā.
Free historic guided bike rides this February will focus on fun, friendship, fitness, and familiarity with the unique history of Tauranga
The historic rides are part of Travel Safe’s annual Bike Month, an online calendar of free cycling opportunities happening in Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty in February.
The rides are led by Reweti Te Mete, an experienced guide from Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi Te Rangi and Ngāti Pukenga. Reweti says a bike tour is the best way to get a close-up understanding of the history of Tauranga.
“Travelling by bike and being present at these important historical sites adds another dimension that you just don’t get from reading a book or a news article. It’s a good workout too; we always have a lot of laughs, and e-bikes are welcome too.
“The history of Tauranga is complex and tragic, but also very inspirational. I’ve done these tours with people who have lived here their whole lives and they are stunned when they hear stories about landmarks they pass every day.”
The first ride is on 7 February and travels from the city centre via Kopurererua Valley to Pukehinahina (Gate Pā), the scene of our city’s most infamous battle.
Next up is Ōtūmoetai Pā via Matua on 16 February. This historic site was once the most heavily populated site in the area and was settled in the 1600s.
The last ride follows the Wairoa River along Ōmokoroa cycleway from the Wairoa Bridge to Plummers Point and back.
Western Bay of Plenty District Council Cycleways Manager Scott Parker says the Ōmokoroa cycleway provides an opportunity to explore an area that was once a lot more difficult to reach.
“The trail transits through the rohe of Pirirākau hapū, which has a very rich cultural history. As well as being a beautiful scenic ride, this trail has opened up access to parts of our district that people didn’t know about or couldn’t easily get to before”.
Travel Safe Team Leader Sonia Lynds says the historic rides are among the most popular Bike Month events every year and suggests signing up early to avoid missing out.
“Reweti is an experienced guide and a compelling storyteller who paints such a vivid picture of both the Māori and early European history of the areas.
“These three rides are always popular, but we need to limit numbers for safety reasons so if you’re keen to join please register as soon as possible.”
There are plenty of other activities to get involved with in February too. Tauranga has a significant network of off-road shared paths perfect for riding bikes, and Bike Month is a great chance to explore them in some of the other free activities, such as the guided urban group rides or commuter rides. There’s also safety and skills focused activities, women-only events, and even bike maintenance workshops.
To find out more and to register visit www.mytauranga.co.nz/bikemonth.