Taupo -> Wellington via Napier

[BritBiker]

Thinking about doing this trip in a day as part of a 15 day tour of the two islands, instead of Route 1.

My maps say 8 hours total, does that seem realistic? What are the roads like?

[insomnia01]

8 hrs sounds right for the most direct route from Taupo to Wgtn via Napier, A couple of must do roads are 1- Middle road from Havelock North to Waipawa, 2- Waipukurau to Porangahau, 3- route 52 to Masterton, 4- Rimutakas

All of these roads hock up nicely from Napier & are a great alternative than just sticking to SH2 all the way, I recently did these roads on Xmas day & they where all in excellant condition, if you look up MOTOWHERE.COM I have posted the map of the route on did on the day under the name of Insomnia01

[BritBiker]

Thanks for that, it's the longest day I'm taking on so I didn't want it turning into 10/12 hours.

Is it a lot quicker on route 1?

[sinfull]

Thanks for that, it's the longest day I'm taking on so I didn't want it turning into 10/12 hours.

Is it a lot quicker on route 1? Mate you don't even want to be thinking route 1 (unless you want to take a picture of the mountain) Ok so it's a nice road but not very scenic, road works and cops every ten k .

The roads insomnia put you on to will get ya to wellington in 8 hours easy but you will get to see a bit of the countryside , in fact there's a couple of saddles on the porongahau valley that you can see near the whole east coast

another beaut way to go would be taupo -1- turangi - 41- tauramanui - forgotton Highway -43- stratford then south to wanganui - then down on to route 1 at Bulls to wellington another day ride but brilliant kiwi roads where you'd think your bound to see ukelalis thrown at ya !

Or if you have the time while in taupo a day ride would be the above i mentioned, but then when ya get to Wanganui you hook left back up the paraparas -4- back up to Raetihi then Ohakune and Waiouru, take ya pic of the mountain and back up to taupo !

[Quasi]

8 hours seems a bit long. Its no more then a couple hours Taupo to Napier, then no more then 4 hours Napier to Wellington. These are VERY generous times as well ie coffee stops etc. Have a great journey and if you need a stop over in the Wairarapa, I have lots of room for bikes and people.

[MSTRS]

Taupo - Napier = <150km
Napier - Welly = 300km
That's using SH5 and SH2. What speed you gonna be doing to take 8 hours?

Of course, insomnia's suggested route is much better as an interesting motorcycle route...but you're gunna need more than 8 hours going that way.

[sinfull]

Of course, insomnia's suggested route is much better as an interesting motorcycle route...but you're gunna need more than 8 hours going that way. Nah mate we do that loop all the time from down here and no way it'll take 8 hours, you'll know you've ridden it lol but should knock it out in 8 i recon !

[MSTRS]

Not when one is unfamiliar with it, needs to stop and check the map at each turnoff, and/or to take photos etc...

[insomnia01]

I reckon 4 - 5 hrs for the napier to wgtn leg is more than enough time as long as you do some prep before hand ( turn off points, junctions to cross etc,etc ) then its a case of cruzing & enjoying the road cause its a goody alright :niceone: You could add in Glengarry road off the Napier/ Taupo road into fernhill then across to Havelock Nth if you really wanted to have a good look around

[BritBiker]

Thanks for all the answers. I'm doing the prep right now, and I'll be using GPS as well. We're on Harleys so we will be a bit slower than some, but they do perform quite well given the clearance.

Insomnias route is the same as the Hema M/cycle atlas, and that is the one we will probably do.

I'm quite convinced to go that way now as route 1 sounds too boring, better 8 hours of great roads than 6 boring.

As far as taking pics, breaks lunch etc. I would think this route might actually take us 12hrs door to door. We will want to have a look at Napier.

[BMWST?]

Thanks for all the answers. I'm doing the prep right now, and I'll be using GPS as well. We're on Harleys so we will be a bit slower than some, but they do perform quite well given the clearance.

Insomnias route is the same as the Hema M/cycle atlas, and that is the one we will probably do.

I'm quite convinced to go that way now as route 1 sounds too boring, better 8 hours of great roads than 6 boring.

As far as taking pics, breaks lunch etc. I would think this route might actually take us 12hrs door to door. We will want to have a look at Napier.

Napier has many Art Deco Buildings if your that way inclined

[MSTRS]

I reckon 4 - 5 hrs for the napier to wgtn leg is more than enough time...

Shortest route (5 and 2) is 450kms. No way can one average 90kph (and do it legally). Towns and fuel stops put paid to that.

[Stylo]

Shortest route (5 and 2) is 450kms. No way can one average 90kph (and do it legally). Towns and fuel stops put paid to that.

Did the Napier - Taupo road in early October and , two up on the '09 Hayabusa..took just over and hour +20 ( I think ) and we were moving, at stages 250 + . Dammn that was a good road...:-)

Guess on a slower Bike you'd need to figure a couple of Harley hours ( 3 ? )

5cents

[BritBiker]

We'll have a couple of days to see what kind of speeds we're riding, then we can try to figure out if it's worth it. I think I'll do it anyway, as one long day in the saddle won't kill me.

We were thinking the Art Deco would be worth a look too.

[MSTRS]

I reckon 4 - 5 hrs for the napier to wgtn leg is more than enough time as long as you do some prep before hand ( turn off points, junctions to cross etc,etc ) then its a case of cruzing & enjoying the road cause its a goody alright :niceone: Shortest route (5 and 2) is 450kms. No way can one average 90kph (and do it legally). Towns and fuel stops put paid to that.
Must. Learn. To. Read.
Still don't think that 5 hours Nap-Welly is really viable - off-piste.


We were thinking the Art Deco would be worth a look too.

I'm Napier based, so give us a shout if you want.

[insomnia01]

I did it on xmas day no problems

[grbaker]

Do a leg on highway 50 (Napier to Takapua)... misses two dull towns on SH2 and is a quiet road with some nice corners. Only down side is I always find a tractor on it somewhere and occasionally stock on the road.

8 hours Taupo, Napier, Wellington - easy as.

If you use the SH1 route the you have to (I mean it) take SH54 from just north of Hunterville to Fielding. Some of the scenery and corners on SH54 have been made to order for motorcyclists-truely. From there head to PN then either SH-57 south or through to Woodville and SH2 south.

But as every one else here has said.. SH1 sucks, stay off it.. for the whole North Island it is shit. Road condition is crap, roadworks, cops, cars drivers whom can't and others whom are really impatient dicks... B roads man, are the way to travel... less traffic, nicer towns, better roads, better poeple.

[ynot slow]

I'm Napier based, so give us a shout if you want.

And art deco in person.:msn-wink: