Matamau Takapau

Between Dannevirke and Taradale

It's only 9km out of Dannevirke before you can get off onto yet another classic bike road from Matamau through Makatoku to Ormondville, Kopua, Takapau and onto SH50. This is great riding. It's wide and clean, no debris. The roads are good sweeping ones and the distance is just about the same as going up SH2 - but way more interesting. There's only one little trap and that's in the town of Takapau where it's easy to miss the turnoff to SH2. Going north through town, just as most of the buildings are behind you, there is a crossroad and a little yellow hard-to-see sign called "<-Highway". You have to take that 90deg left to get to SH2. Once there, look left and you can see the big green signs for SH50 about 200m up the road. SH50 is the only way to get to the Hawkes Bay.