Auckland to Wellington - which way? time sensititve

[tigertim20]

Need to ride a motorcycle from Auckland to Wellington on Saturday.

Arriving Auckland 8am, pickup bike, head to Wellington. Looks like interislander ferry crossings are departing wellington at 5pm and 830pm.

looking for suggestions on the best route to take, and estimated travel time to get the ferry.

any suggestions would be great

[jellywrestler]

Need to ride a motorcycle from Auckland to Wellington on Saturday.

Arriving Auckland 8am, pickup bike, head to Wellington. Looks like interislander ferry crossings are departing wellington at 5pm and 830pm.

looking for suggestions on the best route to take, and estimated travel time to get the ferry.

any suggestions would be great

through taumaranui raetihi wanganui, quicker than state highway one and less trucks and shit, generally the drivers have a higher level of competance too

[Madness]

through taumaranui raetihi wanganui, quicker than state highway one and less trucks and shit, generally the drivers have a higher level of competance too

+1, assuming you're not going to limit yourself to 105km/hr. Jump over the Waikato at Rangiriri and back-road it through to Ngaruawahia for an extra gain.

[tigertim20]

with these routes would I hit the 5pm ferry, or better to play safe and hit the 830 crossing?

and yes, I will be taking my own, good quality tie downs for the ferry!!

[tigertim20]

google reckons 630km, 8 hours, 4 minutes.
How conservative is a google maps estimate?

If i do the deal and leave by 9am id only be getting to wellington at 5 as the ferry is leaving.

Looks like best bet is to take the 830 sailing and take my time?

[Madness]

If your flight into Auckland Airport is scheduled to arrive at 8am I'd suggest go with the later sailing. Weather forecast looks a bit sketchy and you know, Auckland.

[tigertim20]

+1, assuming you're not going to limit yourself to 105km/hr. Jump over the Waikato at Rangiriri and back-road it through to Ngaruawahia for an extra gain.


If your flight into Auckland Airport is scheduled to arrive at 8am I'd suggest go with the later sailing. Weather forecast looks a bit sketchy and you know, Auckland.

cool, have gone with the later sailing.

Wont be twisting the throttle too much - new bike, unfamiliar roads and probably drizzly weather - not ideal circumstances for a fun-paced ride

[EJK]

Wise choice.

And from what I remember check-in close time for vehicles is one hour before departure. So if departure time is 8:30pm then it'd be ideal to be in line ready for check-in by 7pm just to be safe.

11 hours from Auckland terminal to Wellington harbor... Not bad I think.

[Moi]

Where are you picking up the bike?

If airport, then onto south-western (SH20) via Puhinui Rd (SH20A), follow that onto Southern (SH1) onto Waikato Expressway. Either off SH1 at Rangiriri or at Taupiri for Ngaruawahi and then western route through to Otorohanga - you pick up SH39 just south of Te Kowhai.

Good cafés in Pirongia. Think of fueling stops down this route.

Otorohanga south to Te Kuiti (SH3) and left at Eight Mile Junction for Taumarunui on SH4 ** No fuel between Te Kuiti and Taumarunui and no cell coverage either. Follow SH4 through National Park and down to W(h)anganui. The Paraparas have no fuel after Raetihi and, again, cell coverage iffy. Then south to Wellywood.

You'll make slow time until south of Drury on the Southern - road surface through Takanini area is appalling due to road construction and after Botanic Gardens/Hill Rd overpass stay in middle lane of three lane section to avoid the forced left lane exit at Takanini.

Google map: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/-37.0022059,174.7893192/-41.2787702,174.7817661/@-37.7360331,174.0491154,8z/data=!4m19!4m18!1m15!3m4!1m2!1d175.1479523!2d-37.6658825!3s0x6d6d3a554b1f28d7:0x865496aa3fa721d5 !3m4!1m2!1d175.1490729!2d-38.3205635!3s0x6d6cba34bf0d5221:0x1300ef61069ba4b0 !3m4!1m2!1d175.0596246!2d-39.9278859!3s0x6d4003af43b2629b:0x1300ef6106a54e01 !1m0!3e0

[jellywrestler]

So if departure time is 8:30pm then it'd be ideal to be in line ready for check-in by 7pm just to be safe.


you sound like a bit of a worry wart, 1/2 an hour isn't even cutting it fine these days, especially n a bike which can be squeezed in pretty well anywhere

[buggerit]

What bike are you getting?, sounds like a good pre summer adventure, good luck wih your trip:headbang: will keep an eye out for ya.

[BMWST?]

if its wet and drizzly the parapara may not be the best chouce on a unfamilair bike can be very slippery through there.
I would seriously consider sh1 except go west side lake taupo

[EJK]

you sound like a bit of a worry wart, 1/2 an hour isn't even cutting it fine these days, especially n a bike which can be squeezed in pretty well anywhere

I dunno, just a habit.

[slofox]

if its wet and drizzly the parapara may not be the best chouce on a unfamilair bike can be very slippery through there.
I would seriously consider sh1 except go west side lake taupo

Wot 'e said. Specially west side of the lake.

[Drew]

At legal speeds, highway 1 is the quickest way to do it these days. 1b to miss Hamilton.

[HEsch]

Where are you picking up the bike?

If airport, then onto south-western (SH20) via Puhinui Rd (SH20A), follow that onto Southern (SH1) onto Waikato Expressway. Either off SH1 at Rangiriri or at Taupiri for Ngaruawahi and then western route through to Otorohanga - you pick up SH39 just south of Te Kowhai.

Good cafés in Pirongia. Think of fueling stops down this route.

Otorohanga south to Te Kuiti (SH3) and left at Eight Mile Junction for Taumarunui on SH4 ** No fuel between Te Kuiti and Taumarunui and no cell coverage either. Follow SH4 through National Park and down to W(h)anganui. The Paraparas have no fuel after Raetihi and, again, cell coverage iffy. Then south to Wellywood.

You'll make slow time until south of Drury on the Southern - road surface through Takanini area is appalling due to road construction and after Botanic Gardens/Hill Rd overpass stay in middle lane of three lane section to avoid the forced left lane exit at Takanini.

Google map: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/-37.0022059,174.7893192/-41.2787702,174.7817661/@-37.7360331,174.0491154,8z/data=!4m19!4m18!1m15!3m4!1m2!1d175.1479523!2d-37.6658825!3s0x6d6d3a554b1f28d7:0x865496aa3fa721d5 !3m4!1m2!1d175.1490729!2d-38.3205635!3s0x6d6cba34bf0d5221:0x1300ef61069ba4b0 !3m4!1m2!1d175.0596246!2d-39.9278859!3s0x6d4003af43b2629b:0x1300ef6106a54e01 !1m0!3e0

Southbound through Takanini is better than northbound, at least, but both atrocious.

I echo getting off at Rangiriri (Te Kauwhata exit) if traffic is heavy, to go via Glen Murray if there is a lot of traffic. I travel Akl-Ham weekly and only go via Glen Murray to avoid heavy traffic - generally (like at Takanini) no one observes the temporary limits and you can be sailing through at 90ks just to keep up with the flow. However, generally southbound flows a lot better than northbound.

SH1B from Taupiri will get you nearly to the Cambridge expressway, which cuts off 5ks on the way to Karapiro (and 5 mins). 110 is the legal speed limit on the Cambridge section of the expressway. But I don't usually travel further south than Hamilton on the bike so I'd listen to Moi's route suggestions.

Don't get fuel in Auckland if you can avoid it. Generally a bit cheaper at Hampton Downs (Gull), hideously expensive at Huntly, then reasonably cheap in Avalon Drive (north side of Hamilton)/Hamilton. Prices can be wildly variable in the more remote areas - sometimes extra cheap, sometimes not.

[Moi]

... Don't get fuel in Auckland if you can avoid it. Generally a bit cheaper at Hampton Downs (Gull), hideously expensive at Huntly, then reasonably cheap in Avalon Drive (north side of Hamilton)/Hamilton. Prices can be wildly variable in the more remote areas - sometimes extra cheap, sometimes not.

If you don't have the app "Gaspy" on your phone, have a look at it - gives prices for local areas.

[Moi]

At legal speeds, highway 1 is the quickest way to do it these days. 1b to miss Hamilton.

Just did the "ask Google maps" with SH1 as one route, then Western Lake Rd, then via National Park...

according to Navigator Google all are with 15 mins of each other...

[Moi]

if its wet and drizzly the parapara may not be the best chouce on a unfamilair bike can be very slippery through there.
I would seriously consider sh1 except go west side lake taupo

If you decide on the National Park route and want to avoid the Paraparas, then left south of Horopito on to SH49 to Ohakune and across to Waiouru to pick up SH1.

[tigertim20]

Where are you picking up the bike?
]
Meeting at AUckland Airport when I land

What bike are you getting?, sounds like a good pre summer adventure, good luck wih your trip:headbang: will keep an eye out for ya.
late-(ish) model R6

At legal speeds, highway 1 is the quickest way to do it these days. 1b to miss Hamilton.
won't be getting too silly - unfamiliar bike and roads dont make a good recipe when mixed with an excitable right wrist

Southbound through Takanini is better than northbound, at least, but both atrocious.

I echo getting off at Rangiriri (Te Kauwhata exit) if traffic is heavy, to go via Glen Murray if there is a lot of traffic. I travel Akl-Ham weekly and only go via Glen Murray to avoid heavy traffic - generally (like at Takanini) no one observes the temporary limits and you can be sailing through at 90ks just to keep up with the flow. However, generally southbound flows a lot better than northbound.

SH1B from Taupiri will get you nearly to the Cambridge expressway, which cuts off 5ks on the way to Karapiro (and 5 mins). 110 is the legal speed limit on the Cambridge section of the expressway. But I don't usually travel further south than Hamilton on the bike so I'd listen to Moi's route suggestions.

Don't get fuel in Auckland if you can avoid it. Generally a bit cheaper at Hampton Downs (Gull), hideously expensive at Huntly, then reasonably cheap in Avalon Drive (north side of Hamilton)/Hamilton. Prices can be wildly variable in the more remote areas - sometimes extra cheap, sometimes not.
cool, Im checking out all these routes on Gmaps

If you don't have the app "Gaspy" on your phone, have a look at it - gives prices for local areas.
Ill keep that in mind, but I pay south island fuel prices so its probably still gunna be cheaper up north. second half of the trip in the south island will all be about 15c a litre more probably anyway

[sidecar bob]

At legal speeds, highway 1 is the quickest way to do it these days. 1b to miss Hamilton.

I took 1B in my classic BMW a few weeks back.
They're taking the piss aren't they?
I goes on & fuckin on all over the shire.

[Drew]

I took 1B in my classic BMW a few weeks back.
They're taking the piss aren't they?
I goes on & fuckin on all over the shire.
Yeah, seems like it cant be faster. But it is.

[MD]

I'd stick to HW1 if you don't want to rush and also don't want to take in faster twisty detours. On a bike the extra traffic on HW1 doesn't really hold you up. The Taupo township detour is a time saver. But I love stopping in at Taupo for a break and hitting golf balls into the lake.

If you do fancy some more enjoyable riding detours then;
Turn right at Tokoroa on to HW32 to Whakamaru dam and after that take a left onto Pohihi Rd, which takes you through beaut scenery to Taupo township.

Turn left 200 metres before entering Mangaweka township and blast through a gorge to Rangiwahia and on to Kimbolton (this is awesome bike country and will wear out the limits of your tyres sidewall edges. Take care on entering some of the blind corners, they can tighten up and have long drops off the side of cliffs.

I go to Hamilton a lot to visit family and the cheapest gas is in Putaruru (Waitomo brand I think?) and the Gull about 15 minutes north of Taupo.

ENJOY the ride

[jellywrestler]

If you decide on the National Park route and want to avoid the Paraparas, then left south of Horopito on to SH49 to Ohakune and across to Waiouru to pick up SH1.

what, the paraparas is one of the best roads in the world, lived in wanganui and with work riding etc i've done it easily a thousand times, how often after a wet day does the local paper report the carnage due to the wet roads, fuck all because people ride to the conditions simply

[jellywrestler]

If you don't have the app "Gaspy" on your phone, have a look at it - gives prices for local areas.

the guy wants an efficient way to get from auckland to wellington in one day, do you think he's wanting to travel all over for five cents a liter on a probably 20 litre tanked bike?

[Moi]

the guy wants an efficient way to get from auckland to wellington in one day, do you think he's wanting to travel all over for five cents a liter on a probably 20 litre tanked bike?

If you can save up to 20c/litre, then it might be worth buying from the petrol station that's 100 metres off the main road... that's $4 on a 20 litre tank...

[Moi]

what, the paraparas is one of the best roads in the world, lived in wanganui and with work riding etc i've done it easily a thousand times, how often after a wet day does the local paper report the carnage due to the wet roads, fuck all because people ride to the conditions simply

Did you read the posting that I was responding to?

[bikaholic]

the guy wants an efficient way to get from auckland to wellington in one day, do you think he's wanting to travel all over for five cents a liter on a probably 20 litre tanked bike?good call, he is from the south island, he is used to being raped at the bowser so he can subsidise dorkland.

[BMWST?]

what, the paraparas is one of the best roads in the world, lived in wanganui and with work riding etc i've done it easily a thousand times, how often after a wet day does the local paper report the carnage due to the wet roads, fuck all because people ride to the conditions simply
2 boxing days in a row i saw bikes in the same group as me go skating down the road because the riders were taken unawares of how slippery that papa clay is.They obviously didnt see the brown tinge to the surface.That is why i advise the OP to avoid the Paraparas i he is on unfamiliar bike/tyres

[jellywrestler]

2 boxing days in a row i saw bikes in the same group as me go skating down the road because the riders were taken unawares of how slippery that papa clay is.They obviously didnt see the brown tinge to the surface.That is why i advise the OP to avoid the Paraparas i he is on unfamiliar bike/tyres

papa is grey, easy to spot, if you've got your eyes peeled, harder if you're more interested in playing keep up with another as your priority, that's not the roads fault

[BMWST?]

papa is grey
brownish tinge on the road surface imho, but it is slippery.

[jellywrestler]

brownish tinge on the road surface imho, but it is slippery.

https://www.google.co.nz/maps/@-39.6773021,175.3370898,3a,75y,162h,77.22t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sCNs8mPs6VAoJRn6mvBRN0A!2e0!7i1 3312!8i6656

[russd7]

papa is grey, easy to spot, if you've got your eyes peeled, harder if you're more interested in playing keep up with another as your priority, that's not the roads fault
sure as hell is and when wet its slippery as hell and its an arse to dig post holes in or plant poplar poles. tungsten tip on the post hole borer and hold on tight was the answer.
on a more fun not though, it was a lot of fun on the trikes when it was wet and the boss was no where to be seen :cool:

[tigertim20]

In case anyone cares,
I ended up taking SH1 from Auckland to Hamilton, I didnt take the bypass because the bike came with some spares, and while they did fit in the small backpack I bought, they were a bit of extra weight and uncomfortable so for $20 I swung into a post shop in Hamilton, chucked the spare parts into a box and posted it to myself.

I then went through Te Awamutu to Te Kuiti, then SH4 to Taumaranui. Where I fueled up, charged my phone and had a snack at the petrol station.had a brief yarn with a few riders who were passing through,- there were quite a few, presumably doing the forgotten highway. I really enjoyed the last 100km or so into taumaranui.

I then went through national park to Whanganui and had another rest, stopping at a cafe for dinner and getting gas again, keeping track of fuel going in vs km travelled to get an idea on economy and range for future reference.

Then it was through Bulls and Levin to wellington for more fuel, then to the ferry where I only had to wait about 5 minutes before riding on.

Upon departing the ferry, about 8km south of picton theres so.e long straights. I was cruising along, and in the distance I saw some tail lights that looked out of place.took me a minute to realise it was because they were on the wrong side of the road.

I hot the has to catch up, with the horn on full blast (full squeak really, sports bike horns are a bit flaccid) and gesticulating like a spastic having an epileptic fit once i was beside them to get the fuck on to the left side of the road. Got just ahead and was waving wildly at them, looking ahead and waving at them - by now we were going through some corners.

Between the waving honking and swearing they finally got the point and pulled over thankfully. Pure luck as had there been a car going north I'd have arrived at a horrific fatal head-on.

Apart from that it was a great trip with some lovely roads, what a great way to see some parts of NZ ive never seen before.

South island tomorrow morning :)

[skippa1]

In case anyone cares,
I ended up taking SH1 from Auckland to Hamilton, I didnt take the bypass because the bike came with some spares, and while they did fit in the small backpack I bought, they were a bit of extra weight and uncomfortable so for $20 I swung into a post shop in Hamilton, chucked the spare parts into a box and posted it to myself.

I then went through Te Awamutu to Te Kuiti, then SH4 to Taumaranui. Where I fueled up, charged my phone and had a snack at the petrol station.had a brief yarn with a few riders who were passing through,- there were quite a few, presumably doing the forgotten highway. I really enjoyed the last 100km or so into taumaranui.

I then went through national park to Whanganui and had another rest, stopping at a cafe for dinner and getting gas again, keeping track of fuel going in vs km travelled to get an idea on economy and range for future reference.

Then it was through Bulls and Levin to wellington for more fuel, then to the ferry where I only had to wait about 5 minutes before riding on.

Upon departing the ferry, about 8km south of picton theres so.e long straights. I was cruising along, and in the distance I saw some tail lights that looked out of place.took me a minute to realise it was because they were on the wrong side of the road.

I hot the has to catch up, with the horn on full blast (full squeak really, sports bike horns are a bit flaccid) and gesticulating like a spastic having an epileptic fit once i was beside them to get the fuck on to the left side of the road. Got just ahead and was waving wildly at them, looking ahead and waving at them - by now we were going through some corners.

Between the waving honking and swearing they finally got the point and pulled over thankfully. Pure luck as had there been a car going north I'd have arrived at a horrific fatal head-on.

Apart from that it was a great trip with some lovely roads, what a great way to see some parts of NZ ive never seen before.

South island tomorrow morning :)
Good route with some nice riding. You did well to avoid SH1....boring as shit. Enjoy the new bike

[slofox]

(full squeak really, sports bike horns are a bit flaccid)

Buy yourself a Stebel. That'll fix the problem. :done:

[pritch]

They obviously didnt see the brown tinge to the surface.

Don't eat the brown papa? :whistle:

[BMWST?]

Don't eat the brown papa? :whistle:
you got it

[jellywrestler]

I then went through national park to Whanganui and had another rest,

the second half was the parapara, this is incredible, according to some you must be one of the very few riders ever to survive this road, well done.

[Drew]

the second half was the parapara, this is incredible, according to some you must be one of the very few riders ever to survive this road, well done.
Its sketchy at 6am during a frost. But even then I stayed upright.

[tigertim20]

the second half was the parapara, this is incredible, according to some you must be one of the very few riders ever to survive this road, well done.

that would be the section that has had quite a few slips, and a few sections with barriers around slips etc?

It was a tad greasy in parts, I was cruising at a nice pace, but not 'going hard'. lots of 35, 45, 55km/hr corners one after the other - I like that.

[eldog]

It hasn't improved then from last time I road it.

Similar to the roadworks on SH1 Desert road "improvements"
Dont try to stop on the shoulder:whistle:

[BMWST?]

the second half was the parapara, this is incredible, according to some you must be one of the very few riders ever to survive this road, well done.
You have selective memory.I said that if it was wet i would consider not going over on a new to me bike.