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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

Cycling Tours

Cycling Tours.

A French professor, descanting on the difficulties of locomotion, described the great and beautiful northern city as the most “excelsior” place he had ever seen; and certain it is that the founders were not cyclists. It would be much easier to imagine them as determined to lay out the city in the interests of mules and asses. Auckland might have been made an ideal city for cyclists—a city of gentle inclines and delightful descents, with occasional long stretches of ozone-charged foreshore. But the opportunity has been missed, and, in consequence, holiday-makers who are cyclists are inevitably constrained to avoid Beautiful Auckland. That Auckland will sooner or later discover the wisdom of making better provision for cyclists is certain; but at present the inducements for wheelmen are meagre indeed. Drivers of vehicles are in the main not only careless but even unfriendly; the streets are stony and in places dangerously dusty; and broken glass and tin cuttings are unpleasantly common. To those who are strong of limb and lung, the grades of the streets are the least objectionable feature. Even in their present rough condition, there are few indeed which cannot be climbed; and, if the main thoroughfares were provided with tarred tracks, the majority of them would be fairly easy of ascent, and cycling would be a delight. The hard work of climbing is compensated in some measure by the delights of descent; but the constant bumping and jerking are unpleasant, and by no means necessary evils.

While nearly all the places of interest in and around Auckland may be visited by cyclists, those whose stay is short should be careful to take the best roads first. To Onehunga, by way of Mount Eden and the Paha Farm, is an interesting and fairly smooth run, and, provided the right turns be taken, every inch either way can be ridden. From Onehunga through Mangere to Otahuhu is the best five-mile stretch in the whole neighbourhood, the half-mile which includes the Mangere Hill being the special delight of every cyclist in the country. The return journey may be made by the more direct route via Ellerslie; but there is too much 'bus traffic on these roads for the comfort of cyclists. A pleasant variation may be made by taking the Ihumata Road round the Mangere Mountain, this road being in the main very good.

The roads of Ponsonby, Remuera, and some parts of Parnell are fairly good, and visiting cyclists should not forget the pleasant run from the Hospital to Parnell through the Domain. A good “spin” may occasionally be had on the grass track, in the cricket ground, past which this Domain road runs.

From Devonport to the Lake it is possible to cycle without dismounting, and the road round the Lake is fairly comfortable.

A few good beach roads could make Auckland a delightful place for cycling, but in the meantime much might be done in the way of improving the existing thoroughfares. Every year increases the number of tourists who cycle, and Auckland will not be long content to lose this class of traffic. Cyclists find one great natural advantage in Auckland, for it is very seldom indeed that there is a stronger wind than is agreeable. There is hope for Auckland from a cyclists' point of view, and even now the rapid and delightful changes of scenery do much to compensate for the drawbacks which time will see extinguished.