BEST ROADS

[SARGE]

hey all..

i am putting together a list of the best roads in NZ to ride and i would like your input.

what i need is :
ROAD) where at( between X and X)
DISTANCE (approx)
SKILL RATING) 1-10
SURFACE RATING) 1-10
FEATURES) cafes/ lookouts/police etc
COMMENTS) ie: twisty/mountains/mossy/trucks, etc

any help would be appreciated.. i will post the file here when complete and have printouts available at Colemans..

NZ has such great bike roads.. seems a shame to keep them to ourselves :woohoo:

[crashe]

Sarge - I have a book here called:
Great Escapes - a guide to motorcycle touring in New Zealand
by Peter Mitchell.
www.mcycle.co.nz with updates on it.

It has heaps of great roads in it from all over New Zealand....
with the distance and road types etc...

[froggyfrenchman]

the middle rd, argyle rd, whakapiru rd loop just south of hastings. 8/10 skill level, very windy and fun. bout 1.5hrs to do the loop... starting in havelock nth and ending in hastings. If anyone is interested PM me for more detailed description and directions
never seen a cop on run, some long straights to wind out on, some fast sweepers, lots of tight riding. 1 corner that has claimed 15 bikes in 3 year, including me and my best mate! i will give real good descriptions to anyone that wants them...

[James Deuce]

Sarge - I have a book here called:
Great Escapes - a guide to motorcycle touring in New Zealand
by Peter Mitchell.
www.mcycle.co.nz (http://www.mcycle.co.nz) with updates on it.

It has heaps of great roads in it from all over New Zealand....
with the distance and road types etc...

Better still, Mr Mitchell has just released the Motorcycling Atlas of NZ. Hits the shelves in September and includes decent, detailed, fold out maps.

[Motu]

Any road the sports bikes are too scared to ride is a good road by me - and it has no cafe either....maybe a fish n chip shop if I'm lucky.

[gamgee]

i've driven the road between Dunedin - Wanaka through Cromwell quite a few times (last weekend the most recent) in the cage and always thought how much fun it would be to do on a bike, the road is gritted through winter but through summer it's usually very good, and i should be ridding it on my bike at the end of this year to go up there for new years with any luck! :woohoo: it's got a few really cool twisties with true 35k corners that you really do have to slow down a lot for or you'll end up through a barrier and over the gorge, also a few really good high speed straights with good vis and no places for police to hide

[Bonez]

Napier-Taihapi lots of windy rd, stunning scenery 15-20ks of gravel 10/10 for variety. Little traffic, some logging trucks. Can be ridden by any skill level as long as you go at your own pace. Even a camping area on about a third of the way through from the Taradale side. Can combine it with a Taupo return or via Manawatu gorge/saddle rd or Pahiatua track. Continuing on to a few back roads back to the Bay.

[Hitcher]

Better still, Mr Mitchell has just released the Motorcycling Atlas of NZ. Hits the shelves in September and includes decent, detailed, fold out maps.
Here's hoping Santa puts one in my stocking...

[Sniper]

You still believe in Santa?

[Marmoot]

ROAD) Queen Street (between Britomart and K-Road)
DISTANCE) approx 2km
SKILL RATING) 10
SURFACE RATING) 7
FEATURES) police/roadside mirrors/chicks/blings
COMMENTS) definitely not twisty, but requires very high skill levels!

ROAD) Symonds Street (between High Court and K-Road)
DISTANCE) approx 1km
SKILL RATING) 15
SURFACE RATING) 3
FEATURES) university chicks, especially in summer wears
COMMENTS) requires very high skill levels and life insurance!

[sels1]

You still believe in Santa?

I think he means "Mrs" Santa

[Hitcher]

You still believe in Santa?
If I stop believing I'll probably stop getting things put in my stocking. Yes, I know, I'm a cargo cultist...

[Bonez]

This ones good.

[Kickaha]

If I stop believing I'll probably stop getting things put in my stocking. Yes, I know, I'm a cargo cultist...

You got an airfield laid out on the lawn then?

[sels1]

This ones good.


And dont forget this one...

[ben444]

The Catlins road between Invercargill and Balclutha is just brilliant now that it's all sealed... Had a blast on it on a borrowed ZX6RR.. Do that road before all the tourists discover it..

[Big Dave]

Any road the sports bikes are too scared to ride is a good road by me - and it has no cafe either....maybe a fish n chip shop if I'm lucky.

:tugger: :tugger: :tugger:

[oldrider]

One of my favourite rides is from Otematata (Home) to Oturehua (Brass Monkey). Via Dansey Pass. Exactly 150km x 2hrs. Might sound slow but it can be all things to motorcycling, summer or winter it's different every time, believe me. The nicest ride is visiting our son at a place called Athol. We go through the Lindis Pass, Wanaka, Crown Range, Queenstown, Kingston to Athol. 285km x 2 3/4hrs. This is a really nice ride. About 10km gravel to the homestead. Stay a night or two and then do the ride back the other way. Bloody Magic, only way to describe it. I just can't believe I'm alive on some of our roads down here. We find just doing it, is more satisfying than how fast these days. Been there done that. That goes for everything, must be an age thing.
Lots of fast bits, twisties, ups,(highest main road in NZ) downs, towns, more twisties and other options. Degree of skill depends on how you want to attack it! Down side is it's a tourist trail but you play it as you see it. Cheers John. PS: watch out for scumdog!

[Big Dave]

Ahh - puts touring writer's hat on.
My Current Top 10.

1. Te Anau to Milford Sound.
2. Queenstown to Glenorchy
3. Buller Gorge
4. Takaka Hill
5. Queen Charlotte Drive
6. Waioeka Gorge
7. The Paraparas
8. Coromandel Peninsula
9. West Coast SI
10. Waipoua Forest

This was in KR a few years ago:

[Bonez]

And dont forget this one...n this one

[inlinefour]

hey all..

i am putting together a list of the best roads in NZ to ride and i would like your input.

what i need is :
ROAD) where at( between X and X)
DISTANCE (approx)
SKILL RATING) 1-10
SURFACE RATING) 1-10
FEATURES) cafes/ lookouts/police etc
COMMENTS) ie: twisty/mountains/mossy/trucks, etc

any help would be appreciated.. i will post the file here when complete and have printouts available at Colemans..

NZ has such great bike roads.. seems a shame to keep them to ourselves :woohoo:

I've got a book on good motorcycle rides in NZ. PM me if you want any details as its all in there. My favourite localish one is NP to Awakino George and back.

[PLUG]

Anything gravel. Am off to the Pissed Penguin rally at Kaka point tomorrow (on the coast out from Balclutha). Black top it it down to Albury (Sth Cant) then hang a left through the MacKenzie Pass & on to the Haldon Rd. This turns in to a Pylon track through Black Forest Station (30k) which comes out at the Benmore Dam. Down to Duntroon & hang a right through the Danseys Pass (stopping at the pub) & on into Ranfurly & camp the nite. Carry on down through Patearoa & Paerau & onto the old Dunstan rd coming out at Clarks Junction on Hiway 87. Head down 87 & hang a right heading to lake Mahinerangi & onto Lawerance, stright across Hiway 8 & back road it into Balclutha & onto Kaka Point. Black top it all the way home up the coast Sunday.

[vifferman]

Better still, Mr Mitchell has just released the Motorcycling Atlas of NZ. Hits the shelves in September and includes decent, detailed, fold out maps.
Well, it must be September then.
The vifferbabe bought it for me yesterday, and gave it to me last night for Sunday? (father's day / our wedding anniversarary).
We were going to do an overnighter on Saturday, but she was worried about #2 son.
Anyone want to borrow him for the weekend? He can fix electronics, computers and stuff (and probably drive you nuts...)

[oldrider]

Plug, we live opposite the school at Otematata (Benmore dam village) if you are going that way, coffee break? You probably go strait around and over Aviemore dam down to Kurow. Have you got access for locked gate at Benmore? (obviously I guess) Just a thought. Cheers John.

[PLUG]

Cheers John. There will be 2 of us, probably there early arvo.

[Reefer]

Great piece of road I like to "practice" on (just got back into biking after a long break) is Woodcocks Rd here in Warkworth (it was fully sealed,middle 5ks, about 8mths ago) some good corners and nice twisties through the hill section (2kms) Take the road at the corner of Mahurangi College and it will take you all the way to Highway 16. Or if your coming from Hellensville take the first turnoff on right with the large "Warkworth" sign. Watch for the new tarseal half way through. Been reading the site for over a year and 1st post!! Trying to hook up with a ride but always something on!! Hope to catch up and meet some KB's soon. (P.S. I always wave to fellow bikers, even Harley's!!) :ride:

[vifferman]

Been reading the site for over a year and 1st post!! Trying to hook up with a ride but always something on!! Hope to catch up and meet some KB's soon. (P.S. I always wave to fellow bikers, even Harley's!!) :ride:
Hi, Reefer! :wavey:
Welcome to the Kiwi Biker gargre.

[oldrider]

Plug, I will stay home and wait for you to come through. Rock clad house in front of A-frame opposite the school. I will park my bike where you can see it. Cheers John.

[oldrider]

PLUG and his mate turned up right on time, had a spot to eat and a cuppa, then we all rode across the Dansey Pass. Bloody good ride. Bloody good blokes. Bloody good pub. They went on to Ranfurly and I came back home. Thanks to Kiwi Biker, two new friends. :clap: Cheers John. :ride:

[Virago]

i've driven the road between Dunedin - Wanaka through Cromwell quite a few times (last weekend the most recent)........
Yes I can vouch for the Dunedin to Central Otago road. We have a caravan in Cromwell - roll on summer..... .

From Cromwell you can do "the loop" ride, riding up to Wanaka, then across the Crown Range road to Queenstown, then back to Cromwell. Or the other way round if so inclined.

Cromwell to Wanaka has a choice of two roughly parallel routes, the east road (toward Tarras) is probably the more fun and scenic route.

"The Loop" is roughly 200km from Cromwell and return, fully sealed, and you're spoilt for choice for refreshment stops. The scenery is stunning, especially over the Crown Range. A delightful mix of straights and twisties, lots of hairpin bends as you drop down into Queenstown.

The ideal ride for me means not covering the same road on the way back. This ride is perfect!

[RiderInBlack]

Any road the sports bikes are too scared to ride is a good road by me - and it has no cafe either....maybe a fish n chip shop if I'm lucky.What, like this one Motu?:devil2: :wait:

[madmal64]

One of my fav's is between Hunterville & Wanganui.
Turn off State Highway 1 at the pub, take the 2nd turn on the left and follow the signs from there on. Has twisty hills, a couple of long straights to stretch the legs of the machine out on. Basically a bit of everything. The traffic is really light too.
The only thing is that there are a couple of places where the road has been damaged with flooding so you do have to stay alert.

[bumsex]

My favourite is between Wairoa (my home town) and Bay view (just out of Napier) Awesome twisty road, quite challenging depending on how fast you ride, consists of tight twisty stuff and longer more open stuff, some straights, mostly good seal and bugger all cops!
A few trucks on this road though but usually only light traffic. A pub at roughly half way. Used to see how fast I could do it in... (not very fast).

[Jantar]

Any road the sports bikes are too scared to ride is a good road by me - and it has no cafe either....maybe a fish n chip shop if I'm lucky.

Oh, What road would that be Motu? I just love taking sports bikes to places that many dirt riders fear to go. :rofl:

One of my favourite roads is Dunedin to Lawrence via the Waipori Gorge and Lake Mahinerangi. The last 22 kms of this road is part of the route that Plug mentioned.

From Dunedin head over Three Mile Hill, then take the back road to Outram. Turn Left at the T intersection at the end of Outram's main st then Right at the next T onto Huntly Rd. This is a nice long straight road before veering left and following along the foot of the Maungatuas to Berwick. Turn Right towards Waipori Falls. This is the end of the sealed road, its now a winding, narrow gravel rd for the next 40 kms. Follow the gorge (you don't really have a choice) to Waipori Falls. Pass through the Village and carry on up the hill towards Mahinerangi. At the turn off to the lake, veer left and follow through the forest to pass Loch Luella. You'll come out on top of a ridge and be able to look down onto the lake, and the Edgar Stark Bridge. At the next intersection carry on straight ahead. (you are now on one of Plug's favourite roads). The rough gravel and dirt is now finished, and its a good gravel road all the way to Lawrence. Lots of hills and sweeping curves with just one or two tight bits.

[Big Dave]

My favourite is between Wairoa (my home town) and Bay view (just out of Napier) Awesome twisty road, quite challenging depending on how fast you ride, consists of tight twisty stuff and longer more open stuff, some straights, mostly good seal and bugger all cops!
A few trucks on this road though but usually only light traffic. A pub at roughly half way. Used to see how fast I could do it in... (not very fast).

Yes - a beauty! Prone to some loose seal sometimes?