Wgtn to Napier via Levin route: piece of piss?

[Stylo]

Never been through that way but we've planned our trip North so it's set in concrete , riding fully loaded and ....how long will it take , is it a good road ...anything to look out for or sights to see ?

Once past Massey we'll be heading for Woodville on SH57 then just follow the signs to Napier, I guess. What are the cops like up that way and, thanks for your input in advance ...heading away in a couple of weeks .

My map looks exciting but, reality is always different I guess, Cheers

[red mermaid]

With the weather up this way lately the piece between Levin and Palmerston North has some roadworks and rough surfaces.

The cops up here are the best. :innocent::shifty::Police::msn-wink:

[Stylo]

With the weather up this way lately the piece between Levin and Palmerston North has some roadworks and rough surfaces.

The cops up here are the best. :innocent::shifty::Police::msn-wink:

Cheers ... :-)

[robertydog]

Head up HW50. More enjoyable for a motorcycle. Went thru recently and is in good nick. Be aware of the gullys and the damp spots. Nice cafe at Tikokino if you need a break.

[Stylo]

Head up HW50. More enjoyable for a motorcycle. Went thru recently and is in good nick. Be aware of the gullys and the damp spots. Nice cafe at Tikokino if you need a break.

HW50 looks to be between Waipukarau and Hastings , thats the way we're heading so ...all good . No radar detector on board so we''ll be wary , fast bike and new ground for us ....

[robinm]

highway 50 starts about 20 miles north of Dannevirke, turn left off Highway 2. Far better road than SH2 on a bike. Also be ultra careful in the Manawatu Gorge this time of year. I go through the Gorge twice a day and every day there are minor slips and rock falls. Just 2 days ago I was coming home just after dark and dead in the centre of my lane was a large rock, about 3 ft dia. A great piece of road but to be treated with extreme respect in the wet season!!

[Quasi]

Going up SH1 is terribly boring - basically a straight road from Wellington to Palmerston. And today the gorge is closed due to slips.....
Much nicer ride to go up Sh2, Wellington to Masterton over the Rimutakas, then can go stright up to Woodville etc or turn off behind Masterton (Whangaheu Valley Road) and do Route 52 which ends up at Porangahau, then owards to Napier
Much nicer ride

[dogsnbikes]

Going up SH1 is terribly boring - basically a straight road from Wellington to Palmerston. And today the gorge is closed due to slips.....
Much nicer ride to go up Sh2, Wellington to Masterton over the Rimutakas, then can go stright up to Woodville etc or turn off behind Masterton (Whangaheu Valley Road) and do Route 52 which ends up at Porangahau, then owards to Napier
Much nicer ride

Agree with Quasi......SH1 boring and cop infested as for 52 why wouldn't you just fill up before leaving Masterton

[wingnutt]

Never been through that way but we've planned our trip North so it's set in concrete , riding fully loaded and ....how long will it take , is it a good road ...anything to look out for or sights to see ?

Once past Massey we'll be heading for Woodville on SH57 then just follow the signs to Napier, I guess. What are the cops like up that way and, thanks for your input in advance ...heading away in a couple of weeks .

My map looks exciting but, reality is always different I guess, Cheers

about 3 and half hours riding time, Wellington to Napier, Levin shannon route is pretty good,
you can bypass massey, and palmerston north and come out at the gorge.

as said highway 50 is good, watch for moist spots in some places though sometines can be windy on the takapau plains between dannevirke and waipuk, and between woodville and dannevirke.

check point cops are rude arseholes, but in cars are pretty good as long as not too silly.

enjoy the trip,

[cowboyz]

if you wanna come up this side i would go shannon- bypass massey - piahiatua track- balance - woodville - dvirke- sh50 (watch out for the turnoff to SH50.. its easy to miss)

(ps.. ok its about a 50 foot sign but I still managed to miss it)

[MSTRS]

... can be windy on the takapau plains between dannevirke and waipuk, ....

It's straight-as...;)
Agree with the Wairarapa /Route 52 calls, but for someone who doesn't know those roads and the various turnoffs...they could end up anywhere.
Also agree bypass Levin...turn right into Kimberley Rd (southern end of the straight leading into Levin) then next left (Arapaepae Rd) and follow your nose/road signs. Watch for the 2 turn offs to the right that take you to Aukautere (sp?) and on to the main road to the gorge.
For a little excitement, take the Pahiatua Track on the right at Aukautere. At the bottom on the otherside take the Ballance Rd on the left. That brings you out onto the main road on the Woodville side of the Gorge.
Definitely do HW50. On the left 33kms past Dannevegas. Can get a little confusing at the northern end. Sing out if you need a guide or summat.

[junkmanjoe]

if you decide to ride hiway 52, just be ready for the odd bit of stock... other than that it is a great road. i would start riding it from masterton, make sure you leave masterton with a full tank as there is no gas out that way, till you get to dannevirke or vire wimbleton to waipukurau
there is a station about half way up , but the chance its open is very rear....

you could go over the old saddle road between ashurst and woodville, and i agree with hiway 50 takes out the long and boring takapau plans.

JMJ

[hush]

Def do HW50 it is really much biker friendly and less road works right now, cops in HB are pretty cool towards bike riders, mainly cos most of them own bikes themselves.
Sundays along West Quay (where the fishing boats tie up) will usually find riders stopping for a coffee or lunch if the weather is good.
Enjoy your ride, wishing you safe and open roads....Hush.

[MasterBry]

This I feel is the nicer ride 332 Kms
http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Wellington&daddr=-41.08784,175.14756+to:-40.9394272,175.6567058+to:-39.98752,176.32794+to:-39.71947,176.49436+to:Napier,+Hawkes+Bay&hl=en&geocode=FbAEiv0dmd9qCilBpQ4-1K84bTEuPB_TPeRCyQ%3BFaAMjf0dKIpwCinrnQ5Qg7FAbTEO5 RyPUbkvKA%3BFV1Qj_0dAU94Cik5JjFoPSFBbTEub--PFherFg%3BFcDWnf0dBI2CCimpky9YRQFCbTFvBkZA88rqNQ%3 BFdLtof0dGBeFCinx4XlmKO9pbTHTsisuTfeeAQ%3BFWtnpf0d OYeLCimBOcZE0ExobTF1GA9aiEwzOQ&mra=dvme&mrcr=0&mrsp=3&sz=8&via=1,2,3,4&sll=-40.388397,175.825195&sspn=3.041746,4.916382&ie=UTF8&z=8

But this is also a good treck, and you get to see the Kapati Coast 317 kms
http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Wellington&daddr=-40.99511,174.94516+to:-40.92673,174.99881+to:-40.6207,175.31637+to:-39.98752,176.32794+to:-39.71947,176.49436+to:Napier,+Hawkes+Bay&hl=en&geocode=FbAEiv0dmd9qCilBpQ4-1K84bTEuPB_TPeRCyQ%3BFdp2jv0diHNtCilbuawG96dAbTH3M Tnze30peQ%3BFfaBj_0dGkVuCikXel6szKZAbTHPBz7UUeNjWQ %3BFWQtlP0dkh1zCimlYjQ-f_NAbTHahSa4EXyOEQ%3BFcDWnf0dBI2CCimpky9YRQFCbTFvB kZA88rqNQ%3BFdLtof0dGBeFCinx4XlmKO9pbTHTsisuTfeeAQ %3BFWtnpf0dOYeLCimBOcZE0ExobTF1GA9aiEwzOQ&mra=dvme&mrcr=0&mrsp=2&sz=8&via=1,2,3,4,5&sll=-40.388397,175.825195&sspn=3.041746,4.916382&ie=UTF8&z=8

So depends if you want to see hills or coast at the begining, either are great rides :scooter:

[MSTRS]

Those are either SH1/3/2 or SH2. Boring. Sure, bits of them are unavoidable. We are trying to add some alternatives.

[Stylo]

This I feel is the nicer ride 332 Kms
http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Wellington&daddr=-41.08784,175.14756+to:-40.9394272,175.6567058+to:-39.98752,176.32794+to:-39.71947,176.49436+to:Napier,+Hawkes+Bay&hl=en&geocode=FbAEiv0dmd9qCilBpQ4-1K84bTEuPB_TPeRCyQ%3BFaAMjf0dKIpwCinrnQ5Qg7FAbTEO5 RyPUbkvKA%3BFV1Qj_0dAU94Cik5JjFoPSFBbTEub--PFherFg%3BFcDWnf0dBI2CCimpky9YRQFCbTFvBkZA88rqNQ%3 BFdLtof0dGBeFCinx4XlmKO9pbTHTsisuTfeeAQ%3BFWtnpf0d OYeLCimBOcZE0ExobTF1GA9aiEwzOQ&mra=dvme&mrcr=0&mrsp=3&sz=8&via=1,2,3,4&sll=-40.388397,175.825195&sspn=3.041746,4.916382&ie=UTF8&z=8

But this is also a good treck, and you get to see the Kapati Coast 317 kms
http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Wellington&daddr=-40.99511,174.94516+to:-40.92673,174.99881+to:-40.6207,175.31637+to:-39.98752,176.32794+to:-39.71947,176.49436+to:Napier,+Hawkes+Bay&hl=en&geocode=FbAEiv0dmd9qCilBpQ4-1K84bTEuPB_TPeRCyQ%3BFdp2jv0diHNtCilbuawG96dAbTH3M Tnze30peQ%3BFfaBj_0dGkVuCikXel6szKZAbTHPBz7UUeNjWQ %3BFWQtlP0dkh1zCimlYjQ-f_NAbTHahSa4EXyOEQ%3BFcDWnf0dBI2CCimpky9YRQFCbTFvB kZA88rqNQ%3BFdLtof0dGBeFCinx4XlmKO9pbTHTsisuTfeeAQ %3BFWtnpf0dOYeLCimBOcZE0ExobTF1GA9aiEwzOQ&mra=dvme&mrcr=0&mrsp=2&sz=8&via=1,2,3,4,5&sll=-40.388397,175.825195&sspn=3.041746,4.916382&ie=UTF8&z=8

So depends if you want to see hills or coast at the begining, either are great rides :scooter:

Thanks Guys for all the input and Cheers to MasterBry for the map, certainly something for us to ponder and we can't wait to get out of the shaky city for a sojourn.

New tyres fitted on the 'Busa today , we can't wait to get away , it'll be a fast trip and that goes without saying ... whilst we have'nt finalised the route , we now have a good picture of where we're going , guess we'll buy a better map than we've got and thats probably not a bad start ..

Hope your NI roads can pamper my Hayabusa better than the crap we've got down here !

Cheers, W

[Owl]

So depends if you want to see hills or coast at the begining, either are great rides :scooter:

Perhaps if you're young? I'm old and would have trouble keeping my eyes open on either of those routes:zzzz:

[MasterBry]

Perhaps if you're young? I'm old and would have trouble keeping my eyes open on either of those routes:zzzz:

Well when your buzzing along on a stright on your 1050, pop your visor open at 160 kms, I always finds that helps me stay awake :yes:

[MasterBry]

New tyres fitted on the 'Busa today , we can't wait to get away , it'll be a fast trip and that goes without saying ... whilst we have'nt finalised the route , we now have a good picture of where we're going , guess we'll buy a better map than we've got and thats probably not a bad start ..

Hope your NI roads can pamper my Hayabusa better than the crap we've got down here !

Cheers, W

Yes if you get a NI map, you can see some other roads you can take off those I maped for you.

Like going over the Paekakariki Hill ( a nice ride) , then rather than the gorge at Palmerston, do the saddle road via Ashhurst and stop off at the top and look at the wind terbines.

http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Wellington&daddr=-41.15969,174.97131+to:Paekakariki,+Wellington+to:A shhurst,+Manawatu-wanganui+to:-40.30001,175.82366+to:Napier,+Hawkes+Bay&hl=en&geocode=FbAEiv0dmd9qCilBpQ4-1K84bTEuPB_TPeRCyQ%3BFfbzi_0drtltCikrfrB2z6pAbTHx1 4be8LLTOQ%3BFQKnjv0dTJ5tCind4DZ1vKdAbTHgW3Ex7j2tNQ %3BFYVEmf0dWtF5CimZHsiQKLdBbTEa_TGCjXKswQ%3BFRYSmf 0dLNt6CikdYBsEbLlBbTE-JtKmJBujuw%3BFWtnpf0dOYeLCimBOcZE0ExobTF1GA9aiEwzO Q&mra=ls&via=1,4&sll=-39.802206,176.531067&sspn=0.645685,1.448822&ie=UTF8&z=8

Don't expect any better roads up here than you have down there, or you'll be disapointed :eek5:

(When I drove San Francisco to Las Vegas last year, I mapped it out on Google maps, and then just printed it !
It gave me turn by turn directions and got me there spot on. Rather than buy a map, you can do the same as I did, and save yourself some bucks?)
.

[Owl]

Well when your buzzing along on a stright on your 1050, pop your visor open at 160 kms, I always finds that helps me stay awake :yes:

160:eek5:

I might get speed wobbles and fall off;)

[MSTRS]

Do they go that fast? Speedo in MPH, no?

[Owl]

Do they go that fast? Speedo in MPH, no?

Take your pick...........they'll do both:D

[ynot slow]

New tyres fitted on the 'Busa today , we can't wait to get away , it'll be a fast trip and that goes without saying ...


Just what we want,another idiot riding at speed on unfamiliar roads.Man the ideas here are good routes,enjoy them and all the other safety shit.:nono:

The HW50 is realatively cop free,only seen 2 cops since November last year,and travel this road weekly(well seen cops Fri and Sun)first time was me getting pinged at 118km on a Fri,wasa nice evening and not paying attention and was dark so could'nt see cop,and last Sunday when a cop had a car pulled over,both times cop was at HW2 end of the road,about 20km from HW2.

Don't buy any maps,grab a copy of The Motorcycle atlas by Peter Mitchell published by Hema,can buy online or at most bike shops or paper plus etc,costs about $29.95 approx,is easy to read and good compact size.

[Stylo]

Just what we want,another idiot riding at speed on unfamiliar roads.Man the ideas here are good routes,enjoy them and all the other safety shit.:nono:

The HW50 is realatively cop free,only seen 2 cops since November last year,and travel this road weekly(well seen cops Fri and Sun)first time was me getting pinged at 118km on a Fri,wasa nice evening and not paying attention and was dark so could'nt see cop,and last Sunday when a cop had a car pulled over,both times cop was at HW2 end of the road,about 20km from HW2.

Don't buy any maps,grab a copy of The Motorcycle atlas by Peter Mitchell published by Hema,can buy online or at most bike shops or paper plus etc,costs about $29.95 approx,is easy to read and good compact size.

Thanks Ynot and, must say I have'nt been an idiot since I tried the Kareoke thing a few weeks ago , I'll make sure I behave when I'm on your territory ..but only to keep my license intact ...:Police:

Good tips regarding the route and , we can't wait to get away .....dial in some good weather for us and, thanks in advance , J

[grbaker]

Watch the winds past Shanon on SH57 where the road is elevated above ground level... if it blowing hard then Palmerston North via Foxton is easier.

+5 on the SH50 idea. great road (wish is lasted longer)

[O2R]

How did your run up here go ? :blink:

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