Pohangina Valley?

[Paul in NZ]

I was thinking (dangerous I know) about a day ride up and around the Pohangina Valley north of Ashurst... I have not been up that way for years though so I thought it may be wise to ask re the road conditions there...

Also from memory a wrong turn easily puts you onto a gravel road... While that was never an issue with the dear old Moto Guzzi the lardy Sprint with its super wide tyres is less tolerant of such indignities...

So condition and route recommendations please...

While I'm asking, I was thinking of the Herb Farm for lunch but wasnt there a pub on the valley road that did meals?

Cheers

[Gremlin]

Depends which way you go around, but you want Pohangina Valley East Rd, it's sealed, Pohangina Rd isn't. From the south (going north) it's a right turn onto Pohangina Valley East Rd.

[Banditbandit]

It's a good ride - go all the way north and you come at just by Mangaweka ...

Yeah .. If you get the wrong turn you can end up on shingle .. but if you do that, go back and try again.

You want the east Pohangina Valley Road ... follow the signs to Apiti - head west out of Apiti and follow the signs to Rangiwahia - then keep going to Mangaweka ...

Up to Apiti it's a bit of a slow ride and watch for wet roads in the shadey parts ..

[MD]

Awesome scenery around there. When riding to Tauranga or Hamilton I often go via Fielding-Rangiwahia Rd and re-join boring HW1 at Mangaweka. Beautiful gorge and twisty roads along the hilltops. Who names a place Peep-O-Day? Plenty of side roads to explore, even if they do become shingle or dead ends.

A Cousin has a farm near Apiti. Bloody easy area to get lost! Not the place to have a breakdown or flat though, no cell coverage, no shops, no houses for miles, just lots of sheep and cows.

[Paul in NZ]

Awesome scenery around there. When riding to Tauranga or Hamilton I often go via Fielding-Rangiwahia Rd and re-join boring HW1 at Mangaweka. Beautiful gorge and twisty roads along the hilltops. Who names a place Peep-O-Day? Plenty of side roads to explore, even if they do become shingle or dead ends.

A Cousin has a farm near Apiti. Bloody easy area to get lost! Not the place to have a breakdown or flat though, no cell coverage, no shops, no houses for miles, just lots of sheep and cows.

Yup - thats the other option just to do a loop up through there and back ... Its stunning riding on an old thing like the Trophy... Ah Autumn... Is there a finer time for bimbling about the countryside?