Whakatane to Opotiki

[bones135]

Just curious as to what the road from Whakatane to Opotikis like. Looking at doing it over xmas with my son.
It will be his first decent ride providing he gets the bike he looking at.
Not a long ride i know but would like to know what the road conditions like & any sights to look out for,
cheers

[Trudes]

It's quite good (last time I rode it) a few bits of twisty a few straights, just watch the farmers with their tractors and 4 wheelers and hawks. I'd recommend going through Ohope (it's been a while so someone who's ridden that piece of road recently may say otherwise) and if you're enjoying the ride carry on through to Gisborne through the Waioeka Gorge, that's a nicer ride.

[ready4whatever]

Its generally good. Windy. The seal is in good nik. watch out for the speed judders by the taneatua turn-off. Aslong as you stick to under 150kmh you should be ok

[Mystic13]

+1 in good condition and usually little traffic. What are you just going to Opotiki and stopping there or tripping further out.

The roads through there to Gisborne and South to Napier are all good to.

[CookMySock]

Don't go through Whakatane. Turn off at awakeri towards taneatua and go the back way, then turn left back towards whakatane and ohope, OR turn right and go through the gorge - whatever spanks your monkey.

Be careful on the taneatua rail bridge in the wet. The rails are really slippery. Ride right down the centre.

Steve

[bones135]

Don't go through Whakatane. Turn off at awakeri towards taneatua and go the back way, then turn left back towards whakatane and ohope, OR turn right and go through the gorge - whatever spanks your monkey.

Be careful on the taneatua rail bridge in the wet. The rails are really slippery. Ride right down the centre.

Steve

Yea hes farming in Awakeri but never been further than Ohope so figured this would be a good excuse to check it out & get him some miles under his belt.
Been thinking about Gissy too but will have to see, time wise how much he can get off.
Im going down xmas eve & staying till they kick me out :wari:

[vindy500]

we just went the long way from tauranga to napier (via hicks bay, gisbourne etc) and all the roads seemed to be in mint as condition

[Taz]

It's only a 45km ride....... What are you going to do for the rest of the day. Could go all around the cape in one day.

[bones135]

Probably could do but being his first real time out we dont want to get too carried away, if the urge takes we will definately travel further just looking at the conservative side for now

[BMWST?]

Probably could do but being his first real time out we dont want to get too carried away, if the urge takes we will definately travel further just looking at the conservative side for now

if i am not mistaken the NZ tag (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=103520)is around there somewhere (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showpost.php?p=1129487048&postcount=401)

[CookMySock]

Probably could do but being his first real time out we dont want to get too carried away, if the urge takes we will definately travel further just looking at the conservative side for nowAhh he's a newb. Awakeri, Taneatua, Waimana Gorge, Waiotahi Beach, Ohiwa Harbour road, Ohope, and back home, will be about two and half hours for a learner with plenty of breaks. This is a particularly scenic ride, and all learner compatible, except for the railbridge near Taneatua, where he should avoid crossing the rails when wet, or as you specify.

Steve

[Wasp27]

Ahh he's a newb. Awakeri, Taneatua, Waimana Gorge, Waiotahi Beach, Ohiwa Harbour road, Ohope, and back home, will be about two and half hours for a learner with plenty of breaks. This is a particularly scenic ride, and all learner compatible, except for the railbridge near Taneatua, where he should avoid crossing the rails when wet, or as you specify.

Steve
Absolutely beautiful part of the country....I think taking tourists from Gisborne to Opotiki through the Waioeka Gorge is awesome... especially on bikes:yes: The road around the back of Ohiwa Harbour is stunning. My Grandparents lived down by the Heads... lots of memories:love:

[bones135]

Absolutely beautiful part of the country....I think taking tourists from Gisborne to Opotiki through the Waioeka Gorge is awesome... especially on bikes:yes: The road around the back of Ohiwa Harbour is stunning. My Grandparents lived down by the Heads... lots of memories:love:

Yea totally looking forward to it, my parents did it a couple of weeks age (in their RVR not on bikes,lol) Anyhoo, be good to try & make a couple of days out of it.:woohoo:

[trailblazer]

the taneatua rail bridge is not that bad so dont stress i cross it every mourning and so long as you can ride straight its all good. another great ride is manawahe rd to lake rotoma just don't go to hard as it is pretty twisty for a learner.

[Highlander]

if i am not mistaken the NZ tag (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=103520)is around there somewhere (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showpost.php?p=1129487048&postcount=401)

No mistake there ;) . I went the Taneatua way and back the Ohope way to take that picture somewhere in that area. Great wee ride, some nice flowing corners roads in pretty good condition.
Nice loop to fill in a hour or so on a sunny day. :yes:

Of course from Tauranga I went via Rotoiti and the Rotomas (also very accessable from Awakeri), then scooted straight back along the Matata straights.

[Mystic13]

the taneatua rail bridge is not that bad so dont stress i cross it every mourning and so long as you can ride straight its all good. another great ride is manawahe rd to lake rotoma just don't go to hard as it is pretty twisty for a learner.

If you're doing Manawahe Road take your swim gear and towel. There is a roadside hot creek which after being free till a few months back is a great place to just sit and soak. it's just been fenced, dam'd a bit and now has changing rooms. It also costs now.

Riding through their a couple of months back in the rain we stopped in for a 1 hour soak mid journey.

[CookMySock]

If you're doing Manawahe Road take your swim gear and towel. There is a roadside hot creek which after being free till a few months back is a great place to just sit and soak. it's just been fenced, dam'd a bit and now has changing rooms. It also costs now. Is this the one by the school and the campground?

If so, it's really just a slimey hole in the ground. Nothing as nice as kerosene creek except you dont have to walk to it.

Steve

[bones135]

Any hot pools would be good hot pools, kerosene creek sounds a bit dodgy though:laugh:
Was thinking about doing the round trip too, to Gissy, Napier, Taupo & back to Whaka via Rotorua, over a couple of days.
He still has to get his bike yet, narrowed it down to two, decisions decisions:blank:

[McJim]

Watch out for changing road signs. Apparently a bunch of white school children from Wanganui is angry about their name and they are going to change it to Ophotiki :rofl:

[bones135]

lol so that would be pronounced Ofotiki?:niceone:

[CookMySock]

Any hot pools would be good hot pools, kerosene creek sounds a bit dodgy though:laugh:Nah kerosene creek is cool. Nice and clean too.


Was thinking about doing the round trip too, to Gissy, Napier, Taupo & back to Whaka via Rotorua, over a couple of days.Thats a hua of a trek for a newbie. :scratch:

Steve

[bones135]

Nah kerosene creek is cool. Nice and clean too.

Thats a hua of a trek for a newbie. :scratch:

Steve

Where would kerosene creek be anyway?
We were talking about the trip today, just chat at this stage & see how things go, we had a ride last new years day when he hired a bike in Waihi & had no probs, hed probably last longer than me :chase: bloody farmers

[CookMySock]

Where would kerosene creek be anyway? Ok its a little bit iffy to find.

Click here http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=lake+ngahewa&sll=-38.323208,176.378632&sspn=0.057101,0.110378&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Lake+Ngahewa&z=14

See this little lake just south of the SH38/SH5 junction? If you head towards taupo just a few hundred meters, on the left hand side is a horrible gravel road that looks like it goes into the forestry. Head down this road about 2km and you will find a carpark with a sign. It's two minutes walk to the creek from this carpark.

Steve

[bones135]

cool thanks for that, will keep an eye out when we go, not too fussed on the gravel bit but will give it a whirl anyway