Stunning Trails, Brutal Climbs & A Miracle Drone | TA Episode 4

This leg of the Tour Aotearoa has it all—stunning trails, a jet boat ride, and brutal climbs. I start by riding through the breathtaking Mangapurua Valley, a remote and beautiful stretch of trail packed with history and lush vegetation. From there, I catch a jet boat down the Whanganui River to our next campsite near Pipiriki, a truly unforgettable way to experience this part of the route. The next couple of days take me through quiet roads and incredible landscapes, passing through Jerusalem, Matahiwi, and Whanganui, where we take a well-earned rest day. We then push south through rolling hills and riverside campsites, including a refreshing swim after a long, hot day in the saddle. The final stretch of this video is a tough one—68 miles and nearly 2,000m of climbing, ending with me exhausted in Ashhurst, now 1,300km into the journey and edging closer to the South Island. I also share the story of my miracle drone—after crashing it a couple of weeks back and "repairing" it with super glue and some questionable propeller trimming, it’s somehow still flying! I think it deserves a name, so drop your suggestions in the comments! The North Island is nearly behind me, and the adventure is only getting better. Onward to the South! If you would like to follow along please make sure to subscribe and hit the bell, I will hopefully be releasing episodes regularly throughout the tour. Thank you for watching. Links: Ko-fi (If you want to support the channel): https://ko-fi.com/matryder Follow my journey (Garmin location): https://share.garmin.com/share/matryder Team Cont;nue (The foundation John is riding for): https://teamcontinue.org/ Review channel (where I review a lot of the gear I will be using on this trip): https://youtube.com/@matryderreviews?si=XXmCNUNMUqcF9hAA 00:00. Good morning 08:07. Jet boat 12:42. My hardy little drone 20:57. Beautiful morning after a day off 24:14. And I just put this content out for free, you’re welcome 27:14. Riverside campsite 32:48. Biggest climbing day of the tour so far 36:18. A very tired goodbye