Help wanted planning Northland ride

[Latte]

Have been reviewing posts here and planned a 3 day trip of Northland on suggestions in here.

Will be staying at Paihia Friday and Saturday night (accomodation booked). Want to do the Cape on Saturday. And Tane Mahuta on Friday on the way up. Trying to make the most of the three days.

Have come up with this route - http://goo.gl/maps/yOK2O.

Trying to do the Mangamuka's, and Old Russell Road. But will defer for better roads.

Also looking for good places to stop on the way for - views, meals, quiet drink etc. Will have the missus on the back so 3-400k a day is fine, anymore is a bit iffy. I think the route I have planned is 1000k all up.

Any advice will be considered :D

[Maha]

The Mangamukas are in great condition...strike a fine day and OMG!
If you a biker friendly place to stay at night two?....http://www.sanmarino.co.nz/

This road also is in very good condition...traffic is heavy though, with maybe 4-6 cars over the 70kms. http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?saddr=Kaikohe,+Northland&daddr=Maungatapere,+Northland&hl=en&sll=-35.711815,174.287782&sspn=0.226079,0.528374&geocode=Faa64_0dlglcCikT7jdutekLbTHg0KJDYe8ABQ%3BF RNs3v0dLzNiCikjmU79soALbTHA4qJDYe8ABQ&oq=Maunga&mra=ls&t=m&z=11

[Latte]

The Mangamukas are in great condition...strike a fine day and OMG!
If you a biker friendly place to stay at night two?....http://www.sanmarino.co.nz/

This road also is in very good condition...traffic is heavy though, with maybe 4-6 cars over the 70kms. http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?saddr=Kaikohe,+Northland&daddr=Maungatapere,+Northland&hl=en&sll=-35.711815,174.287782&sspn=0.226079,0.528374&geocode=Faa64_0dlglcCikT7jdutekLbTHg0KJDYe8ABQ%3BF RNs3v0dLzNiCikjmU79soALbTHA4qJDYe8ABQ&oq=Maunga&mra=ls&t=m&z=11

thanks for the response.

Yeah I have been following your ride thread - if the accommodation wasn't booked we would go there, and if I had the time I was thinking of joining your ride (maybe next year). Will definitely be up this way again late summer so will make sure we try it out.

That road would miss Tane Mahuta on the way up (I have to visit it, not an option I'm told :P ) , but I could do it on the way back instead of old russell? which would you suggest. I can always do it next time I suppose.

[Maha]

thanks for the response.

Yeah I have been following your ride thread - if the accommodation wasn't booked we would go there, and if I had the time I was thinking of joining your ride (maybe next year). Will definitely be up this way again late summer so will make sure we try it out.

That road would miss Tane Mahuta on the way up (I have to visit it, not an option I'm told :P ) , but I could do it on the way back instead of old russell? which would you suggest. I can always do it next time I suppose.

Either really, my prefference would always be twin bridges over the Old Russell road, did that once and that was enough, never really been that keen to revisit to be honest.
On the other hand, the first time I rode twin bridges, I got to Kaikohe and thought, damn im turning around and doing that again, it suited my kind of riding.
Another option is....http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?saddr=Kaikohe,+Northland&daddr=Dargaville,+Northland&hl=en&ll=-35.555692,173.853149&spn=0.906085,2.113495&sll=-35.711815,174.287782&sspn=0.226079,0.528374&geocode=Faa64_0dlglcCikT7jdutekLbTHg0KJDYe8ABQ%3BF d-Y2_0dVwhdCik_xmFipHIMbTEgv6JDYe8ABQ&oq=Dargaville&mra=ls&t=m&z=10
Taylor road/Tangowhaine road is a well kept secret.
But don't let me sway you, its your ride.

[jumma]

Looks like you've got more or less the same idea as me. I'm looking at doing this (http://goo.gl/maps/usMei) over the coming weekend, will based in Opononi for 3 nights for a wedding so restricting myself to the West coast. Doing a day trip up to the Cape on Friday then shooting through to Pahi on Sunday.

Only thing I'm not too sure about is the Hokianga Ferry - would anyone know whether to take your own tie-downs or are they even necessary? Looks like a pretty calm harbour.

Cheers,
Jumma

[Maha]

Looks like you've got more or less the same idea as me. I'm looking at doing this (http://goo.gl/maps/usMei) over the coming weekend, will based in Opononi for 3 nights for a wedding so restricting myself to the West coast. Doing a day trip up to the Cape on Friday then shooting through to Pahi on Sunday.

Only thing I'm not too sure about is the Hokianga Ferry - would anyone know whether to take your own tie-downs or are they even necessary? Looks like a pretty calm harbour.

Cheers,
Jumma

No tie downs needed.

[jumma]

No tie downs needed.

Good stuff, cheers.

[Bassmatt]

Great thread people! The wife and I are thinking of doing the "norf of the norf" over the summer.
Keep posting those maps and be sure to report in after your trips, you are all saving me alot of planning. :yes:

[Maha]

Great thread people! The wife and I are thinking of doing the "norf of the norf" over the summer.
Keep posting those maps and be sure to report in after your trips, you are all saving me alot of planning. :yes:

If you base a day ride out of Paihia...http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?saddr=Paihia,+Northland&daddr=Kaikohe,+Northland+to:Dargaville,+Northland+ to:Omapere,+Northland+to:Kohukohu,+Northland+to:Ka itaia,+Northland+to:Mangonui,+Northland+to:-35.0092459,173.8410044+to:Matauri+Bay,+Northland+t o:Paihia,+Northland&hl=en&ll=-35.14181,173.756332&spn=0.45537,1.056747&sll=-35.169318,173.706894&sspn=0.455216,1.056747&geocode=FeSo5f0dGmtgCilPHpE6tqILbTGA86JDYe8ABQ%3BF aa64_0dlglcCikT7jdutekLbTHg0KJDYe8ABQ%3BFd-Y2_0dVwhdCik_xmFipHIMbTEgv6JDYe8ABQ%3BFRbH4f0daa9V Ciknt0lAZkUJbTHAtKJDYe8ABQ%3BFVlz5P0dABhYCimNIDsT6 mYJbTEQs6JDYe8ABQ%3BFe4m6P0dZ9pTCintANJ9SXcJbTGw0a JDYe8ABQ%3BFXII6v0dVtdXCimHkzrwZIAJbTEQ36JDYe8ABQ% 3BFSPN6f0dbJpcCik5tBChgDMKbTEheIEGYe8AEw%3BFSRK6f0 dIotdCim_aRXGKzUKbTFws6JDYe8ABQ%3BFeSo5f0dGmtgCilP HpE6tqILbTGA86JDYe8ABQ&oq=Paihia&mra=dpe&mrsp=7&sz=11&via=7&t=m&z=11

[george formby]

If you base a day ride out of Paihia...http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?saddr=Paihia,+Northland&daddr=Kaikohe,+Northland+to:Dargaville,+Northland+ to:Omapere,+Northland+to:Kohukohu,+Northland+to:Ka itaia,+Northland+to:Mangonui,+Northland+to:-35.0092459,173.8410044+to:Matauri+Bay,+Northland+t o:Paihia,+Northland&hl=en&ll=-35.14181,173.756332&spn=0.45537,1.056747&sll=-35.169318,173.706894&sspn=0.455216,1.056747&geocode=FeSo5f0dGmtgCilPHpE6tqILbTGA86JDYe8ABQ%3BF aa64_0dlglcCikT7jdutekLbTHg0KJDYe8ABQ%3BFd-Y2_0dVwhdCik_xmFipHIMbTEgv6JDYe8ABQ%3BFRbH4f0daa9V Ciknt0lAZkUJbTHAtKJDYe8ABQ%3BFVlz5P0dABhYCimNIDsT6 mYJbTEQs6JDYe8ABQ%3BFe4m6P0dZ9pTCintANJ9SXcJbTGw0a JDYe8ABQ%3BFXII6v0dVtdXCimHkzrwZIAJbTEQ36JDYe8ABQ% 3BFSPN6f0dbJpcCik5tBChgDMKbTEheIEGYe8AEw%3BFSRK6f0 dIotdCim_aRXGKzUKbTFws6JDYe8ABQ%3BFeSo5f0dGmtgCilP HpE6tqILbTGA86JDYe8ABQ&oq=Paihia&mra=dpe&mrsp=7&sz=11&via=7&t=m&z=11

Or get the ferry over too Russell, Old Russell rd, then Whangas to Maungatupere & up the Twin Bridges road, Kaikohe to Paihia. Lovely cafe at Helena Bay on the Old russell rd for coffee, cake & views. The Old Russ etc road is quite technical, some very tight corners, but has gorgeous views & always leaves me feeling wow!
Mangamukas is a must, leave time for more than one lap.

[Latte]

Thanks for all the advice, sounds like I'll just have to book a 2nd trip up there this summer.

Would love to do some of those roads over and over, but not sure if the missus would be too keen.

Will update with how it goes.

[dogsnbikes]

We were up north at labour weekend 2012

Second trip indeed is needed and do recommend that you also look at the Oakliegh/Paparoa road its proberly some of the best 40ks I have invested fuel in..

the Kaikohe bake haus cafe is a great place for a feed too and decent size coffee....also the cafe/bar at the Houhora does a decent meal too...

[nonie]

The Old russell road back way to/ from Russell is a lovely ride. been over it frequently and has always been in good nick when I have been on it.
From opononi another good ride is to turn left on the road to Kaikohe, and go to Rawene and get ferry across to Kohukohu and come out at mangamuku bridge. fantastic scenery, good road. Lovely little settlements. Don't know how to post maps sorry

[jumma]

The Old russell road back way to/ from Russell is a lovely ride. been over it frequently and has always been in good nick when I have been on it.
From opononi another good ride is to turn left on the road to Kaikohe, and go to Rawene and get ferry across to Kohukohu and come out at mangamuku bridge. fantastic scenery, good road. Lovely little settlements. Don't know how to post maps sorry

Yeah, I'm planning on heading to Rawene and catching the ferry on the way to Cape Reinga. It's been about 20 years since I was last up that part of the country so looking forward to seeing it all again.

Cheers

[Maha]

The Old russell road back way to/ from Russell is a lovely ride. been over it frequently and has always been in good nick when I have been on it.
From opononi another good ride is to turn left on the road to Kaikohe, and go to Rawene and get ferry across to Kohukohu and come out at mangamuku bridge. fantastic scenery, good road. Lovely little settlements. Don't know how to post maps sorry

Awesome feed to be had at Kohukohu pub also...:yes:

[baffa]

Niiiiice.

Old man has a patch of land he camps in every year not far from Houhora, thinking I'll ride up after Xmas, stay a night or two, and ride back. By my count if you stick to the main roads its a little over 350 km each way, but I'll probably detour a little.

Re the start of your route, SH12 and 14, I went for a ride up there a couple of months ago, and I dont know if it was just me, but the roads were really shit. Take your time through there. It gets better after Dargaville though.

[george formby]

Niiiiice.

Old man has a patch of land he camps in every year not far from Houhora, thinking I'll ride up after Xmas, stay a night or two, and ride back. By my count if you stick to the main roads its a little over 350 km each way, but I'll probably detour a little.

Re the start of your route, SH12 and 14, I went for a ride up there a couple of months ago, and I dont know if it was just me, but the roads were really shit. Take your time through there. It gets better after Dargaville though.
After Dargaville there be corners.
Can't go wrong really if you stay off the State highway after Whangarei.