Week to kill - North Island loop

[Duncan74]

I've a week once the OH goes back to work before I start back, so am planning a north island tour. Starting Tauranga, then clockwise to Wellington and back up. 5 days is the plan.
Day 1 TGA>Opotoki>Gisborne>Wairoa
Day 2 Wairoa> Castlepoint
Day 3 Castlepoint>Wellington (note route detour via Lake Wairapa)
Day 4 Wellington to somewhere up SH45
Day 5 SH45 to home

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=z-Im-Sx154qc.kfaLllXLXpD0&usp=sharing

Plan is to camp at castlepoint and night 4. Not sure about Wairoa, will depend on the weather. In Wellington I've accommodation sorted, but will need to park the bike in the CBD overnight. What's the score in terms of secure options in town?

So, any thoughts, route changes or suggetions for where to stay / camp on Day 4? This will be my first (motorised) ike tour, so any other avice gratefully received.

TIA

[BMWST?]

where are you staying in welly?That will dictate somewhat where you leave the bike.Are you keen on the smaller highways and byways?Are you allergic to gravel?

[Duncan74]

Welly > staying at Ibis in CBD. However happy to park bike and walk to hotel.

Not done any gravel riding, and so not keen to push myself at this point. Looking to get some views, see some new places and generally just chill, so happy with the narrower / quieter routes. Have GPS for navigation, so don't need to stick to the key SHs. I think I'd be a bit worried about tackling gravel solo at this point.

[Gremlin]

Google Maps is playing up, but take a look at this back route for Napier - Castlepoint. Just link the two points like the maps can't: https://goo.gl/maps/Ykt3Rj4bX282

If you can handle some basic gravel, the Forgotten Highway SH43, 14km of gravel that is usually very easy, and a stunning ride.

[RGVforme]

Google Maps is playing up, but take a look at this back route for Napier - Castlepoint. Just link the two points like the maps can't: https://goo.gl/maps/Ykt3Rj4bX282

If you can handle some basic gravel, the Forgotten Highway SH43, 14km of gravel that is usually very easy, and a stunning ride.

This route 52 up from masterton ect above has my vote have done a couple of times.

Turn right at Waipawa though pourerere road to river road into Patangata pub.Wet ya whistle :drinknsin lol

Elsthorpe road left leading into middle road or right leading into kahuranaki rd from here takes you right down the tuki tuki valley mint views and good flowing twisties all the way into hastings or napier.

Beats the arse off that boring crowded muppet infested flat highway guff lol.:shifty:

[eldog]

Gisborne to Wairoa via Tiniroto road - you will love it. Some excellent spots for Photos and adventure/gravel roads. Steak burger and chips at Tiniroto pub recommened.:niceone: It does snow here.

Stop at Oslers Bakery In Wairoa- Eat at the river entrance or by the old light house. Fuel at Gisborne or Wairoa.

[WristTwister]

Heading north from Wellington, I like going via SH2, to the Paramata Haywards Rd (SH58) and take the Paekakariki Hill road from the round-about. On a good day the view from the Paekakariki look-out is beautiful.
As an alternative to Paekakariki Hill, Grays road can also be quite nice.

If you're in wellington, I hope you take the time to go right around the bays.

[Duncan74]

Thanks, have updated day 2 to reflect your suggetions. Just what I was hoping for. By chance a random point I picked for a street view had a picture of grey wee-strom/vee-strom on the same route.

I've also shifted the 4th night stop to a bit further round to balance days 4 and 5 a bit better.

As for the Forgotten Highway, I'm not sure. Will make for a very long last day (compared to longest ride of some 350km to date). I'm tempted to save this as an excuse for a weekend trip later in the year. Does it matter if it's done north to south, or south to north? Just thinking that it may still be busy, I may be a bit fatigued, not had a lot of chance to practice gravel riding, etc etc...... May be being a bit wussy, but I'm old enough to not need to prove anything to anyone in that regard any more.

[DamianW]

Gisborne to Wairoa via Tiniroto road - you will love it. Some excellent spots for Photos and adventure/gravel roads. Steak burger and chips at Tiniroto pub recommened.:niceone: It does snow here.

Stop at Oslers Bakery In Wairoa- Eat at the river entrance or by the old light house. Fuel at Gisborne or Wairoa.

Two of us did the Tiniroto Road before New Years, agreed it's cracking road.

[eldog]

Thanks, have updated day 2 to reflect your suggetions. Just what I was hoping for. By chance a random point I picked for a street view had a picture of grey wee-strom/vee-strom on the same route.

I've also shifted the 4th night stop to a bit further round to balance days 4 and 5 a bit better.

As for the Forgotten Highway, I'm not sure. Will make for a very long last day (compared to longest ride of some 350km to date). I'm tempted to save this as an excuse for a weekend trip later in the year. Does it matter if it's done north to south, or south to north? Just thinking that it may still be busy, I may be a bit fatigued, not had a lot of chance to practice gravel riding, etc etc...... May be being a bit wussy, but I'm old enough to not need to prove anything to anyone in that regard any more.

Keep the long days at the start of trip.
Take your time to relax on gravel maybe you need to practise sometime before you tackle this. It's not too difficult from last time I did it. You don't need to pressure yourself. Plenty of time to plan other rides. Do something that is easy to do on your first longer rides. I found it easy to find pitfalls of what I didn't plan for on trips I did first when I started out....

Keep to speed limit through towns.....:sweatdrop Be careful of idiots cutting corners and crap hidden road slumps- usually 1 m in from left of road.

Would take trip to Ngawi and the Lighthouse Cape Palliser / seal colony rather than FH.

have a good trip:scooter:

[BMWST?]

Welly > staying at Ibis in CBD. However happy to park bike and walk to hotel.

Not done any gravel riding, and so not keen to push myself at this point. Looking to get some views, see some new places and generally just chill, so happy with the narrower / quieter routes. Have GPS for navigation, so don't need to stick to the key SHs. I think I'd be a bit worried about tackling gravel solo at this point.
the ibis does have some parking,tell them you can squeeze your bike in somewhere!

[Frodo]

All the suggestions are great.
A couple of years ago I did a North Island loop in a week or so and went around the lighthouses at the four corners of the North Island (well I fib a little, I didn't do Cape Palliser as its local and I'd gone there previously, so I included Cape Egmont, Cape Reinga and East Cape). This means longer days, but some of yours are relatively short (e.g. Castlepoint to Wellington). This included some interesting easy gravel, but this is not mandatory. I can post my route if you're interested.

[50Shades]

Sounds like a good trip, check out the the sports tracker app for you phone, puts your progress onto goggle maps and you can load up photos if you want to do blogs
http://www.sports-tracker.com

[Duncan74]

All the suggestions are great.
A couple of years ago I did a North Island loop in a week or so and went around the lighthouses at the four corners of the North Island (well I fib a little, I didn't do Cape Palliser as its local and I'd gone there previously, so I included Cape Egmont, Cape Reinga and East Cape). This means longer days, but some of yours are relatively short (e.g. Castlepoint to Wellington). This included some interesting easy gravel, but this is not mandatory. I can post my route if you're interested.

Ooh, l ike this idea. I've added in Cape Palliser. I've previously done the east cape by pedal cycle, and am planning for a Northland trip later this year as I've never made it north of Akl.



the ibis does have some parking,tell them you can squeeze your bike in somewhere!

Grand, never realised that as I've always flown in when staying there. In previous job then I spent best part of 3 months in the Ibis, and the OH is currently spending more time there than home, so they ought to be able to make a bit of an effort.


Keep the long days at the start of trip.
Take your time to relax on gravel maybe you need to practise sometime before you tackle this.
Would take trip to Ngawi and the Lighthouse Cape Palliser / seal colony rather than FH.


Just due to timing and meeting up wth people in Welly then the clockwise route means I need to do the 3 days on the way down. If I reversed the route to do the longer days first then it would throw out a few other things. However, I am expcting to be stopping for more photos on the east coast part. The last day especially I've ridden and driven before, and so likely to be stopping less. Also wanted to get a few hours in welly to go to a couple of shops, possibly Te Papa.

To all of you, many thanks, really appreciated and the real benefit of a site like this. I'll be taking snaps and uploading to Flickr/linking here for anyone that wants to see and as a resource for those in the future.

[P38]

If your looking for a place to stay Near Wairoa you may want to consider heading out to Mahia and staying at the camp ground.


Cheers
Pete

[50Shades]

Screen shot from Sports Tracker 318489

[Waihou Thumper]

​It's windy ain't it.....hence the max speed :) (Wine Dee......Not Blow ee....:) )
Plus, plenty to look at...

[Frodo]

Ooh, l ike this idea. I've added in Cape Palliser. I've previously done the east cape by pedal cycle, and am planning for a Northland trip later this year as I've never made it north of Akl.

My trip was:
Day 1: Kapiti to Awakino via Cape Egmont
Day 2: Back roads up the west coast via Raglan to Shelly Beach on Kaipara Harbour
Day 3: Ruawai, Opononi, Rawene ferry, Ninety Mile Beach, Cape Reinga, to Henderson Bay
Day 4: Maitai Bay (short ride, but the country is so nice)
Day 5: Bay of Islands, Auckland to Whangamata
Day 6: Bay of Plenty to Waikawa Bay
Day 7: East Cape lighthouse to Tokomaru Bay
Day 8: Home via Napier.

Love to do this again soon!

[50Shades]

​It's windy ain't it.....hence the max speed :) (Wine Dee......Not Blow ee....:) )
Plus, plenty to look at...

Yes, single lane road through fields track, with some road works going on and some patches of tar that need road works, a few sheep, and was expecting tourists and farmer hiluxs, didn't meet a single vehicle

[Waihou Thumper]

That explains it..
Nice ride, well done! Hope to get there soon on my way south!

[BMWST?]

My trip was:
Day 1: Kapiti to Awakino via Cape Egmont
Day 2: Back roads up the west coast via Raglan to Shelly Beach on Kaipara Harbour
Day 3: Ruawai, Opononi, Rawene ferry, Ninety Mile Beach, Cape Reinga, to Henderson Bay
Day 4: Maitai Bay (short ride, but the country is so nice)
Day 5: Bay of Islands, Auckland to Whangamata
Day 6: Bay of Plenty to Waikawa Bay
Day 7: East Cape lighthouse to Tokomaru Bay
Day 8: Home via Napier.

Love to do this again soon!
where is waikawa bay?

[Frodo]

where is waikawa bay?

318524
Delightful bay between Te Kaha and Waihau Bay.

318523
Its a private camping ground where you pay the owner five bucks or so for the night. I've stayed there a couple of times with a bike - this is the only photo. And took the family there a while back.

[BMWST?]

Cool,could only find Picton!

[DamianW]

Another vote for East Cape. Lovely stop off point at a macadamia orchard cafe in Whanarua Bay a few clicks past Te Kaha. Just watch out for the spent maca shells in the carpark, they're like big marbles and a foot deep in places :eek

[Duncan74]

Well D-day has arrived. Bags packed, tank full and GPS all programmed. Next stop Wairoa. Thanks for the tips and suggestions.

[eldog]

Another vote for East Cape. Lovely stop off point at a macadamia orchard cafe in Whanarua Bay a few clicks past Te Kaha. Just watch out for the spent maca shells in the carpark, they're like big marbles and a foot deep in places :eek

I was going to stop here on my recent East Cape escape, but it didn't look all that inviting and I was on a time restriction, maybe next time.

Harcourts have it for sale OP 4347

[Duncan74]

Made it to Gisborne. Gorge was ok, on the gizzy side seal was starting to bleed a bit and there were a few minor slips left with some minor gravel on road, but nothing major.

Having a break now before pressing on as was getting. Tired towards the end.

[Duncan74]

318688318689318690

[Duncan74]

And now in castlepoint. Weather didn't play nicely today, and whilst I didn't have much rain, it was cold all day. Glad I had my polyprop with me. Route 52 I spent most of panicking about fuel as I missed the station at the northern end of Wimbledon road. In the end was fine and had third of a tank spare, but thought the last leg from masterton to castlepoint was shorter, hence the distance to masterton and fuel further.

Started at 7am, rode to Napier for breakfast. Then a (too) long run from there to masterton with only 3 short pauses for animals in the road. Was cruising, but was solid riding from 930 to 1340 on route 52. Most was good, but there is a bit in the middle that has no markings, is narrow, twisty and sketchy road surface.

Ready for zzzzz tonight.

318706318707318708

[eldog]

And now in castlepoint. Weather didn't play nicely today, and whilst I didn't have much rain, it was cold all day. Glad I had my polyprop with me. Route 52 I spent most of panicking about fuel as I missed the station at the northern end of Wimbledon road. In the end was fine and had third of a tank spare, but thought the last leg from masterton to castlepoint was shorter, hence the distance to masterton and fuel further.

Started at 7am, rode to Napier for breakfast. Then a (too) long run from there to masterton with only 3 short pauses for animals in the road. Was cruising, but was solid riding from 930 to 1340 on route 52. Most was good, but there is a bit in the middle that has no markings, is narrow, twisty and sketchy road surface.

Ah the joys of riding down the East side of the Norf Is, such fun, it always seems cooler south of Hastings and the roads longer. Jealous I am. :headbang:

[Duncan74]

Bike thermometer was north of 30 for most of yesterday. Today maxed at 18, but typically 17. Even allowing for inaccuracies in absolute, that swing was a shock to the system.

Shorter riding day tomorrow, and less twisties I think. Offset by needing to battle Wellington cbd traffic.

[Duncan74]

Wow, wow wow. And wow. What a fan-bloody-tastic day. Best yet by a long way. Left Castlepoint at 7am for breakfast at Martinbrough. Great food and topped the tank up. Managed to find a backwoods route that was twisty in places, but mainly sweeping bends linked by long, wide straights. If there were hidden speed cameras here I expect to keep nz post very busy in the coming days....
From there, Cape Pallisder. Huge thanks for the suggestion to go there as that route was stunning. Overcast and windy added to the spectacle. Gravel was interesting, but manageable, and really only last 4km. Then back to featherstone for coffee and a warning from another biker that the wind was making things tricky on the rimutakas. So took it steady, basically just following the tourist cars, but certainly hairy as you came around a couple of corners and caught a gust. Into welly for 1230, and an afternoon of galleries and shopping.

[Frodo]

Thanks for the update.
Off to Castlepoint this weekend.

[Waihou Thumper]

and an afternoon of galleries and shopping.

What! :oi-grr: all that time and no more riding....
Geez....
Nice work though and glad you had some fun on the wee....

[Duncan74]

Done, done done. 2008km since Sunday and the bike didn't miss a beat.

Yesterday was a it of a disapointment. Ride out of Wellington was good, but to be honest then from there it was all a it 'meh' up to New Plymouth. Was strong winds, but thanfully off the coast so that meant it was constant and not gusty when passing oncoming trucks. After Cape Pallisder, then the lighthouse was a bit of a let down.

However, today was sublime. Perfect riding conditions and SH3 from NP to Hamilton was just sweepy bends, no traffic bliss. Then I cut cross country to go around lake Karipiro and then some back roads to the Kaimais. Lovely, lovely lovely.

Met a group of three bikers at the Fat Pigeon cafe who were doing the same loop as me the other way - actually think I saw them on Monday as we passed on Route 52.

[eldog]

Done, done done. 2008km since Sunday and the bike didn't miss a beat.

Yesterday was a it of a disapointment. Ride out of Wellington was good, but to be honest then from there it was all a it 'meh' up to New Plymouth. Was strong winds, but thanfully off the coast so that meant it was constant and not gusty when passing oncoming trucks. After Cape Pallisder, then the lighthouse was a bit of a let down.

However, today was sublime. Perfect riding conditions and SH3 from NP to Hamilton was just sweepy bends, no traffic bliss. Then I cut cross country to go around lake Karipiro and then some back roads to the Kaimais. Lovely, lovely lovely.

Met a group of three bikers at the Fat Pigeon cafe who were doing the same loop as me the other way - actually think I saw them on Monday as we passed on Route 52.

:niceone: Now you just need to plan a few more trips about the place.....
then the Sth Is......