Minginui - Matawai - Motu Midwinter Madness NZ 2013

**clint640** · 3rd July 2013, 15:05

The world famous MMMMM Ride is on again 27-28 July

The Matawai Hotel will be doing a buffet dinner plus dessert for $25, from around 7:30 Saturday. Menu details to come. There will also be a cooked or continental breakfast on the next morning. They usually do a pretty good feed.

Can those NOT staying at the Matawai pub, but intending to have dinner there Sat night, please give me an idea of numbers so Essie can rustle up an appropriate amount of tucker?

The ride will kick off from the Rangitaiki Tavern on the Napier-Taupo Rd Saturday morning at 8am sharp. There is food, beer, basic cabins & camping there for those who want to arrive Friday night. Phone them on 07 384 2803 to book yourself a bed.

More comfy accomodation, & extra bunks are also available 5km back down the road towards Taupo at the Rangitaiki Lodge. They have a couple of nice motel units, some tidy cabins & a bunkhouse. Call them on 07 384 2800 to book. As the Lodge bar usually closes at 8 the main Friday night gathering/meal/beers will be back at the pub.

8am Saturday we will leave the Pub & head North along the Waipunga Rd. We will use the cornerman system through the forest to Minginui. Weather & time permitting there will be an optional short challenge section for those with light bikes & decent tyres.

If anyone wants to join in at Minginui be at the Minginui Road turnoff on SH38 at 9:30am. We will stop in at the Waikaremoana Motor Camp for a coffee & fuel.

We will then continue on from Waikaremoana, to Wairoa (if you need gas), Tiniroto Pub for some refreshments & a few backroads to Matawai. I will post up a route sheet & GPS tracks so people can do their own pace Minginui - Matawai & have the choice of bypassing Wairoa on backroads if time & fuel range permits. You need 230km fuel range to bypass Wairoa.

At Matawai there is accomodation at the Pub (booked out now sorry) & the campground over the road has basic bunks, ph 06 867 5016, 06 862 4800 or 027 445 8755. Also try the Motu Community House - contact Paul Cornwall 8635002
The pub does a good dinner but don't expect it to be fast if we are a big group so get your order in early.

On the Sunday we'll head out to Matawai then off down the Motu Rd to Opotiki, From there the route is routesheeted again via some highway & a few more backroads back to my place at Rotoiti.

Any trailer scum planning to attend are welcome to drop their car & trailer at my place for the weekend.

Remember this is a MIDWINTER ride. Based on previous MMMMM rides there is a 100% chance it will rain, a 50% chance of snow, an 80% chance it will be bloody cold & a 100% chance that all those mad enough to do the whole ride will have lots of fun. The main route is all tar & gravel roads, nothing technical, do able on any adventure bike with any tyres. Some of the gravel is often fairly rough & muddy though so you will enjoy the ride more with some knobbyish rubber, particularly if you are a n00b or on a bigger bike.

Distances:

Taupo - Rangitaiki Pub - 35 km (no fuel)
Rangitaiki Pub - Minginui - 75km (no fuel)
Minginui - Waikaremoana 70km (thats 180km from Taupo - pack extra gas if you've got a small tank)
Waikaremoana - Wairoa 60km (Waikaremoana - Matawai on Ohuka Rd etc 230km)
Wairoa - Matawai 180km
Matawai - Opotiki 75km

Check back on this post closer to the day as more info will be added

****See post #50 for routesheet, GPS Route on ADV HERE

Cheers
Clint

**Rosie** · 3rd July 2013, 15:20

In!

**Night Falcon** · 3rd July 2013, 15:25

Nice work Clint - sounds cool

Have to check my diary but will be there if i can swing it

...wonder if GSers is up for a trip down memeroy lane?

**Tug Boat** · 3rd July 2013, 16:07

Will be into this again good work Clint

**That looks like fun** · 3rd July 2013, 18:03

Oh joy of joys, my cabin fever passes behind me

IN

**Cary** · 3rd July 2013, 18:31

Can only do part ride this year, work not gonna let me have time off so have to take a sicky for my Saturday nite shift

and gotta get back to akl by 7pm sunday......

Will meet up along the way somewhere.....

**paturoa** · 3rd July 2013, 18:50

I had a great time last year. The date may be a challenge as it clashes with another ride that I've commited to. This by far is the better ride!

**Eddieb** · 3rd July 2013, 19:21

In

Anyone got a spare bed at either Rangitaiki Lodge or in Taupo? I'm not interested in staying at Rangitaiki Tavern based on previous stories.

And I won't have to travel 400km to the start line anymore.

**ducatijim** · 3rd July 2013, 19:22

Bugger, flying out to LA that day.

Will have to have an adventure of my own.

**MXNUT** · 3rd July 2013, 20:15

In Again.
Bookings made, now you just have to sort the weather Clint

**clint640** · 4th July 2013, 15:19

Cool!

For the weather I reckon it's about time we had some snow.

The last couple of years have been a bit tame temperature wise.

On the Friday, as usual, I will be riding over via Murupara, Minginui & the first part of Saturdays route as it's not much longer than going via the highway from my place. I'll be leaving 3pm & anyone else is welcome to join me. PM for address details.

Cheers
Clint

**pomgolian** · 4th July 2013, 16:05

I should be in as long as work doesnt crop up, im sure there will be a Hawkes Bay contingent NAPIER - MINGINUI anybody else ?

**Waipukbiker** · 4th July 2013, 17:16

Sounds like a plan, count me in for a day ride

**Eddieb** · 4th July 2013, 18:32

I've rung the Matawai pub for a bed but got an answering machine.

**paturoa** · 4th July 2013, 19:26

I'm in. It is #2 spawn's ball night so I'll not be leaving dorkland until about 7pm on Friday night. Overnight in Taupo, or through to the pub if the temp is above zero. Woo hoo!