North Island adventure ride 2015

[nooneracing]

A group of us from the South Island are in the early stages of organising a week long ride in the North Island.
We are trying to keep to gravel and off main roads. Looking for the roads less travelled. Probably not going to go much further north than Taupo. Any ideas of not to be missed tracks greatly appreciated.

[andy mac]

Paraparumu - Maungakotukutuku Rd to Akatarawa Rd via Akatarawa Forest

Akatarawa Rd to Waikanae

[That looks like fun]

Keep right, simple as that :corn:

[Eddieb]

Have a look here: http://www.adventureridingnz.co.nz/gps-tracks-rides/north-island-tracks/

[nooneracing]

Thanks. Have had a good look at adventureridingnz, very helpful. Just a matter of joining the dots. Between that and topo maps and google earth will fill in a week or so.
Why are your road names so long. We keep them simple down here, nevis, dunstan trail

[R650R]

Thanks. Have had a good look at adventureridingnz, very helpful. Just a matter of joining the dots. Between that and topo maps and google earth will fill in a week or so.
Why are your road names so long. We keep them simple down here, nevis, dunstan trail

The weathers a bit warmer so we can say words with more than two syllables before the lips freeze over :)

[bart]

The weathers a bit warmer so we can say words with more than two syllables before the lips freeze over :)

At least you didn’t say it is due to intelligence...:chase:

[umopom]

Paraparumu - Maungakotukutuku Rd to Akatarawa Rd via Akatarawa Forest

Akatarawa Rd to Waikanae

Hi Andymac
Sounds good - have you got a GPS route for this or some points so that I can work out where it starts/finishes?
Cheers
JC

[andy mac]

Umopom, I don’t use GPS but here is a link to the Akatarawa Forest map. You can get apply online for a trail bike permit. Will take 1 hour carpark to carpark.

http://www.gw.govt.nz/assets/Parks-and-Recreation/Akatarawa-Forest/Akatawara-Map-Sept-2012.pdf

Start at Maungakotukutuku Rd, up hill, start of gravel, veer right thru stream.
Forest park entrance, > Perhams Rd uphill.
T >
T < Whakatiki Rd, stream, flat, < clearing
Pram track uphill, downhill, stream
T ^ Karapoti Gorge Rd, carpark
Karapoti Rd, < Akatarawa Rd


The Akatarawa Rd is a tight, windy sealed road to Waikanae, at the summit is Odlins Rd which I consider the best adventure track in Wellington, it is 15km into a dead end.
http://www.adventureridingnz.co.nz/gps-tracks-rides/north-island-tracks/odlins-road/

[umopom]

Hi Andymac
Thanks for that - planning a trip north in October and this would be a good loop. One other question - is it possible to get around the coast from Wainuiomata via Ocean Beach road to Lake Ferry?
Cheers
JC

[andy mac]

Forgot to mention the intersections are signposted in Aka forest.
Yes Wainui to Ocean Beach is possible thru Orongorongo Station with permission. There are some big gravel screes that can be washed out and we had a 2 year flood last weekend! http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/88582-Southern-Coast-ADV-ride-(14-15-Feb)?p=1936491#post1936491

[nooneracing]

Just wondering where you can get fuel heading up the East Coast rather than going back out to the main drag.
Is there fuel at Castlepoint or Porangahau?
Also it looks like you can get along the beach from Blackhead. Is this just at low tide

[Mo NZ]

Just wondering where you can get fuel heading up the East Coast rather than going back out to the main drag.
Is there fuel at Castlepoint or Porangahau?
Also it looks like you can get along the beach from Blackhead. Is this just at low tide

Blackhead? Yeah low tide best. When camping there we had to go to town for fuel.

[Racing Dave]

Just wondering where you can get fuel heading up the East Coast rather than going back out to the main drag.
Is there fuel at Castlepoint or Porangahau?


The short answer is, yes, fuel at Castle Point

[Phreaky Phil]

When are you planning to venture up this way. Some great roads in the Naki but the tracks are shite till late in the year and stations don't want you near during lambing. Come up for the Cape to Cape. A great cross section of the North in 2 days :2thumbsup

[nooneracing]

We're looking at coming up in Feb. Organising people and dates is a bit like herding kittens. We did 10 days around south island this year. Probably looking at a week in the north island. Looking at going up east coast, waiarapa, hawkes bay, taupo, taranaki and back south. We averaged 350km days down here with a couple of 500km days.
Cold winter nights are good for sifting thru topo maps and google and trying to connect up tracks.

[Eddieb]

Hi Andymac
Sounds good - have you got a GPS route for this or some points so that I can work out where it starts/finishes?
Cheers
JC

GPS track here: http://www.adventureridingnz.co.nz/forums/topic/pram-track-karapoti/

[nooneracing]

More questions. Is it easy to find your way from Minginui to Rangikaiki. I see on the Mmmm you had corner men thru there. Are there gps tracks for that bit.
We are looking at going thru Whangamomona out in the naki. Am I right in that you can only get fuel at Taumaranui, Stratford or out to Waitara

[pomgolian]

More questions. Is it easy to find your way from Minginui to Rangikaiki. I see on the Mmmm you had corner men thru there. Are there gps tracks for that bit.
We are looking at going thru Whangamomona out in the naki. Am I right in that you can only get fuel at Taumaranui, Stratford or out to Waitara

If you use google maps then change it from driving to cycling or walking it will direct you from SH5 (Napier) to minginui - pretty remote through there and easy to take a wrong turn, sure someone will chirp in with a GPS track.

[clint640]

Yep, the Google cycling route is right, but not the one it gives for Rangitaiki-Minginui, you need to pick a Southern target on the Hawkes Bay side eg Te Pohue/Napier so it routes you out via Waipunga. In general you follow the main track, taking the eastern option at any major intersections.

Cheers
Clint

[R650R]

Am I right in that you can only get fuel at Taumaranui, Stratford or out to...

Yes on the first two. Tamauranui you have Caltex south of town with mobil and BP at opposite ends of town. The railway car café by the mobil is great place for feed.
There is a highway patrol base at Taumaranui so take it easy around there.
Stratford has a big Z station on the main drag by roundabout where intersects with forgotten highway.