Taupō is alive with the e-bike movement, and two of its fifty-somethings are embracing it with huge enthusiasm.
Chris and Kathy Johnston are perhaps best known as the owners of Replete Café, a Taupō institution on the café scene.
They're passionate about their hometown, originally drawn to it by the size and nature of the community, and for the outdoor recreation opportunities it presents.
They've always been into mountain biking, and with 25 years of Taupō riding under his belt, Chris knows the trails quite well.
Both he and Kathy were finding work-related commitments had left them with less time to get out and ride. They started to think about how they could get more time in the saddle - for fitness, but also just for the love of it.
Local bike shop owner Mark Gibson suggested they try out e-bikes. He said they'd get them further faster, and they'd breathe new life into their riding experience.
Chris and Kathy were sold. "We giggled and couldn't believe how cool it was," says Kathy. "I was absolutely hooked on it, so we decided to just do it, to seize the day. Life's too short to wait."
A year later Chris and Kathy often ride together, exploring the huge network of local backcountry mountain bike trails far further and for longer than they ever could before.
Kathy says it's reintroduced biking into her exercise regime.
"It's no longer a chore to go out on long rides, it's become a pleasure again."
She also commutes to work on her e-bike and loves that she can arrive in normal clothes without being hot and sweaty.
Chris says he rode all winter on his e-bike and clocked up 1500 kilometres in 5 months.
"Conditions in Taupō allow you to do that. The volcanic pumice soil is free-draining, meaning mud doesn't have a chance on the trails during the rainy season."
The couple trained on their e-bikes to ride the nearby Timber Trail with a group of friends, and despite opting to ride their normal mountain bikes rather than their e-bikes for the actual trip, they found they were fit and well prepared for the ride.
"You're still getting a good workout," says Chris. "It's not about using the e-bike on maximum power all the time, it's about taking the humps out of your riding. I ride mostly on 20% power, so I'm still improving my fitness every time I ride."
Mountain biking is the norm for many people in Taupō because the trails are so accessible. "How many towns of 22,000 have five bike shops?" says Chris. "The fact that they are able to survive is testament to the bike culture here."
Taupō's trails are also working to increase the popularity of e-biking in the region. They give access to some pretty spectacular backcountry, often attracting cycling novices who are looking for an easier way to complete the journey.
Kathy reflects on how the bike culture in Taupō has grown over the years. She says Taupō really became known for cycling through the Cycle Challenge event, a 160km road cycling circumnavigation of Lake Taupō.
"After a while they decided to go off-road with the event, but they couldn't have done that if the tracks hadn't already been there."
She's referring to the 200 kilometres of mountain bike trails that Bike Taupō, the region's cycling advocacy group, has built over the past 17 years. Her next comment sheds light on what seems to be a significant contributor to the bike culture in Taupō.
"Bike Taupō does a great job of working with people in the community. They really embrace the community with what they're doing."
The group, largely run by volunteers, also established the Kids Bike Taupō programme which aims to teach every child in the region to ride a bike. It's not uncommon to see an entire group of kindergarten children, two-year olds included, pedalling a two-wheeler around with absolute confidence.
Chris says it's a generational thing in their family. "The culture has been ingrained for so long that my kids have grown up with it. They both ride fixies (bikes with no freewheel mechanism) in the city. One of them is back here for the summer and riding the summer series races."
When asked what they see as the future for e-biking, Chris and Kathy both agree it's here to stay.
"E-biking will allow us to continue to ride as we get older," says Chris. "We would struggle through if we didn't have the e-bikes," says Kathy. "The e-bike movement is just going off. You see 60 and 70-year olds out there riding with smiles on their faces. They wouldn't otherwise be able to do it, so it's a no-brainer really."
And on having what is clearly the good fortune of living in a place with plenty of trails to e-bike on, Chris says, "At times you have to pinch yourself because you forget how good it is to live here."
Chris and Kathy's 5 Favourite E-Bike Trails around Taupō:
1. Rotary Ride – Aratiatia
5.5 – 19.5km, grade 3
This ride will take you up and down over undulating terrain that follows the course of the Waikato River. You'll get glimpses of the bright green, clear water before dropping down to Huka Falls, NZ's most visited natural attraction. Carry on to Aratiatia Rapids to see the spectacular dam release.
2. Great Lake Walkway to 5 Mile Bay
10km one way, grade 1
Ride all the way from Taupō's Boat Harbour to Five Mile Bay and return. The trail is paved most of the way, is generally flat and there are numerous parking options along the length of the trail, so you can start and finish wherever you like. The path follows the lake shore past secluded bays, beautiful holiday homes, lakefront hotels and boat ramps. There are even hot spots in the water where you can dip your toes in. You'll find coffee and ice cream stops on your ride too, so take a break and enjoy the view.
3. Craters Mountain Bike Park Outback loop
Up to 20km, grade 3
Starting at The Hub on SH5, pick up your Craters MTB Park pass and a map from the nearby Kefi Café ($10 for a 7 day pass) then head into the forest over the road. You'll ride up and downhill past steaming geothermal vents and through pine forest before making your way back to the start.
4. Tongariro River Trail
Up to 15km, grade 2
The Tongariro River Trail is a great introduction to e-biking off-road. The trail is a return trip following the banks of the world-famous trout fishing river up to Red Hut. The trail will lead you through native forest, past clear fishing pools and over bridges that offer stunning views of the river from above. A great stopover is the Tongariro National Trout Centre where you'll find a visitor centre and trout fishing museum, a freshwater aquarium and an underwater viewing tank. Take the pleasant walk around the centre and spend some time watching the anglers down in the river – this is a popular fishing spot – before hopping back on your bikes and completing the loop trail back to Turangi.
5. Great Lake Trail – Orakau section
9 - 20km, grade 3
The Great Lake Trail is one of the hidden gems of the region, tucked away on the bush-clad western shores of Lake Taupō. The scenery is stunning and the trail leads to a secluded beach, offering an experience you won't forget in a hurry. This first stretch of the trail is a great introduction to riding on the Great Lake Trail. If you want a shorter ride a water taxi can be arranged to pick you up at Kawakawa Bay, 9km from the carpark, and take you back to Kinloch.
Road shuttles are available to drop you off and/or pick you up if you want to ride right through from Whangamata Road to Kinloch.