Far North best gravel roads, pies & pubs?

[Tug Boat]

Which are the best gravel roads and the best pubs in the far North doing a 3 day ride in November
Rough guess of which way we are going.
Day 1 Silverdale to Ahipara
Day 2 Ahipara , 90 mile beach , Russell
Day 3 Russell to Silverdale

[george formby]

DO NOT EAT LEN'S PIE'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Toxic.

I'm still flegdling on the gravel oop north but you can't really go wrong. From SH 10 between Pakaraka & Puketona junction turn onto Oromahoe road, gravel & used by the Northland Rally, say hello to the Kauri. That road comes out at Opua, turn right towards Kawakawa & take the Waikare road, more gravel & comes out onto the Old Russell road. Turn left to go to Russell or right followed immediately by another right onto the original Old Russell road, it's signposted Twin Kauris so say hello to them too. This will bring you out near Bland Bay & The Farm. Nice wee loop.

http://maps.google.co.nz/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&source=embed&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=108330471466062217291.00044e734074214354d9e

This shows the Bay of Islands bit.

The Houhora Tavern is cool. Not sure if the pub is still open at Waitiki Landing but it's not as fierce as it looks.

The bakery at Awanui used to do cracking pies. We stopped at the Gumdiggers store, Totara North, yesterday & had a BIG basket of chips for $6! If you are going up the Peria valley stop at the Bush Fairy Dairy for an ice cream, which reminds me, the bakery at Taipa used to be good too.

The Boatshed in Rawene was busy but the coffee average IMHO.

Make sure you have plenty of fuel heading up the cape, Awanui may be your last petrol stop.

If you can be bothered PM me your route, I am planning on doing a lot of exploring up their soon.

Riding round from Shippies to the final Bluff & back through the Gumfields or their maybe a 4 x 4 route down to Mitimiti, maybe.... is on the cards.

And of course if you are coming through Paihia you must pop in and say hello to yours truly.

[CookMySock]

Whangaroa/Wainui/Matauri bay roads (near Kaeo) used to be mostly gravel - dunno how much so these days - theres some really attractive little bays along here if you want to dawdle and enjoy the scenery.

90 mile beach is almost mandatory of course.

Also, depending what bikes you are on, you might be able to enter East Beach at Houhora Heads, ford the little stream to the south (at low tide) and ride down the beach to Kaimaumau. Lots of people in 4WDs do it, so I'd recommend it on adventure bikes. The only real obstacle is the ford (not much) and the soft spot on the beach, as per the following warning.

WARNING: If you take the east beach, you must be aware of the invisible soft spot in the sand toward the south-eastern end of the beach near the Kaimaumau on-ramp. If two or three bikes hit this at speed while travelling closely, there is going to be a nasty pileup followed by a chopper flight out. It's just past the channel marker, as the beach turns southward. Either stay RIGHT at the waterline, or HARD up against the sand dunes. The nice flat firm-looking bit of sandy beach in-between is NOT FIRM at all.

http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?q=kaimaumau&ll=-34.894714,173.280519&spn=0.006591,0.006888&hnear=Kaimaumau,+Northland&t=h&z=17&vpsrc=6


Have fun! Go the adventure bikes - looking to get me one. :niceone:

[george formby]

Whangaroa/Wainui/Matauri bay roads (near Kaeo) used to be mostly gravel - dunno how much so these days - theres some really attractive little bays along here if you want to dawdle and enjoy the scenery.

90 mile beach is almost mandatory of course.

Also, depending what bikes you are on, you might be able to enter East Beach at Houhora Heads, ford the little stream to the south (at low tide) and ride down the beach to Kaimaumau. Lots of people in 4WDs do it, so I'd recommend it on adventure bikes. The only real obstacle is the ford (not much) and the soft spot on the beach, as per the following warning.

WARNING: If you take the east beach, you must be aware of the invisible soft spot in the sand toward the south-eastern end of the beach near the Kaimaumau on-ramp. If two or three bikes hit this at speed while travelling closely, there is going to be a nasty pileup followed by a chopper flight out. It's just past the channel marker, as the beach turns southward. Either stay RIGHT at the waterline, or HARD up against the sand dunes. The nice flat firm-looking bit of sandy beach in-between is NOT FIRM at all.

http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?q=kaimaumau&ll=-34.894714,173.280519&spn=0.006591,0.006888&hnear=Kaimaumau,+Northland&t=h&z=17&vpsrc=6


Have fun! Go the adventure bikes - looking to get me one. :niceone:

Did that loop yesterday, plenty of gravel but the road is all tar seal now. Yup, the silica sand on East Beach catches a lot of people out. Spent many an afternoon pulling out visitors 4 x 4's. Mind you, great place for scallops after a strong easterlie.

[avgas]

Len's Hangi Pie in Kaikohe.
Fuckers fall apart in your hands but taste yummy.

[george formby]

Len's Hangi Pie in Kaikohe.
Fuckers fall apart in your hands but taste yummy.

The dairy next door sells them. The lip, eyelid & rectum content is too high for me to get enthusiastic about them.