Great rides of NZ

[SaferRides]

I was going through some photos and found these. If you turn right here, be prepared for one of the best biking roads in NZ.

Anyone else ridden this? I've never seen any other mention of the road apart from a post by a cyclist. The other photo is of the beach at the end of the road, which may be more familiar. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20251118/3179e89342e127bd83b895346da336c5.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20251118/66b4e3ff11523807339a4a3927ff291a.jpg

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[pritch]

The ride from Awakino to Marakopa is all good. There was an unsealed stretch in the middle somewhere, perhaps 10k? The ride has been mentioned on KB. IIRC that tunnel was used to get the stock down to the beach back when the beach was basically part of the route north.

[Gremlin]

Waikawau Tunnel... reasonably well known amongst adv riders, given there is gravel to get there :rolleyes:

[SaferRides]

Waikawau Tunnel... reasonably well known amongst adv riders, given there is gravel to get there :rolleyes:I made it on the R1, just took my time.



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[SaferRides]

The ride from Awakino to Marakopa is all good. There was an unsealed stretch in the middle somewhere, perhaps 10k? The ride has been mentioned on KB. IIRC that tunnel was used to get the stock down to the beach back when the beach was basically part of the route north.There's still about 10k of very smooth gravel, no problem at all on a road bike. But the road over the saddle south of there has recently been resealed and the chips have not bound to the bitumen. It was tricky to ride, tight corners and a loose surface were no fun at all.

The road south of the beach turnoff is good, in better condition than SH3 through the Awakino Gorge.

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[BMWST?]

From New Plymouth to tunnel beach there is only gravel on the short stretch to the beach itself. The road north from the beach was closed when i was there last week.
Last week the plan was to Go to marokopa Falls from NP ,but as above the road was closed so had to detour back to Piopio then to the falls. Also checcked out pirpiri cave walk.
At the beginning of the year we came down From Waitiomo Caves There was quite a long section of gravel on Mangatoa Road from memory, thats when we first found Tunnel beach then out to NP. All this in a 4wd so no problems with gravel.
Great roads though must try out on the GS.Maybe an overnite at marokopa Camp grounds,they have some kind of different pay system there

[F5 Dave]

At the other end of the spectrum I just did the scenic inland route 72. Must be ironically named as all I saw was hedgerows and fields. I was sick of SH1 top of SI but I've gotten a new appreciation by comparison.

[SaferRides]

From New Plymouth to tunnel beach there is only gravel on the short stretch to the beach itself. The road north from the beach was closed when i was there last week.
Last week the plan was to Go to marokopa Falls from NP ,but as above the road was closed so had to detour back to Piopio then to the falls. Also checcked out pirpiri cave walk.
At the beginning of the year we came down From Waitiomo Caves There was quite a long section of gravel on Mangatoa Road from memory, thats when we first found Tunnel beach then out to NP. All this in a 4wd so no problems with gravel.
Great roads though must try out on the GS.Maybe an overnite at marokopa Camp grounds,they have some kind of different pay system thereWe came down SH39 to Otorohonga, then through to Waitomo. We then followed the road to Marakopa past Marakopa Falls. No gravel except Mangatoa Road for about 10 km.

There are no shops or petrol from Waitomo to Awakino. The campground at Marakopa may have a shop during the summer, otherwise bring everything you need.

It is well worth the effort though. We stayed the night at the Awakino pub, which was an adventure in itself!

Marakopa from the road south. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20251124/4adfa6bf474aa9bb9772d51ffdc1eaaa.jpg

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[Kickaha]

At the other end of the spectrum I just did the scenic inland route 72.

You practically rode past my place and didn't call in, I'm heartbroken :cry:

[BMWST?]

We came down SH39 to Otorohonga, then through to Waitomo. We then followed the road to Marakopa past Marakopa Falls. No gravel except Mangatoa Road for about 10 km.

There are no shops or petrol from Waitomo to Awakino. The campground at Marakopa may have a shop during the summer, otherwise bring everything you need.

It is well worth the effort though. We stayed the night at the Awakino pub, which was an adventure in itself!

Marakopa from the road south.

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Thats the way we did it at the beginning of the year. I woulda sworn there was more gravel than that. As i said earlier the Marokopa Holiday park operates on Penny,formerly Kiwicash.

[SaferRides]

Thats the way we did it at the beginning of the year. I woulda sworn there was more gravel than that. As i said earlier the Marokopa Holiday park operates on Penny,formerly Kiwicash.
There could well have been, the road over the saddle after the gravel was freshly sealed. Hopefully the road was closed because they are fixing it.

There seems to a problem with bitumen. The Rotorua end of SH33 had melted tar in places yesterday and it wasn't that hot. Someone reckoned it was because it has been imported since the refinery closed and isn't as good.

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[F5 Dave]

You practically rode past my place and didn't call in, I'm heartbroken :cry:

I thought of you as I went through Rangiora as I thought that was where you lived. Was well over it with still a way to go to Hamner having been pretty cold with wet roads. Spun the rear up defying traction control and it slewed about 6" (1") both ways. Bleergh.

Today in lovely conditions, Went from Hamner the alternative inland route to Kaikora. It was a hilly little goat track that would be miserable in the wet.
Fortunately it was dry and I'd recommend it fully.

[pritch]

Today in lovely conditions, Went from Hamner the alternative inland route to Kaikora. It was a hilly little goat track that would be miserable in the wet.
Fortunately it was dry and I'd recommend it fully.

When I went through there, heading south, when you come to twisty sections (more twisty?) there were no corner speed warning signs until you were three or four turns in. A bit late I thought. And yeah IIRC it had rained overnight and we had started early so it was distinctly damp.

Probably more SI humour. Like having roadworks with no signage so you hit the metal section still doing warp speed..

[F5 Dave]

I saw two 15kph signs. Never seen 15 before.

[SaferRides]

When I went through there, heading south, when you come to twisty sections (more twisty?) there were no corner speed warning signs until you were three or four turns in. A bit late I thought. And yeah IIRC it had rained overnight and we had started early so it was distinctly damp.

Probably more SI humour. Like having roadworks with no signage so you hit the metal section still doing warp speed..
Never been on that road, sounds like a fun ride! We planned to go that way last time I was in the SI but our ferry was 6 hours late.

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[SaferRides]

At the other end of the spectrum I just did the scenic inland route 72. Must be ironically named as all I saw was hedgerows and fields. I was sick of SH1 top of SI but I've gotten a new appreciation by comparison.It's not a great ride, but better than SH1, and it avoids Christchurch completely.

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[Kickaha]

Today in lovely conditions, Went from Hamner the alternative inland route to Kaikora. It was a hilly little goat track that would be miserable in the wet.
Fortunately it was dry and I'd recommend it fully.

It was better when it was gravel

[F5 Dave]

Yeah can imagine that but only with more aggressive tread blocks.

[sugilite]

We came down SH39 to Otorohonga, then through to Waitomo. We then followed the road to Marakopa past Marakopa Falls. No gravel except Mangatoa Road for about 10 km.



I think Mangatoa then morphs into Manganui road, and the gravel portion turns to seal about 10 km's before Awakino?
If so, that gravel road passes by some of the best native forest you can find in the North Island - Stunning area of NZ :yes:
When I did that gravel road, it was in a condition fine for sportsbikes, though I have no doubt that can change at any time.

[BMWST?]

I think Mangatoa then morphs into Manganui road, and the gravel portion turns to seal about 10 km's before Awakino?
If so, that gravel road passes by some of the best native forest you can find in the North Island - Stunning area of NZ :yes:
When I did that gravel road, it was in a condition fine for sportsbikes, though I have no doubt that can change at any time.

There is no gravel between Awakino and Waikawau Tunnel Beach and it was fine.Waikawau Road is the road to the beach. That intersetion is where Mangatoa Road turns into Manganui Road. The slip was on Mangatoa road and the road was closed at aforementioned intersection.

[pritch]

I saw two 15kph signs. Never seen 15 before.

SH 43 is the only other place I recall seeing those.

[BMWST?]

SH 43 is the only other place I recall seeing those.

yeah Whangamomona Saddle

[SaferRides]

SH 43 is the only other place I recall seeing those.
I remember that corner, but I've seen tighter. There's a few 15 km/h corners in Northland, usually well off the beaten track. I don't recall any in Coromandel.

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[sugilite]

Just went for a ride to Lake Rotorangi out in the wops Southern Taranaki. Great little road! There is about 7 odd kilometers of gravel, but it is in superb condition - RSV felt fine up to 100 kph on the straight bits.


https://andys-kawasaki-zxr-zx7r-tribute-site.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/lake-rotorangi-1.jpg


Found one of those 15 kph signs heading towards the lake


https://andys-kawasaki-zxr-zx7r-tribute-site.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/lake-rotorangi-2.jpg


The Lake - Local Iwi have set up a hydro dam off it - smart.


https://andys-kawasaki-zxr-zx7r-tribute-site.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/lake-rotorangi-3.jpg


The roundish rock is actually a concretion, I noticed them embedded in mudstone banks earlier on - someone placed this one here. There is a chance there is a fossil in the centre of it.


https://andys-kawasaki-zxr-zx7r-tribute-site.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/lake-rotorangi-4.jpg


Go get em RSV! :laugh:


https://andys-kawasaki-zxr-zx7r-tribute-site.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/lake-rotorangi-5.jpg


The small tuft of vivid white at the top of the image above the bike seat is Ruapahu - easily seen with naked eye, not so much with phone camera.


https://andys-kawasaki-zxr-zx7r-tribute-site.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/lake-rotorangi-6.jpg


And a few hundred meters along to the right, is this view of Mount Taranaki

So all in all, a good little road. I approached it from the Kakaramea Road as it has several series of 3rd/4th gear sweepers with no farm gates or driveways to be seen - more fun than the more direct Ball Road which is pretty much just straight :yawn:

[SaferRides]

Thanks, looks like nice ride. That lake looks strange on a map, more like a very wide river!

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[BMWST?]

We were going to go out there to look at the lake and the tunnel but ran out of time. There is a you tube channel called The BV he goes all over the place on his bike and posts videos. He has been up there recently,that where I got the idea to go out there

[sugilite]

Yep, I noticed that too, a really weird "lake" for sure!

[sugilite]

We were going to go out there to look at the lake and the tunnel but ran out of time. There is a you tube channel called The BV he goes all over the place on his bike and posts videos. He has been up there recently,that where I got the idea to go out there

I found it completely by chance as the wife and I go for drives in the car quite often and just turn down bunches of roads to see where they go. The fact I subsequently map out the best rides is purely coincidental :innocent:

[SaferRides]

I did some exploring during the Auckland COVID lockdown in 2021 and found some good rides, especially south of Auckland and into the Waikato.

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[BMWST?]

............. The fact I subsequently map out the best rides is purely coincidental :innocent:

I would say Genius!

[SaferRides]

SH25A from the summit down to Kopu. One of the few roads that is more fun going down than climbing. You have to time it right though as it can get really busy; late Saturday afternoon can be good during summer.

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