There are three good ways to ride the K2K...
*** 1. Ride it out and back from Kinloch for a 40km ride taking about 5 hours....
*** 2. Make a loop of it by riding the sealed roads from Kinloch to the trail-head on Whangamata Road and riding back on the trail. 42km, about 5 hours....
*** 3. Get a shuttle from Kinloch to the trail start on Whangamata Road. Then ride back. Its just 20km and should take you about 3 hours...
The trail starts with a wonderful smooth, flowing down-slope run to the lake with views over the expansive blue waters to the magnificent volcanoes beyond. This initial section of the trail is called Orakau. There is a toilet and beach before a gentle climb over Te Kauwae Point. You're usually riding under an open forest canopy in dappled light but there are frequent open spaces and rest areas with stunning views to the south. As for the trail, it doesn't falter for an inch - it's a mellow flowing singletrack marvel all the way.
The K2K and the other Great Lake Trails are the ultimate rides of their kind - a combination of a semi-wilderness experience, stunning scenery, and a track with continuous easy technicality.
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