Hawke's Bay Ride Outs - is anyone there?

[R650R]

That's a loong impressive day should have stayed there overnight,

Watch this space.... tent currently strapped on back of bike ready to deploy....
I did contemplate that idea up there but just would have meant riding home in even crappierweather nextday....

[Night Falcon]

Had a great day yesterday...shame you blokes couldn't make it.

scroll to post#22 http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/hawkes-bay-adventures.1161907/page-2

[pomgolian]

Had a great day yesterday...shame you blokes couldn't make it.

scroll to post#22 http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/hawkes-bay-adventures.1161907/page-2

Went for a wee ride as well to start running it in.


326358

[pomgolian]

Watch this space.... tent currently strapped on back of bike ready to deploy....
I did contemplate that idea up there but just would have meant riding home in even crappierweather nextday....


Waipiro Bay has a great camp spot right on the beach & the settlement is like stepping back in time, bloody hell is that a suit case wrapped up in there ? Watch those cross winds with that sail on the back ��

[Night Falcon]

Went for a wee ride as well to start running it in.




tail tidy and safari tank essentials done I see....rear shock anti boing boing mod next?

[R650R]

Waipiro Bay has a great camp spot right on the beach & the settlement is like stepping back in time, bloody hell is that a suit case wrapped up in there ? Watch those cross winds with that sail on the back ��

No just bottom half only of my tank bag with tools and air pump etc.
Ended up camping at Tutukaka, primo spot walking distance to pub and store.
Visited Marsden point, cool visitor centre with scale models
Sail looks big due to cAmera angle, not an issue at all

[Night Falcon]

where's a good local place to get a tent lads....two man I spose? what ones the bestest?

[pomgolian]

where's a good local place to get a tent lads....two man I spose? what ones the bestest?

Not much to look at locally Hunting & fishing bout only one left I can think of, Kathmandu not many, depends on your budget and how much your goner use it as well but minimum 2 person in stealthy green big guy :shifty:

Sadly the www is your best bet

[pomgolian]

No just bottom half only of my tank bag with tools and air pump etc.
Ended up camping at Tutukaka, primo spot walking distance to pub and store.
Visited Marsden point, cool visitor centre with scale models
Sail looks big due to cAmera angle, not an issue at all

Jeez your getting around anymore pics ? I was up that way a few months ago in a car visiting an old friend in Waiotira some great gravel roads near there and some caves with camping think it was DOC but great little area.

[R650R]

Jeez your getting around anymore pics ? I was up that way a few months ago in a car visiting an old friend in Waiotira some great gravel roads near there and some caves with camping think it was DOC but great little area.

Will do a write up when I get home as will have to look up some of the better gravel roads I found on google maps.
But in short after Tutukaka I planned on blitzing straight up to Cape and back to a place to stay but..... couple wrong turns, traffic, roadworks, burying the DR in a sinkhole in Mangsmuka gorge, pub banter.... ended up staying with contact at Houhora next then made the Cape yesterday late morning.
Awesome journey more later....

[R650R]

The Long Way north

Started out Monday morning from friends place in Waikato, fueled up in Matamata, up SH27 then motorway onto SH16 out west. Fuelled up again at Helensville Caltex then ended up stopping at Champion Bakery in Wellsford for yummy good value lunch with generous portions.
Turned off up rd to go via Mangawhai heads, got there and took wrong turn due to slow driver distracting me, plus heaps of shitty gravel roadworks everywhere, came back out onto SH1 at Kaiwaka (yes what a SNAFU) and then into the mother opf all bitch annoying mega shitty slow roadworks across the entire Brynderwyn hills. Not a happy chappy at all. But all my fault....

Saw Marsden point and turned off in hope of getting good bike pic with serious industrial background. Low and behold they have a visitor centre in an old 80' style office building, sign posted but looks abandoned. I see some cool crane models inside so try the door and its open. Takea few pics and then an old lady appears and tells me about the AV show upstairs and wow what an awesome scale model they have there of the whole complex, well worth a look.



Left there and then entered Whangarei in afternoon traffic, dodging feral windscreen dirtier gangs, fueled up again at a forgetable noservice station then headed out to Tutukaka.
What a breath of fresh air, great service and relaxed people, everything you need withen walking distance, food booze and supplies.
There is a general store behind the quality inn there and its very well stocked should you be glamping gourmet cooking.
Pitched tent and fairly good nights sleep, woken at 530 am by abundant birdlife....



In the morning packed up and headed along the coast to Helena bay via Matapouri rd, Jubilee rd (gravel milk tanker motorway), Whananaki rd, Pigs Head Rd, Kaiikanui Rd (gravel with stunnning native bush and stream alongside rd), Webb rd (gravel).

Then Russel rd sealed and onto Russel rd gravel section through forest, wicked scenery. Lost my sense of direction here and ended up going towards opua after that, turned around and got onto Waikare rd (gravel) which i wanted and came out at Kawakawa.
By now I was getting well thirsty and hungry, ended up stopping in at the Hunter Star hotel for a Macs Gold with another random biker.
Small world got talking way too long with another stranger who was the Uncle of a guy i used to work for. Heaps of trucks rocking thru, very busy town.

Carried on north through SH1 towards Kaitaia. Mangamuka gorge is wicked piece of twisty hilly road, until i found the rest area with meadow grass. There were various 4WD ruts indicating people play here a bit so thought id have a bit of fun. Stopped and took pics then the fun stopped after i started launching up a hill and found a minefield of basketball sized sinkholes of which the rear wheel sunk into. Recent rain meant it wa soft enough that she dug in quick and also would support sidestand for that style lever around technique. It was dam hot and sunny. Thought ok lay the bitxch on it side seeing as id already dropped it, tried dragging the front around but ti was catch 22 as youd be dropping the front into another hole.
I got the bike spun aropund nearly 180 degrees by myself but was now faced with more sinkholes which id bounced pass with pure dumb luck previously. My swearing and repeat stop start revving the fuk out of the bike digging holes soon caught the attention of a german tourist who gave me just the help i needed to get the front over the other holes. Shook his hand and thanked him. By now my rear hoop was a solid disc of red clay, should have taken a pic but i was so over it by then!
Gas and a juice in Kaitaia then stayed with a friend up the road in Houhora. Was a bit dehydrated and drunk too much of his home brew and ended up having an early night.

In morning got up to the Cape with no drama, it was awesome and worth the long journey. Was going to camp some more on way home but a bit over it by then with the heat and bit of hayfever from that noxious plant with the white flowers and so headed back to the waikato in nmost direct route. Turned off at Waipu to avoid the Brynderwyns but got stuck behind some less than competant motorists. incidently most of the campers and tourists were awesome, it seemed the kwiw drivers that were the worst....
Took the toll road at orewa, pretty easy buying toll online via smartphone.
Motorway was usual gridlock so it was time for some old school lane splitting hadnt done that in a while, passed two seperate cops with no dramas yet.... check th mailbox.....

About 1800kms all up across 4 days of travelling. Some lessons and reminders in planning and long distance riding, stuf fi already knew but forgotten, more planning next time. But hey theres nothing like doing it on the fly and making it up as you go.
One thing ill say though is the northen roads are twistier than expected, as much fun as that is it means you cover distance a lot slower even compared to similar roads down our way and also lots more traffic.

[GPS MAN]

Really enjoyed the write-up:clap:

The pics were awsome:eek5:

We had a good ride around the lake on Saturday... :banana:

[Night Falcon]

Nice work mate, great RR. Liked the bit where ya wus woken at 530 by abundant bird life, could of told chicks dig 530's :laugh:

[pomgolian]

Nice pics like the tent one, my mate who lives up that way worked at Marsden when they have a two week shut down as they take on several hundred people to repair pipes and various other bits said its the most dangerous place he's ever been and never again.

[R650R]

Cheers guys. Been trying to figure a way to catch the late afternoon shadow shot too, thought of frame grabbing the gopro awhile ago but roundtoit and all......

[Night Falcon]

Managed to sneak in a wee ride today Tiger Blueberry Midweek ADV (http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/hawkes-bay-adventures.1161907/page-2#post-30975482)

[GPS MAN]

Great Pics and write-up on ADV...

What happened to the Go Pro ~ Pics only?????????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????

I wanted to hear that 250 scream:clap:

[R650R]

Managed to sneak in a wee ride today Tiger Blueberry Midweek ADV (http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/hawkes-bay-adventures.1161907/page-2#post-30975482)

Secret lunch location.... looks like Te kootis bridge ????

Lucky you, I was stuffing packs of timber into 40ft containers all day, all week actually....

[Night Falcon]

Secret lunch location.... looks like Te kootis bridge ????

Lucky you, I was stuffing packs of timber into 40ft containers all day, all week actually....

doubt he's ever used it but you are correct. :laugh:

[R650R]

doubt he's ever used it but you are correct. :laugh:

Our rural contacts gurus should organise a ride through there, there is a historic lookout marked under same name. Been to the other end of that road at four way cross roads up back of Willowflat, goes through private farm station.
Good elevation and views are great.

[Night Falcon]

Our rural contacts gurus should organise a ride through there, there is a historic lookout marked under same name. Been to the other end of that road at four way cross roads up back of Willowflat, goes through private farm station.
Good elevation and views are great.

thought you were our rural contact guru :scratch:

[R650R]

Few lads at work have had some expensive rides up the Wairoa rd recently. Apparently a very effective, stealthy and hungry traffic unit working up there.

[R650R]

compiling stolen list in other forum section, noted this in search results....

98ZLP, Black,Suzuki, DR650SE, 2008,Roadbike, 2017-01-31,Eastern

[R650R]

Out for random cruise, saw tide was right at Kairakau so did Pourere to blackhead and then lunch at Porangahau.
Awesoem day and nice cool sea breeze.....

[Night Falcon]

Out for random cruise, saw tide was right at Kairakau so did Pourere to blackhead and then lunch at Porangahau.
Awesoem day and nice cool sea breeze.....

that's still my preferred day ride in the bay....and way better than the Auckland traffic we were in today

[pomgolian]

Out for random cruise, saw tide was right at Kairakau so did Pourere to blackhead and then lunch at Porangahau.
Awesoem day and nice cool sea breeze.....

Nice, i went for a random cruise Thursday afternoon up into the hills forecast here was good, Taupo was good but in between it pissed down so rather than camping got home at 3am tired but a good blast.

[Night Falcon]

Nice, i went for a random cruise Thursday afternoon up into the hills forecast here was good, Taupo was good but in between it pissed down so rather than camping got home at 3am tired but a good blast.

dodged that bullet....thanks Auckland :laugh:

[pomgolian]

You said weather looked good !!

[Night Falcon]

You said weather looked good !!

it was great where we was :wari:

[R650R]

Popped up Kaweka rd other weekend... the deadfall damage from heavy snow awhile ago has changed the views, lot more light coming thru canopy and able to see stuff down in valleys...

[Night Falcon]

Popped up Kaweka rd other weekend... the deadfall damage from heavy snow awhile ago has changed the views, lot more light coming thru canopy and able to see stuff down in valleys...

Awesome shots Raymond.

[swtfa]

Is there a trail ride off the Napier-Taihape Road?

[Citroenjunkie]

Has anyone any info regarding this DOC site please?

The online blurb says the last 500 m of the road is only accessible to 4x4, my thinking was 1x2 should cope just fine?

I was thinking maybe second weekend in December, any takers?

[pomgolian]

Has anyone any info regarding this DOC site please?

The online blurb says the last 500 m of the road is only accessible to 4x4, my thinking was 1x2 should cope just fine?

I was thinking maybe second weekend in December, any takers?

Nothing spectacular if it’s the one I’m thinking of, last 500m are a steep decent tar seal I think been a few years since I was there. As it’s so steep and if it’s damp or cold traction is a real issue saw a camper stuck half way up slipped off the road. The bottom has a small car park by the river and wire bridge with toilet and some areas under trees not big at all and the cars park under the trees as it’s a parking area for people going bush over the bridge.

Go have a look but there are far better spots where you won’t get disturbed by 4x4s, several along the Mohaka, Te Kuti’s bridge, Minganui, lake waikaromoana, plus many more

[Citroenjunkie]

Thanks I’ll keep looking.

[R650R]

Has anyone any info regarding this DOC site please?

The online blurb says the last 500 m of the road is only accessible to 4x4, my thinking was 1x2 should cope just fine?

I was thinking maybe second weekend in December, any takers?

Havent been since cadet forces days, winter camps and unimogs..... there is camping at Kuripapango and a hut up Comet rd which is good ride and views

[Citroenjunkie]

Thanks sounds possible

[Night Falcon]

Couple more comet hut shots. The orange shack is the hut

[R650R]

Bit of a late update but did loop of Napier-Kairakau-Pourere beach-blackhead-beach-Porangahau and then back roads onto middle rd and home Monday.

Beach was good but due to the recent very dry conditions there was LOTS of deep dry sand and the entry and exit points from beach to road. Bike handled it well with the Cogent suspension upgrades compared to last time I was in sand, was way more manageable but still good challenge, sand being sand!

Pub was closed because it was Monday or I slightly late 1.30pm ish.... Good pies across the road at dairy.

Old Hill road, great view before back onto main road, then took Hiranui rd , holy hell there was a hilux coming slow towards me with a roadtrain style dust cloud behind. The road was basically a couple inches of completely bone dry silt dust and little gravel, very loose. Wish I had the gopro, rearward dustrail would have been epic footage. Te Awa rd was marginally better but very loose surface over hardpack.
Then Fam rd, Motere rd, long range rd back to pourere rd and stop on outskirts waipawa for catch up with old mate.

Hot day but had all the vents open from when I started so not too bad.

[Citroenjunkie]

Your ride sounds awesome, I need to go adventuring!
Did the Ride Forever Gold course last weekend with Ken in Palmerston North. Excellent days riding with lots of great tips and pointers. I really recommend the courses, even if you’ve been riding for the last 40 odd years( some of them very odd!)

[R650R]

Did 30kms of fun having good look about at Frost Flat this morning :)

[Citroenjunkie]

Did 30kms of fun having good look about at Frost Flat this morning :)

It looks like dryer version of the entry to the Frozen Kiwi, but without someone there to push you through!

[Night Falcon]

Did 30kms of fun having good look about at Frost Flat this morning :)

wanted to get in there with the 530 for a weekend but never got round to it <_<

[R650R]

Holy cow Batman https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/102499230/huge-slip-between-wairoa-and-gisborne-creates-large-lake-and-significant-hazard

[That looks like fun]

Holy cow Batman https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/102499230/huge-slip-between-wairoa-and-gisborne-creates-large-lake-and-significant-hazard

I like how they say specialist engineers are coming in to have a look at it ;)
What that means is the Ka Ching Ka Ching dollar bus is rolling into town for someone. :bs:
In the dark ages someone with a stick of Dynamite and a front end loader would have been sent in first with the simple instructions being "fix it" :yes:

[R650R]

Silver/grey Hayabusa in Napier, stolen early Friday m orning from Tourist, rego B3EEK

https://www.facebook.com/EasternDist...72388026150040

[R650R]

Popped over the Annie for a ride up Tukino on Saturday. Some nasty deep soft sand patches where the recent heavy rains have created rivers across the 4wd track....

[R650R]

Out for dinner last weekend, Kraut fest outside Masonic hotel, musta been Beemer rally of some kind....
Nice to see so many bikes there....