Our Summer Jaunt - Advice requested

[Paul in NZ]

Well its not long until the Triumph Owners MCC annual get together … Its should be a great rally (it usually is) and it’s the same weekend as Paeroa. This is both good and bad. Good because I’ve never been to the Paeroa races and entry is included in the rally cost. Bad because I don’t think I will enjoy the traffic or riding around the Coromandel that weekend… One assumes more than usual bike activity there that weekend..

Any who – that aside, it does give Vicki and I a chance to travel some roads that are unfamiliar to us. So we will travel up and back via the east / west capes, timing and direction depending upon where the good weather is. I thought about the forgotten highway and staying at the Whangamomona Hotel but fully laden on the ST might not be fun there… Also I have never been north of New Plymouth/Waitara on HW3. If we stayed at Mokau we could flick over through Raglan for lunch… Basically because I am gluten free I need a half decent place to eat. That’s non negotiable because accidental gluten intake pretty well incapacitates me… And also being type 1 diabetic I do actually need to eat… (lets not talk about the cystitis as well as that’s just depressing)

But a couple of questions

Is there any dining at Mokau? Like a half decent café?

Is it worth dropping out to Kawhia instead of Raglan? I don’t want to go Kawhai to Raglan as from memory its all gravel and the ST is like a hippo on roller-skates on gravel – fun for a few km’s but bloody tiring for any time)

Any other suggestion, great places to stay or eat gratefully received..

The East capes not so tricky. Probably stop at Ohope on Sunday night, Mahia (or someplace nice) Monday and home on Tuesday... Not sure, depends on weather and body condition...

[haydes55]

Raglan has more dining options than Kawhia, Kawhia is a better ride IMO though. But Kawhia lacks a bit in the dining department.

You don't want to take the 20 odd km of gravel between the 2 (or the even longer gravel nearer the coast).

[Hitcher]

There is indeed a half-decent cafe at Mokau. Next to the loos, opposite the butchers. Their whitebait fritters are unrivalled.

[Paul in NZ]

Raglan has more dining options than Kawhia, Kawhia is a better ride IMO though. But Kawhia lacks a bit in the dining department.

You don't want to take the 20 odd km of gravel between the 2 (or the even longer gravel nearer the coast).

Thanks......

[Paul in NZ]

There is indeed a half-decent cafe at Mokau. Next to the loos, opposite the butchers. Their whitebait fritters are unrivalled.

Noted - is that open in the evening or just daytime?

[Maha]

Raglan has more dining options than Kawhia, Kawhia is a better ride IMO though. But Kawhia lacks a bit in the dining department.

You don't want to take the 20 odd km of gravel between the 2 (or the even longer gravel nearer the coast).

That Pub put on a pretty mean trough for us on that Kawhia over night trip, doubtful on the absolute gluten free bit though. And what a beautiful vista from those cabins.

Pity it wasn't during March Paul, we will be living in Mangakino and you could have supplied us with a menu and we'd get it done, the plus side of that is, there are some awesome roads all around the area.

[Hitcher]

Noted - is that open in the evening or just daytime?

Definitely daytime. I'm not sure about evenings. Other than takeaways, your best bet for dinner may be at the Awakino pub.

[R650R]

Both times I've been through forgotten highway its been better than many sealed roads or roadworks on the 'gravel' sections. There's so much tourist traffic its packed down hard like concrete.
Doable on any bike easily. Lots of paces to stop and break it up if corners too much effort for you.

[pritch]

The River Run Cafe in Mokau is my favourite in the area and I have on occasion done a quick run up there after work for a whitebait fix. It needed to be a bit quick because they close at 7.00PM.

Not sure if they cater to Gluten free? You could ring them. The Mokau Motel is right across the road.

The other cafe in Mokau serves their whitebait fritters deep fried although I'm told that if you order a whitebait omlette you get around that abomination. Heading North this one is on the right, drive past that and you'll see the River Run on your left.

SH3 north of New Plymouth will hold your interest until after Te Kuiti, but if you were heading to Raglan most of that will be good motorcycling road too.

[Motu]

Awakino Pub, and there is a restaurant of sorts on the next road behind the pub. Poipoi, Waitomo....and what a ride to get to Kawhia from Waitomo.

[BMWST?]

forgotten highway only has one gravel section,T&^%HGG gorge.(no idea how to spell it).The sealed highway is a bit dilapidated,and last tim ei went throught there were recent small rockfalls on the road,all completely harmless if the speed is appropriate.Great service at teh whanga hotel

[admenk]

My wife is also gluten free - I think both cafes in Mokau are pies / fritters / coffee etc, so would doubt much of a gluten free option. Mud Bay café in Urenui offers GF snacks as does café at Waiiti (about 5 mins off SH3, just north of Urenui, there's a flag on the SH3 turnoff). Mike's Mild Ales brewery, just north of Urenui also has a café, as well as beer! not sure about GF there though. The Fat Pidgeon in Piopio does do GFas well and is always popular.

Failing that, we are near Urenui, so send me a PM, and depending on your dates, we can always offer a bed for the night and a my wife can knock up a GF meal

[merv]

Here's a couple of photos from the Forgotten World Highway. Nice sign, and the East entrance to the tunnel - it looks very similar going in the other direction too.

[rustyrobot]

My wife is also gluten free - ... Urenui ... Urenui ... Urenui ... Urenui

Tehehe - you said Urenui. :)

I agree about Mokau, stopped there passing through with my wife who is also g-free and it was fairly sparse fare (she's veggie too so probably didn't help). Raglan would be the best location in the region to cater for that by far (every cafe would have something)- but as others have said the ride isn't quite as great and the kawhia - raglan roads are less than ideal (especially the coast "road"). The road from Raglan (Te Uku) to Port Waikato (SH22) is great though, and although there's nothing at P.W. it's nice to look at.

Forgotten Highway would be fine for you I'm sure, although that tunnel was a bit odd - something about the close walls and no lighting, really skewed my balance. Be tough finding decent gluten free food I suspect, and don't know about Whangamomona pub.

[pritch]

that tunnel was a bit odd - something about the close walls and no lighting, really skewed my balance.

The tunnel slopes so if you are looking straight ahead you are looking at darkness, either the roof or the floor, depending which direction you are going. We rely on the horizon as part of our sense if balance and in that tunnel you need to look somewhat up or down to see the exit and get some sort of horizon. People have fallen off in there. If you're wearing a dark visor it's a good idea to flick that up before entering the tunnel too.

[insomnia01]

If attending the Paeroa races insure you take plenty of sun screen & a hat as the weather is always HOT almost unbearable, there's not much in the way of shade around the circuit & the best spots get snapped up quickly :sweatdrop SH22 through Mercer/Pukekawa turning off @ Ohautira Road is a pleasure to ride if heading to Raglan just keep a eye on the road if its a :sunny: day & if your bones are hurting or you just want to freshen up Waingaro hot pools is a great spot to stop & is also on SH22, plenty of great loops to be had in the Sth Waikato/King country area.......

[Paul in NZ]

Both times I've been through forgotten highway its been better than many sealed roads or roadworks on the 'gravel' sections. There's so much tourist traffic its packed down hard like concrete.
Doable on any bike easily. Lots of paces to stop and break it up if corners too much effort for you.

Yup - thanks, its on the list... I have yet to do that bit of SHW 3 as well so spoilt for choice really...

[Paul in NZ]

If attending the Paeroa races insure you take plenty of sun screen & a hat as the weather is always HOT almost unbearable, there's not much in the way of shade around the circuit & the best spots get snapped up quickly :sweatdrop SH22 through Mercer/Pukekawa turning off @ Ohautira Road is a pleasure to ride if heading to Raglan just keep a eye on the road if its a :sunny: day & if your bones are hurting or you just want to freshen up Waingaro hot pools is a great spot to stop & is also on SH22, plenty of great loops to be had in the Sth Waikato/King country area.......

Hot pools - sweet thanks for that... Vicki LOVES hot pools (until she gets in them and then says 'oooohhh its Hot'.... and goes all hot n floppy - sigh)

[Paul in NZ]

Here's a couple of photos from the Forgotten World Highway. Nice sign, and the East entrance to the tunnel - it looks very similar going in the other direction too.

Darn - I will need to be extra careful then as the ST's pillion seat is VERY high and high motorbikes crash often it seems

[Paul in NZ]

If attending the Paeroa races insure you take plenty of sun screen & a hat as the weather is always HOT almost unbearable, there's not much in the way of shade around the circuit & the best spots get snapped up quickly :sweatdrop SH22 through Mercer/Pukekawa turning off @ Ohautira Road is a pleasure to ride if heading to Raglan just keep a eye on the road if its a :sunny: day & if your bones are hurting or you just want to freshen up Waingaro hot pools is a great spot to stop & is also on SH22, plenty of great loops to be had in the Sth Waikato/King country area.......

Yup - I have to admit marginal interest so we may just press onwards to some place of interest...

[Paul in NZ]

My wife is also gluten free - I think both cafes in Mokau are pies / fritters / coffee etc, so would doubt much of a gluten free option. Mud Bay café in Urenui offers GF snacks as does café at Waiiti (about 5 mins off SH3, just north of Urenui, there's a flag on the SH3 turnoff). Mike's Mild Ales brewery, just north of Urenui also has a café, as well as beer! not sure about GF there though. The Fat Pidgeon in Piopio does do GFas well and is always popular.

Failing that, we are near Urenui, so send me a PM, and depending on your dates, we can always offer a bed for the night and a my wife can knock up a GF meal

Golly that's very kind of you... I have made a booking at the motel already but anythings possible at this point ;-)

[insomnia01]

I went through the FWH in Nov 14' the gravel section I think, must have been redone a month prior as it was a little rough but still ride able ( I was on a Honda Blackbird with luggage ) so should be good to go now :2thumbsup just watch the road from the Ohura Rd turnoff (North to Taumarunui ) as that bleeds like HELL over summer

[Mom]

Failing that, we are near Urenui, so send me a PM, and depending on your dates, we can always offer a bed for the night and a my wife can knock up a GF meal

Do you not think you should warn him about that lion then?

[Paul in NZ]

Do you not think you should warn him about that lion then?

Well I couldn't eat a whole lion....

[scumdog]

The tunnel slopes so if you are looking straight ahead you are looking at darkness, either the roof or the floor, depending which direction you are going. We rely on the horizon as part of our sense if balance and in that tunnel you need to look somewhat up or down to see the exit and get some sort of horizon. People have fallen off in there. If you're wearing a dark visor it's a good idea to flick that up before entering the tunnel too.

Yeah, it was a bit of "what the''" when I first entered the tunnell in the F100 - but the road itself was good enough to take a Harley through...;)

[admenk]

Do you not think you should warn him about that lion then?

It's ok, it only eats people called Paul.....

[admenk]

Tehehe - you said Urenui. :)

it's only in my own imagination :innocent:

[Paul in NZ]

It's ok, it only eats people called Paul.....


Hmmm - That tuna smelling aftershave you sent wasn't connected to this was it???....

[F5 Dave]

We went to Kawhia after Raglan and found it to be a tiny backwater with none of the Auckland tourist cafes etc Raglan had. We booked another night in the ramshackle cabin we were staying at and have been back since. Just clicked as a slow holiday place.
Went kayaking with a picnic, they have hot water beach area and we rode a quad around with a spade to dig in. Great times.
Raglan you can piss on.
G/f might be bring your own though.