Where are the really good adventure tracks on the North Island?

[fredontour]

hey adventure-biker,
hope the new year starts for everyone good.
I'm looking for adventure tracks on the north island,beginning in the south,
maybe anyone can give a German worldtraveller some infos about this,but rivercrossings only max.
70cm deep,
I'm happy to drive not only one-way roads on the beautifull island,
always hold your mirrows up,and carefull around corners,sometimes there coming
combine harvester without pilot cars,
Fredontour

[tri boy]

Hi fredontour,
Try the Whanganui River Rd, that leads through Pipiriki-Raetihi,
Turakina Valley Rd, or Whangaehu Valley Rds, both lead you Ohakune to the west, or Waiouru to the central nth zone.
All three rides start in the Turakina-Whanganui region
All lead in a nthernly way, but in different valleys. All have about 100-200km of gravel, little traffic, and stunning scenery.

By now you are in central nth island.
To the east is Gentle Annie, Taihape-Napier Rd.
To the west, head to Waikato via a dozen back country rd's.
There are more challenging tracks, but travel with at least one other adv rider, for safety sake on those tracks.
Enjoy

Other folks will chime in with rides.

[Waihou Thumper]

Taumarunui back roads to Benneydale then a jaunt into the Pureora forest.
Leslie Road to Cecil Rd, through to Rotorua. If the gates are open, follow Galaxy Rd to Tokoroa....All through forestry
Thompson Track from Te Aroha, have a look at the view, ride back down....13Km approx.
Wires track if you are game...(real ADV riding). Just out of Paeroa.
There are some great back roads from Pureora Forest to Mangakino, Wharepapa sth (nice cafe there) and onward to Te Kuiti
From Te Kuiti head south to Pio Pio, then hit either Aria, Waitomo and of course the best road would be Tikitiki rd through to SHWY - Taumarunui, then Ohura rd, back roads to Whangamomona, include Tunnels, all five or six of them...
Kiwi Rd is a must...! :)
Have fun, explore and get lost......It is a given and you will have fun!

[marks]

Hi Fred

Heading north from Wellington I would take SH 2 over the Rimutukas to Featherston and then head as far east towards the coast as the roads would allow. The roads are are brilliant - sealed or gravel. I would then head west to Woodville (go up Whariti Rd - its a dead end but great views) then to Ashurst via Saddle Rd.

From Ashhurst head north to Umutoi then west to Apiti then work your way north to Taihape via the back roads. From Taihape connect up with the roads Triboys suggests.

[ducatijim]

Hi Fred, if you make it to the central north island, say Taupo/Rotorua ways, get in touch and I will give you details of the Motu/Waikaremoana and other motorcycling delights, Ok?

Jamie.

[clint640]

... and over in the East there is the Waikaremoana Rd from Murupara to Wairoa through the Urewera National Park, & the Motu Road between Opotiki & Gisborne.

Then further up there is the Coromandel Peninsula - lots of neat gravel roads up there, it is well worth going all the way up both sides, there are nice campsites at both Fletcher Bay & Stony Bay.

On the other side following the coast as much as possible from Taranaki north up to Kawhia & Raglan is great too.

Wires? On a loaded KLR? I wouldn't... & if you go up Thompsons track from Te Aroha do not try to continue down the Eastern side from the top, go back the way you came.

Keep us posted as to your travels, if you are in the Rotorua area you are welcome to stop by at my place for a beer or BBQ or to camp the night if I am home.

Cheers
Clint

[clint640]

Hi Fred, if you make it to the central north island, say Taupo/Rotorua ways, get in touch and I will give you details of the Motu/Waikaremoana and other motorcycling delights, Ok?

Jamie.

Maybe we could all meet up at our Hut in Reporoa one afternoon for a ride/beer/meal? The track is usually pretty big bike friendly this time of year.

Cheers
Clint

[Kokopelli]

Hi Fred, perhaps I should have talked to you in Akaroa :-). My wife and I had fish and chips at the same place you turned up with your friends. You then followed us up the hill the next morning. Didn't want to intrude. I am sure you could do some of the more challenging tracks if you left some of your luggage at a base you could return to later. The road less traveled is often also the prettiest. with the roads mentioned you can't really go wrong. The Motu is very scenic. Turakina Valley seems prettiest in autumn. Taranaki has some fantastic roads, check out the area around Whangamommona, you'll love the tunnels.

If you are heading towards Auckland via the Waikato should should stick to the coast from Mokau onwards and continue via Kawhia and Raglan. PM me if you like once you get closer to Auckland.

[Beddhist]

Whangaehu Valley Rds,

To the east is Gentle Annie, Taihape-Napier Rd.

On the NZOGPS map there is a gap in the centre of the road. I assume this is a mistake and it goes right through?

Gentle Annie itself isn't an adventure ride any more: mostly tar sealed with road works in the centre. Soon it will be sealed right through. There are lots of dirt roads wither side, though.

Cheers,
Peter.

[That looks like fun]

The gap is where the grass grows.
Make sure you are not confusing the Whangaehu Valley Rd with the Wanganui Valley Rd. Wanganui Valley Rd definatly has a piece missing.
If you get to Taumarunui a nice way to leave is (fast before they rob ya) by the Kururau Rd, gives you options of heading to Ohura, or King Country or loop back out Opotiki Rd

[fredontour]

thanks all biker for the infos,
about some good tracks on the north island,
i 'll drive maybe all of them,(wires track ???) ,but still waiting for weather changes,
,south of hasting,
all the best and always hold your mirrows up,
Fredontour

[tri boy]

Travel well Fred,
and let us know how you got on.

[wysper]

[COLOR=darkorange]
[I][COLOR=darkorange]Kiwi Rd is a must...! :)
[I][COLOR=darkorange]

DREEEEEEEEEEEEEDGE

Where is Kiwi Road?
Found this thread while looking for gravel roads from Hamilton to Waitomo Caves.

Any great ideas on either would be appreciated.
I googled Kiwi road and came up with several I am pretty sure you DIDN'T mean.


Oh, I wonder how the OP got on.

[clint640]

DREEEEEEEEEEEEEDGE

Where is Kiwi Road?
Found this thread while looking for gravel roads from Hamilton to Waitomo Caves.

.

Right here: http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=urenui+kiwi+rd&sll=-41.244772,172.617188&sspn=37.223111,84.375&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Kiwi+Rd,+Urenui+4378&ll=-38.96021,174.598675&spn=0.07555,0.164795&z=13

Lotsa cool little roads in that area.

Cheers
Clint

[wysper]

Right here: http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=urenui+kiwi+rd&sll=-41.244772,172.617188&sspn=37.223111,84.375&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Kiwi+Rd,+Urenui+4378&ll=-38.96021,174.598675&spn=0.07555,0.164795&z=13

Lotsa cool little roads in that area.

Cheers
Clint

Sweet. Slightly out of my way for the ride to waitomo, but I will bookmark it so I can add it to my list.
Heading down to waitomo with the family on Sat to look at the caves, my better half said I could take the bike so the MIL can ride in the car, if I can find some nice gravel roads heading that way I will do that. Should be fun!!

[dino3310]

mate theres gravel most of the way to waitomo, just leave 3 hours before the missus:Punk:

[wysper]

I have been using my google fu and found a few, since they are leaving at 8 am I am not keen to leave at 5 or 6 lol.

Looks like you could have serious fun getting lost around there. I need a bigger tank and a gps... anyone got a grand they don't need and would like to give to me :love:

[dino3310]

I have been using my google fu and found a few, since they are leaving at 8 am I am not keen to leave at 5 or 6 lol.

Looks like you could have serious fun getting lost around there. I need a bigger tank and a gps... anyone got a grand they don't need and would like to give to me :love:

so that would be a AA waikato map and a 5litre gas can on the back, i could do it with 9ltr tank on my old 500 :Punk:

[wysper]

so that would be a AA waikato map and a 5litre gas can on the back, i could do it with 9ltr tank on my old 500 :Punk:

stop bringing logic and good sense into this. What is wrong with overly expensive toys LOL

[dino3310]

stop bringing logic and good sense into this. What is wrong with overly expensive toys LOL

no logic mate, im just a tight arse so i use what evers lying around in the shed :lol:

[warewolf]

If you go anti-clockwise around Mt Pirongia there is lots to do, but that's the extended version.

I'd suggest scoot out to SH39, Ngutunui Rd to SH31, W to Kaimango Rd where the dirt used to start but some is sealed now, then Hauturu Rd. You pop out on the seal again 9km W of the caves on Te Anga Rd. Quite fun & scenic in parts, but allow good time, up to an hour more than the direct route as there's lots of tight corners and slideways action if you've got fairly road-oriented rubber - and there's some bloody big drop-offs! Nearly 50km of dirt on that loop :Punk:

Heading south the dead-end side roads (Toi, Coe & Mahoe) should be very obvious and sign-posted. Sometimes going north Mahoe Rd looks like the main route (as it probably sees more traffic) which catches people out.

If you are pressed for time, skip Kaimango Rd, keeping going W on SH31 and get on to Harbour Rd then Hauturu Rd. Depending on your on-road vs off-road speed it could be a lot faster (and Kaimango Rd is the least scenic part).

[wysper]

Thanks WW.

I might try that if it isn't pissing down.

@dino - I might have to try this map you speak of. LOL. I am a tight arse too which is why I don't already have a GPS, bigger tank and after market exhaust.

Did splash out on the bash plate though, and will probably splash out on some decent bark busters.