5 Day East Cape/Coro trip Jan 2nd-6th

[Paladin]

Benjah & I are headed out from Wellywood early Saturday morning Jan 2nd for a 5 day adv tour trip; all welcome for all or part of the trip.

Headed up round the East Cape/Motu, round BoP, round Coromandel Loop, back south down west side of Taupo, down thru National Park, and home to Welly. Something like that anyway! ;)
Possibility of mixing it up with Howie's 2 day trip at the beginning, here:
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=115493

We're tenting it and quite probably be doing some overnights NOT on organised campgrounds, ie stop at some lush place we happen to see - probably by the beach LOL!

Planning on a nice cruisey trip, taking in some gravel along the way.

Be good to meet up with some KB'ers as we go!

Aiming to be back in Wellywood evening of 6th Jan.

[cowboyz]

about a week late for us. we are up there on the 26-28th. 5 days to get round huh? You might want to ride it twice. the east cape is one of the best roads in NZ without a doubt. Once you get on it you wont want to stop

[Paladin]

about a week late for us. we are up there on the 26-28th. 5 days to get round huh? You might want to ride it twice. the east cape is one of the best roads in NZ without a doubt. Once you get on it you wont want to stop

Errr yeah, have a feeling we might need more than 5 days from Welly for that lot!
:Oops:

[cowboyz]

its not as far as it looks. A group of us did exactly the same trip last summer but in reverse in 3 days and that was with a latte drinker and 2 smokers. Personally, Id skip the coro... its so over rated. go do east cape twice instead.

[Paladin]

its not as far as it looks. A group of us did exactly the same trip last summer but in reverse in 3 days and that was with a latte drinker and 2 smokers. Personally, Id skip the coro... its so over rated. go do east cape twice instead.

3 days, holy cow! Ummm... we're gonna be in cruisy chilled out mode so don't think we'll be doing it that quick as there will be some gravel side trips I would imagine!
;)

[clint640]

I'll probably be home when you come past, so you are welcome to come & camp on my lawn if you like - I'm on the SH30 side of Lake Rotoiti. PM coming with ph#.

Cheers
Clint

[bart]

:corn::corn::corn::corn::corn::corn::corn::corn::c orn::yes:

..........

[Kendog]

Go the other way round, it is much better i.e. up the middle of the island, then coro loop, then east cape round to Gisborne then back to Welly.
Done this a couple of time now, it's awesome.

[Paladin]

Go the other way round, it is much better i.e. up the middle of the island, then coro loop, then east cape round to Gisborne then back to Welly.
Done this a couple of time now, it's awesome.

Why is it better going the other way round?

[Kendog]

Why is it better going the other way round?
Good question, I am not really sure it just feels better.
Maybe because it's clockwise, maybe because the ocean is next to you rather than the other side of the road.
I can't comment on the coro loop cause I have only ever been clockwise round there, but the view riding towards Gisborne along the coast (clockwise round the cape) is much better than riding out of Gisborne (anti clockwise round the cape)

[Paladin]

Good question, I am not really sure it just feels better.
Maybe because it's clockwise, maybe because the ocean is next to you rather than the other side of the road.
I can't comment on the coro loop cause I have only ever been clockwise round there, but the view riding towards Gisborne along the coast (clockwise round the cape) is much better than riding out of Gisborne (anti clockwise round the cape)

I like your thinking.... clockwise could be betterer!!! Like the idea that you are on the correct side of the road to be next to the sea! Plus I always enjoying cornering right handed more than left handed LOL!
;)


:2thumbsup


However...... all the holiday dickheads will be driving up the middle of the NI on that weekend! :(

[drbandit]

Good question, I am not really sure it just feels better.
Maybe because it's clockwise, maybe because the ocean is next to you rather than the other side of the road.
I can't comment on the coro loop cause I have only ever been clockwise round there, but the view riding towards Gisborne along the coast (clockwise round the cape) is much better than riding out of Gisborne (anti clockwise round the cape)
The sun is not in your eyes at end of ride when riding into shadows..
Clockwise is better... for some reason..

[Waihou Thumper]

The sun is not in your eyes at end of ride when riding into shadows..
Clockwise is better... for some reason..

Going North to south is good, sun will be at your right most of the time.
Still, it is really irrelvant. The ride is bloody great either way...
Ride it both ways, wear out both sides of your tyres...:2thumbsup

[Paladin]

Going North to south is good, sun will be at your right most of the time.
Still, it is really irrelvant. The ride is bloody great either way...
Ride it both ways, wear out both sides of your tyres...:2thumbsup

Mark, are you going to be around when we get up your way? Be good to get together!

:2thumbsup

[Waihou Thumper]

Mark, are you going to be around when we get up your way? Be good to get together!

:2thumbsup

Dave, that is my first day back at work mate, by the time you guys come through I will be on nights and :zzzz:

[Paladin]

dave, that is my first day back ay work mate, by the time you guys come through i will be on nights and :zzzz:

bugger!!!!!!

[Dakar]

Hey Paladin saw you on your bike this week, (asking for directions on around wakefield St???) anyway nice and shiney:cool:
would love to come up the way with ya's but i wont be back in Welly till the 5th, ah well, have a blast!!!
BTW, i went up last Feb, watch out for Petrol, alot of the Petrol Stations shown on the map have closed down, we didnt fill up at Opotiki, and if i rememeber the Te Kaha was shut, and the next petrol was at Te Araoa, (i think),
anyway, Have Fun:2thumbsup

[Paladin]

Hey Paladin saw you on your bike this week, (asking for directions on around wakefield St???) anyway nice and shiney:cool:
would love to come up the way with ya's but i wont be back in Welly till the 5th, ah well, have a blast!!!
BTW, i went up last Feb, watch out for Petrol, alot of the Petrol Stations shown on the map have closed down, we didnt fill up at Opotiki, and if i rememeber the Te Kaha was shut, and the next petrol was at Te Araoa, (i think),
anyway, Have Fun:2thumbsup

Good to know, cheers!

[Paladin]

Update:

Ok so after comments rec'd here (many thanks!) and discussions hatched over lunch at work today (yes me & Benjah are stuck in the office at EFTPOS NZ ... ugh!), the decision has been made to go round CLOCKWISE!

So we'll be headed out of Welly/Lower Hutt/Upper Hutt on Day 1 going over the Akatarawas to start then north/west towards National Park. Plan is to be finishing Day 2 up on the Coromandel. Day 3 more Coro then round the BoP towards East Cape. Day 4 rest of(?) East Cape & excursions!(Motu?), Day 5 Welly bound prob taking in Highway 50 i'd guess. And whatever pops up along the way! ;)

Well its gonna be a fluid situation, but .... thats a rough itinerary! So if you wanna rough it and have an adventure, camping wherever, beach fires etc, feel free to join us!

:2thumbsup

[Kendog]

Sounds awesome, you guys will love it.
On the way back you should try Route 52 (Waipukurau to Masterton). It's a little back track if you take SH50, but it's well worth it as you miss most of the boring SH2.

[Paladin]

Sounds awesome, you guys will love it.
On the way back you should try Route 52 (Waipukurau to Masterton). It's a little back track if you take SH50, but it's well worth it as you miss most of the boring SH2.

Yeah will do; I think that's the detour Joe took me through on the way back from picking up the T/A in Napier last weekend, out towards Taihape - was a riders road for sure! I'll double check map to ensure we don't miss it tho!

[bart]

SH50 takes you from Napier to Takapau, but closer to the Ruahine Range than the main road. There are a couple of interesting gravel loops off this towards the hills.

SH52 is towards the coast in the Southern Hawkes Bay/North Wairarapa. Awesome road, with heaps of gravel loops, including Waihi Falls, Towai, Little Manuhara, Akitio, Puketoi etc. Only problem is there is very little gas.

You would have done some of this Dave, if you've done the Makairo Track.

[Paladin]

SH50 takes you from Napier to Takapau, but closer to the Ruahine Range than the main road. There are a couple of interesting gravel loops off this towards the hills.

SH52 is towards the coast in the Southern Hawkes Bay/North Wairarapa. Awesome road, with heaps of gravel loops, including Waihi Falls, Towai, Little Manuhara, Akitio, Puketoi etc. Only problem is there is very little gas.

You would have done some of this Dave, if you've done the Makairo Track.

Yep, spot on on both counts Bart; definitely SH50 JMJ & I headed back on the other day. Don't think Ben has been down any of the SH52 route as he wasn't on any of the Makairo rides with us so would be a nice finale to the trip on the trek south!

[cave weta]

Benjah & I are headed out from Wellywood early Saturday morning Jan 2nd for a 5 day adv tour trip; all welcome for all or part of the trip.

Headed up round the East Cape/Motu, round BoP, round Coromandel Loop, back south down west side of Taupo, down thru National Park, and home to Welly. Something like that anyway! ;)
Possibility of mixing it up with Howie's 2 day trip at the beginning, here:
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=115493

We're tenting it and quite probably be doing some overnights NOT on organised campgrounds, ie stop at some lush place we happen to see - probably by the beach LOL!

Planning on a nice cruisey trip, taking in some gravel along the way.

Be good to meet up with some KB'ers as we go!

Aiming to be back in Wellywood evening of 6th Jan.

Ive got accomodation and a gravely rocky ride up to the goldmines for you!

Waihi- bottom of the peninsula

[Paladin]

Ive got accomodation and a gravely rocky ride up to the goldmines for you!

Waihi- bottom of the peninsula

Cheers CW; PM me your mobile number & we'll give you a shout if we can bro!

[Paladin]

Looks like we're headin out from Wellywood(Maungaraki exit on SH2) about 8am on Saturday. I'm meeting up with Howie on his way over the hill so we'll team up for the first day of each of our rides; should be good company as always! Cheers Paul.

Weather is still looking a bit naff west & north of Taupo for Saturday/Sunday and generally Monday is mostly scheduled for a few showers, but the East Cape and Hawkes Bay are looking good for the 2nd half of the trip. Should be fun.

[Howie]

Weather is still looking a bit naff west & north of Taupo for Saturday/Sunday and generally Monday is mostly scheduled for a few showers, but the East Cape and Hawkes Bay are looking good for the 2nd half of the trip. Should be fun.

Now come on Dave Don't go looking at weather forecasts that ruins all the fun:blink:

Dave you guys might find this site useful for finding some cheap campsites in areas your likely to be stopping http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-stay/conservation-campsites-by-region/

[Aslan]

its not as far as it looks. A group of us did exactly the same trip last summer but in reverse in 3 days and that was with a latte drinker and 2 smokers. Personally, Id skip the coro... its so over rated. go do east cape twice instead.

what cowboyz said about East Coast versus Coro Loop Dave - do take your time stopping at the many small interesting locations en route eg Lottin Point, Tikitiki, TeKaha, East Cape Lighthouse etc - this alone could be worthy of 2 - 4 days IMO - friends of mine knock it off in a day which I feel is to miss the magic of the East Coast - safe riding either way and enjoy your new T/A - cheers and beers Aslan :banana:

[Kendog]

what cowboyz said about East Coast versus Coro Loop Dave - do take your time stopping at the many small interesting locations en route eg Lottin Point, Tikitiki, TeKaha, East Cape Lighthouse etc - this alone could be worthy of 2 - 4 days IMO - friends of mine knock it off in a day which I feel is to miss the magic of the East Coast - safe riding either way and enjoy your new T/A - cheers and beers Aslan :banana:
And go to Cooks Cove, magic spot (just out of Tolaga Bay)

[Paladin]

what cowboyz said about East Coast versus Coro Loop Dave - do take your time stopping at the many small interesting locations en route eg Lottin Point, Tikitiki, TeKaha, East Cape Lighthouse etc - this alone could be worthy of 2 - 4 days IMO - friends of mine knock it off in a day which I feel is to miss the magic of the East Coast - safe riding either way and enjoy your new T/A - cheers and beers Aslan :banana:

Well it's maybe gonna be wet on the Coro anyway LOL! Personally I could easily be persuaded to head over the Gentle Annie with Howie, JMJ & Bart and then just keep going northeast! Go up the Motu and then hang a right and go round the East Cape from the BoP. Save the Coro loop for another time(another excuse to go on a trip LOL!) Be bags of time to chill out on the Cape that way! Tent, beach fire, bottle of whiskey....aaaahhhh.


And go to Cooks Cove, magic spot (just out of Tolaga Bay)

Cheers!

[Paladin]

Looks like I may have sorted a makeshift camera mount for the handlebars, so there may be some video as well as pics! Not ideal location but worth a go for the hell of it! Knowing my luck the whole thing will probably blow off in the wind and trash the camera!

:whistle:

[bart]

Be bags of time to chill out on the Cape that way! Tent, beach fire, bottle of whiskey....aaaahhhh.

Even the mention of whiskey makes my head hurt today. Half a bottle of black label last night, and I'm a wee bit under the weather. :baby:

Have fun Dave. I was hoping to tag along for a day or 2, but it's just not going to work out. Must get up that way myself one day.

[marks]

Even the mention of whiskey makes my head hurt today. Half a bottle of black label last night, and I'm a wee bit under the weather. :baby:

Have fun Dave. I was hoping to tag along for a day or 2, but it's just not going to work out. Must get up that way myself one day.

you slack shite - come down this way for a day - we'll find some trails to work that hangover off :baby:

[bart]

you slack shite - come down this way for a day - we'll find some trails to work that hangover off :baby:

Cnut....Thursday :headbang:

[Paladin]

Cnut....Thursday :headbang:

At least the weather will be better by then! Bloody Severe Weather Warning for the next 3 days - 130kph winds! .... and rain... yuk! :Pokey:

I have a feeling the 5 day trip is going to be shortened somewhat to a Gentle Annie & Hawkes Bay/Lower East Cape tour on Tuesday & Wednesday!
:baby:

[junkmanjoe]

oh stay home mate, save ya money for south island...:headbang:

[Kendog]

Yeah, it's gonna be shit house tomorrow in the lower North Island.

[Mrs Cowboyz]

what cowboyz said about East Coast versus Coro Loop Dave - do take your time stopping at the many small interesting locations en route eg Lottin Point, Tikitiki, TeKaha, East Cape Lighthouse etc - this alone could be worthy of 2 - 4 days IMO - friends of mine knock it off in a day which I feel is to miss the magic of the East Coast - safe riding either way and enjoy your new T/A - cheers and beers Aslan :banana:
ooh dont forget Te Araroa...has the biggest and oldest Pohutukawa tree!


I hope the weather is as good for you as it was for us....had a ball! Mister cowboyz and I went to rotorua then round the east cape then back through waioeka gorge (mint road!!) towards rotorua again and back home over three days and two nights...loved it!!

Have fun!!

[BMWST?]

bloody winduy out there today.I think some of the strongest gusts i have experienced,the pd was moving in the lane...

[Paladin]

So.... Benjah eventually found his electrical problem on his Cagiva Navigator; blown master fuse; so between that & the gales/severe weather warning, that was that for the 5 day Coro/East Cape trip!
:oi-grr:

We will be heading out for a ride anyway leaving noon Monday from the Shell servo corner Jackson Street/old Hutt Road in Petone probably up the Whanganui River road (with a possible overnite camp there) and then looping back around east & south over Tuesday (and possibly Wednesday too). Considering possibility of heading over the Gentle Annie and then doing the "Wellington Old Coach Road" heading south from Napier/Hastings and keeping on the back roads through to Masterton. So it's gonna be a 2-3 day ride and not 5 and not the East Cape or the Coromandel LOL! But it's still an adventure! ;)

Benjah is joining me, but any other interested parties are very welcome too!

:2thumbsup

[junkmanjoe]

dave got away ok on monday, was a bit windy for our traveler friend, they went to wanganui, and up the wanganui river road, stayed at pipiriki .
today got word they went up to turoa ski feild, on to taihape, across the annie, and as far as i know there in hastings tonight..

so he got away on a smaller adventure..

JMJ

[Paladin]

So we finally got away just after noon on Monday with a plan to head northwest to Wanganui, up the Whanganui River valley, across to Taihape, over the Gentle Annie to Hastings, back south on Route52 to Masterton.

1. Had to leave Welly via the Akatarawas :yes: ; better than SH1 - considered side trip up Odlins for 1 nano second LOL!
2. After fighting the wind all the way to Wanganui, we headed up the Whanganui River valley; gorgeous road and some gravel too!
3. & 4. Camped on a grassy area by the river at Pipiriki & settled down for some red wine and butter chicken!
5. Ben went boating on half a Maori canoe! :blink:

That was day 1.

[Paladin]

day 2:

After a run through the rest of the gravel from pipiriki, it was brekky in Raetihi, then out to Ohakune and Tongariro looming in the distance. We decided on a side trip up to the Turoa Ski Area; awesome views up there! then it was a bit of short highway work to Taihape, fuel up and onto the start of the Gentle Annie as we headed towards Napier.

[Paladin]

Some nice scenery out on the Annie & a shot of Benjah riding what's left of the Annie's gravel!!

[Paladin]

Day3:

After a night camped out near Cape Kidnappers, we headed south on SH2 until Waipukurau where we turned off onto Route 52, which I think is also known as the "Old Wellington Coach Road". The plan was to head all the way down this road to Masterton. Passed that place with NZ's longest place name! Had a little side trip up the gravel to Waihi Falls from Waione. Got to Alfredton & Benjah had a fuel warning light on(!) so we didn't make the turn to stay on Route 52 and headed into Ekatahuna for gas, latte & a toasted sammy! And there we met Chris on his trusty steed, the KTM 690 on his mammoth tour southwards. He had just finished a days ride with Bart and by mad coincidence we were all in Ekatahuna fuelling up at the same time! All three of us then blatted down to Masterton on SH2 to JMJ's!

A little under 1100kms by the time I got home!

It may not have been 5 days OR the East Cape, but it was a fun 3 days nonetheless and a good test of the new bike! I was most impressed with the T/A; comfortable and very happy on the seal AND gravel!!! It eats up the miles (and corners LOL!) on the seal and is very stable on the gravel especially when standing up on the pegs as it gives good leg position and you feel well planted over the front wheel! :2thumbsup

[Howie]

Hey Dave, looks like you had a good few days away. It was a bit windy on Monday though, I hit the wind in the Rapa on the way home on Monday.

[Paladin]

Hey Dave, looks like you had a good few days away. It was a bit windy on Monday though, I hit the wind in the Rapa on the way home on Monday.

Yeah mate, was windy as hell on the way to Wanganui! All pretty good after that and no rain, in fact it was darn hot! We also hit some NASTY wind coming back over the 'Takas on Wed nite, some of the worst I have ridden in on that hill!
I thoroughly enjoyed the Gentle Annie and glad to have done it before they complete the seal this year - probably maybe 30k ish of gravel in the middle(did you check that on your ride?) and Route 52 was great too! Hardly saw any traffic on either of those routes - always a good thing! :)

[Howie]

Yeah mate, was windy as hell on the way to Wanganui! All pretty good after that and no rain, in fact it was darn hot! We also hit some NASTY wind coming back over the 'Takas on Wed nite, some of the worst I have ridden in on that hill!

Thr Rimutaka's can sure be interesting when it's windy.



I thoroughly enjoyed the Gentle Annie and glad to have done it before they complete the seal this year - probably maybe 30k ish of gravel in the middle(did you check that on your ride?) and Route 52 was great too! Hardly saw any traffic on either of those routes - always a good thing! :)

Yep Bart came up, and we probably did the least distance that you can on the Napier-Taihape road. It's all written up over here http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/115493-Two-nights-away-Rangitikei-and-Hawke-s-Bay/page5

[Paladin]

Yep Bart came up, and we probably did the least distance that you can on the Napier-Taihape road. It's all written up over here http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/115493-Two-nights-away-Rangitikei-and-Hawke-s-Bay/page5

Yep, looks like you two had a blast! If up in the Gentle Annie area again, I certainly would like to explore some gravel roads too; Ben and I just didn't have time for that unfortunately. And Ben certainly wouldn't have been comfortable on tracks on the Navigator with the road tyres he is running and I'm not gonna be getting too aggressive on the T/A until at the very least it has crash bars and knobblies on!!!! ;) It DOES handle well on the gravel though, so I'm very pleased with that.

[Aslan]

Day3:

After a night camped out near Cape Kidnappers, we headed south on SH2 until Waipukurau where we turned off onto Route 52, which I think is also known as the "Old Wellington Coach Road". The plan was to head all the way down this road to Masterton. Passed that place with NZ's longest place name! Had a little side trip up the gravel to Waihi Falls from Waione. Got to Alfredton & Benjah had a fuel warning light on(!) so we didn't make the turn to stay on Route 52 and headed into Ekatahuna for gas, latte & a toasted sammy! And there we met Chris on his trusty steed, the KTM 690 on his mammoth tour southwards. He had just finished a days ride with Bart and by mad coincidence we were all in Ekatahuna fuelling up at the same time! All three of us then blatted down to Masterton on SH2 to JMJ's!

A little under 1100kms by the time I got home!

It may not have been 5 days OR the East Cape, but it was a fun 3 days nonetheless and a good test of the new bike! I was most impressed with the T/A; comfortable and very happy on the seal AND gravel!!! It eats up the miles (and corners LOL!) on the seal and is very stable on the gravel especially when standing up on the pegs as it gives good leg position and you feel well planted over the front wheel! :2thumbsup

Glad for you that you had a good trip Dave and that you're pleased with the T/A :)

[Paladin]

Glad for you that you had a good trip Dave and that you're pleased with the T/A :)

Cheers Stephen, it was a nice way to get a better feel for the T/A!