Dec 9, 2025 Bike Ride
We finally took a full on bike ride! There was a breeze, but not strong, so we rode south on the dike that protects the ‘fruit bowl’ of New Zealand from the ocean. The ride follows the waterfront past Haumoana Beach through the tiny hamlets of Haumoana and Te Awanga and terminates at Clifton Station, a large sheep & cattle station occupying the hills and onto the cliffs of Cape Kidnappers.
Passing through Haumoana we spotted this fence with colorful mosaics of native birds.
At the end of the trail we stopped at Hygge, an open air café looking out toward the ocean, for delicious coffee and muffins. Pronounced ‘hyoo-gah’, “Hygge is a Danish and Norwegian term that describes a cozy, contented mood created by comfort and conviviality, often associated with enjoying time with loved ones in a warm atmosphere. It embodies simplicity, togetherness, and the appreciation of life’s small pleasures”. (Wiki)
Across the road from Hygge there is a collection of older buildings labeled “Clifton Station”, a sheep and cattle ranch run by the Gordon family since 1861!
The Clifton Station woolshed was the site of tours featuring sheep-shearing, sheep-mustering and other farm work until Covid put a stop to it. Since then the Station has added a glamping experience to its roster of farming enterprises.
The end of the road is the beginning of the walking trail around Cape Kidnappers. We’ll save that for another day