Condition of back roads in Taranaki?

[Gremlin]

Gotta be in New Plymouth on Monday, figuring I might make a weekend of heading down (depending on what's happening with a damn front due on the weekend).

There's an interesting section of roads between Pehu and Purangi, that according to NZOGPS there are two roads right next to each other and they sorta end and start in random places. Also Heao Rd looks interesting. I suspect the map is incorrect, so what's better than going and riding them.

I saw that Whangamomona Rd (haven't done yet as well) was a mud bath a while back... so curious if locals know what the back roads around Forgotten Highway are like...

[nadroj]

Heao Rd is a goat track! Inglewood to Pohukura (just before Whangamomona) via Tarata road and Junction road has about 16km of heavy gravel but is doable on a sportsbike. Matau rd is gravel.

[Gremlin]

Heao Rd is a goat track! Inglewood to Pohukura (just before Whangamomona) via Tarata road and Junction road has about 16km of heavy gravel but is doable on a sportsbike. Matau rd is gravel.
Uh... adv/dual purpose bike section here ;) By goat track I assume you mean it's gravel? Cool.

What's a sportsbike? Sounds impractical...

[gijoe1313]

Here we go again! :facepalm: Just as well you got a bike that can take the damage you dish out to it!

[dino3310]

Watch out for those Taranaki fella's mate, they fall off a lot:bleh:
But they have got some bloody good ADV roads down there, no doubt they will chime in when they finish milking

[James Deuce]

Beware of banjos and toothless men making pig noises and you'll be fine.

[Rosie]

Gotta be in New Plymouth on Monday, figuring I might make a weekend of heading down (depending on what's happening with a damn front due on the weekend).

There's an interesting section of roads between Pehu and Purangi, that according to NZOGPS there are two roads right next to each other and they sorta end and start in random places. Also Heao Rd looks interesting. I suspect the map is incorrect, so what's better than going and riding them.

I saw that Whangamomona Rd (haven't done yet as well) was a mud bath a while back... so curious if locals know what the back roads around Forgotten Highway are like...

No idea about current road conditions, but I do know that Taranaki mud is, uh, interesting when it's wet (search 'Naki liquifaction tour' for more details). If you stick to gravelled roads you should be sweet - but I suspect dirt tracks like the Old Whangamomona rd would be pretty dodgy on a big bus like yours this time of year.

[Eddieb]

It has been known to take over 3 hours to do the 17km of Whangamomona road in winter.

This is a dry bit

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[Gremlin]

No idea about current road conditions, but I do know that Taranaki mud is, uh, interesting when it's wet (search 'Naki liquifaction tour' for more details). If you stick to gravelled roads you should be sweet - but I suspect dirt tracks like the Old Whangamomona rd would be pretty dodgy on a big bus like yours this time of year.
I agree completely... uh, but I prefer to call it a truck... ;)

Hence the thread... I'd rather not find out something I want explore is mud when I'm stuck up to my waist :sweatdrop Rough gravel, streams etc are all fine by me :yes:

[Rosie]

From the looks of google maps (+ satellite images) both Heao Rd, and Ngatoto Rds might be a bit dubious for this time of year.

There are, however, lots of really good gravelled roads in the greater Whangamomona area. I just don't remember which ones we've been on :facepalm:
Hopefully Mr. that_looks_like_fun will be in from mowing the lawn soon and will be able to provide some suggestions.

[Gremlin]

From the looks of google maps (+ satellite images) both Heao Rd, and Ngatoto Rds might be a bit dubious for this time of year.
Ya learn something new every day too... there's actually 2 Heao Rds. One near Matau (I think the one you had in mind) might be a dead end. The other is just south of Tatu on Ohura Rd (SH43) and runs beside the train tracks for a while before going south into the National Park. NZOGPS says it's sealed... I think no-one has updated the maps.

Clearly this needs exploring and updating :shifty:

[Gremlin]

Weather keeps looking better and better with the front arriving later... looks like more play time and less mud.

Of course, now it means I'll probably be drenched going home Monday arvo but meh, it's all main roads home :yawn:

Keep the conditions and road advice coming :yes:

[gijoe1313]

This ride could pan out in two ways - the usual ride report of the usual gremlin dubiousness that follows him, or an epic saga about being stranded in the boondocks with hillbillies and a mud stuck bike!

[Gremlin]

I'll be avoiding mud, as I have to work on the bike Monday morning, pulling her apart for some of Dr Rob's loving. 'nuff said.

[gijoe1313]

You keep saying this, you keep saying that - yet, in reality, all that happens is more of the usual same old chaotic and apocalyptic mess!

[Gremlin]

So here's a rough idea of the route for Saturday... an excellent place to explore I feel as Google Maps (+satellite) and NZOGPS can't agree on most of the roads. :blink:

Blue is probably likely as it's also got a couple of points to bail (assuming they uh... exist). Pink was going well, potentially heaps of corrections, then realised I probably wouldn't make it to New Plymouth for a week or so...

I like how there's no straight stuff :love:

Oh, and my boss is tagging along for the weekend portion with his gf in an Xtrail. Hopefully he doesn't kill me over the abundance of dead ends and my body is found in 25 years or so!

[Night Falcon]

Oh, and my boss is tagging along for the weekend portion with his gf in an Xtrail. Hopefully he doesn't kill me over the abundance of dead ends and my body is found in 25 years or so!

buy a spot tracker....they'll be able to find your rotting stinking corpse a lot quicker, maybe even before the pigs get to it....Arh, don't mention it, I've gotten lots of useful advice like that on this forum, so consider it paid forward:shifty:

[That looks like fun]

Well well well, :facepalm: just arrived from mowing the lawns :yes: read your thread :eek5: looked at your map :gob:
The emergency number in Taranaki is 111, the yellow helicopter is the one that will come get ya :woohoo: Let me know where you left the bike I will go get it for you in December :scooter:

Unfortunatly NZOpen GPS is not very accurate in Taranaki, nor is Google Earth or maps. Many roads that show on these maps are infact across private farm land and may (or may not be) paper roads. You can argue that one with the farmer after his sheep have aborted and mismothered their lambs because someone on a bike rode through the middle of "his" paddock.
Dont go near the Haeo, Upper Moki, or Whanga Rds. The roads on the Tarata side of the Waitara River by Purangi dont exist. Upper Mangaehu will have a closed padlocked gate across it at this time of year. 15km walk to the farm house if you want to argue the point :crybaby:
No you cant get through Jury, Mangamaire or Matau North Rds, Dont even think about the Mt Damper Rd :shutup:

On a big bike if you want to poke your nose into Taranaki this time of year stick to what you can see on an AA map :Punk:
There is a shitload of good gravel, to be had :Punk: Which entrance to the Naki are you useing? Let me know and I will get the snipers on the border to stand down :innocent: And let you have a few Do-able suggestions :woohoo:

[James Deuce]

He's from Inglewood. Don't trust him or his cousin-brother.

[That looks like fun]

He's from Inglewood. Don't trust him or his cousin-brother.

You sure got a purty mouth bouy :shifty: Chicka ding ding ding <_<

[Gremlin]

Ta sir, just the sort of excellent local knowledge I was after... No, not interested in crossing private land without permission (often they're not standing by the gate waiting for me??) so signs/gates means I turn around. Excellent that the map isn't accurate... well, ok, it's bad, but it means I have to ride down every road and check :innocent:

Given it's winter, I'll certainly avoid the rough stuff, and I was curious about Mt Damper... maybe not now :sweatdrop

Basically going from Taumarunui to New Plymouth. Planned to use Kururau Rd west to River Rd, north on Huia Rd to Ohura then west on Waitaanga Rd through to Kotare. South on Okau Rd (becomes Mangapapa Rd). Want to use Makino North Rd westbound, but Google Maps says it doesn't exist all the way through, so instead I'll figure out the accuracy, backtrack and use Moki (unless this is Upper Moki?). There's also Rerekapa north again. South on Rerekino, expect to find the end of the road and not be able to head west, so backtrack again and try Uruti and Ngatoto.

Basically going in a circle to figure out where roads end (and ergo what doesn't exist). Probably a good day by there (or earlier) and out via Uruti or Kaka. Will go in via Tarata on Sunday probably to figure out the southern part by Waitara River.


Well well well, :facepalm: just arrived from mowing the lawns :yes: read your thread :eek5: looked at your map :gob:
The emergency number in Taranaki is 111, the yellow helicopter is the one that will come get ya :woohoo: Let me know where you left the bike I will go get it for you in December :scooter:
Please don't shoot me, and I'd prefer to keep my bike thanks :yes:

[That looks like fun]

Want to use Makino North Rd westbound, but Google Maps says it doesn't exist all the way through, so instead I'll figure out the accuracy, backtrack and use Moki (unless this is Upper Moki?). There's also Rerekapa north again. South on Rerekino, expect to find the end of the road and not be able to head west, so backtrack again and try Uruti and Ngatoto.

Basically going in a circle to figure out where roads end (and ergo what doesn't exist). Probably a good day by there (or earlier) and out via Uruti or Kaka. Will go in via Tarata on Sunday probably to figure out the southern part by Waitara River.


Please don't shoot me, and I'd prefer to keep my bike thanks :yes:

If you manage to find the Rerekapa or Makino give me a yell, wouldnt mind finding riding em myself :Punk: The tracks (and I use that word loosly) that approximaite the position of these roads I already know about :facepalm:

Ngatoto is a dead end (from both ends) :blink: Ok so I guess you have looked on Google maps and seen the bridge :yes: No you cant get to the bridge unless your wings will fly you across ohhhh, lets say 5 metres should be enough :crazy:
(Might be a bit tough to get enough speed up for the jump coming round that filthy muddy track :gob:) On the plus side you wont get to within ten k of the bridge from the other end either :shit:
Mt Damper Rd, meh maybe summer I will give it a go on the 250 :woohoo: but then maybe not :sick: Top end of the road is still there but quickly dissapears into a thing we in the naki call "mud filled paddock" :Oops:

Mangaoapa Rd is a neat road while your out back of Purangi. I would say at a guess 80% of the roads shown on NZOpen GPS in that area just do not exist in any way shape or form :Oops:
On the plus side if you dont open any gates we wont end up digging your bike out of the mud in december lol.
Have fun :Punk: I look forward to your ride report :woohoo:

[Gremlin]

I would say at a guess 80% of the roads shown on NZOpen GPS in that area just do not exist in any way shape or form :Oops:
On the plus side if you dont open any gates we wont end up digging your bike out of the mud in december lol.
Have fun :Punk: I look forward to your ride report :woohoo:
Thanks. It looks like I'm in for a laugh either way :yes:

[That looks like fun]

Well what a dissapointment :weep: just passed a Gremlin heading out towards Tarata and the bike is shiny clean :gob:
Did ya wash it last night :woohoo: Or is it as I suspect :innocent: lots of non existant roads and a few closed gates :Oops:
Hope you had fun :woohoo: If you dont mind the deadends there is still a lot of awesome gravel and scenery.
:corn:

[Gremlin]

on mobile at mo.

why didn't you say hi then? were you the tenere? I found mud in ngatoto. bikes filthy, it almost claimed it as I almost couldn't get up a hill. knackered after that and called it a day. trying to find a waterblaster to clear some of the mud off, but an excellent 2 days of exploring. details to follow in due course

[That looks like fun]

Na mate, I was in a little red cage that the wife was driving :sick:. Hope you got some photos of the mud :woohoo:
:corn:

[Team Buffoon]

I came back from 'Naki to Auckland 2 weeks ago. I turned off at Awakino Gorge and took the road north to Marokopa, Kawhia, Raglan, Huntley, SH1. It's nearly all seal but its sure prettier and more fun than the main road. Small section of gravel before Marokopa is in good nick and good open sweepers. Gravel from Kawhia to Raglan was also in good repair. Was going to carry on on SH22 but I was getting cold and tired by then so opted for the SH1 head down bum up wind it on, keeping an eye out for cops route. It were a grand day out although not nearly as rough and ready as your route down.

[BMWST?]

So here's a rough idea of the route for Saturday... an excellent place to explore I feel as Google Maps (+satellite) and NZOGPS can't agree on most of the roads. :blink:

Blue is probably likely as it's also got a couple of points to bail (assuming they uh... exist). Pink was going well, potentially heaps of corrections, then realised I probably wouldn't make it to New Plymouth for a week or so...

I like how there's no straight stuff :love:

Oh, and my boss is tagging along for the weekend portion with his gf in an Xtrail. Hopefully he doesn't kill me over the abundance of dead ends and my body is found in 25 years or so!


so do you load these routes onto your zumo and try to follow them?

[Gremlin]

so do you load these routes onto your zumo and try to follow them?
Pretty much... maybe set a point further than I know the road exists, then route back around to another road... You still sort of need the layout of roads in your head, as the recalc will do all sorts of things when you turn back down early...