Where is the windiest sealed road in NZ - is this it?

[Ruralman]

Just back from a trip to Canterbury and stayed with a mate over at Akaroa. Went up on Monday when the weather was absolute shite, and came home this morning. There had been snow on the hilltop road and heaps of grit had been spread - could have done with a speedway bike. In short the trip over the hill I had been looking forward to was very restrained - SO guess what I did - I counted the bloody corners!!!
Here's the challenge - the section of road from Barry's Bay back over the hill as far as Cooptown (just before Little River) is 13km long. There are 35 corners from Barry's bay to the hilltop pub, and another 42 from there to cooptown for a total of 77 corners in 13km.
Its a bit of a judgement call as to what is a slight bend and what I called a corner so someone else migth get a slightly diffrent total.
Has anyone else got a windier section of sealed road ??- must be at least 10km long.

[Skunk]

Paraparas (SH4) might beat that - in a way... it's 55kms long and I've never counted the corners.

SH43 may too. It has corners, some marked 15kph.

[Skyryder]

Is the Pig root from Waipori to Lawrence??

Skyryder

[Ruralman]

Paraparas might beat that - in a way... it's 55kms long and I've never counted the corners.

used to live in Wanganui and did a few trips up through there - not sure the corners are as close together - heaps of 25-55km/hr corners on the the hilltop ride - but the Parapara's would be a great ride (unfortunately I didn't have abike then)
You have just given yourself an excuse for a blast throught there tho!!

[Ruralman]

Is the Pig root from Waipori to Lawrence??

Skyryder

Waipori to Lawrence is almost all gravel. Pig Root is inland from Palmerston heading to Ranfurly

[Ruralman]

[

SH43 may too. It has corners, some marked 15kph.[/QUOTE]

Where's SH43?

[Skyryder]

Paraparas (SH4) might beat that - in a way... it's 55kms long and I've never counted the corners.


She's long haul in a car. First did that in a Sunbeam Talbot. Closest car to a bike.

Ran it with the Drake 'bout a year back. One of the must biker rides.

Skyryder

[skelstar]

What about Paekakariki Hill Rd (or is that SH43)? Maybe not long enough.

[Skunk]

SH43 may too. It has corners, some marked 15kph.

Where's SH43?

Stratford to Taumarunui, with a stop at The Republic of Whangamomona in the middle. About 100kms from memory...

[Skunk]

What about Paekakariki Hill Rd... {snip}
Not a SH even... Not twisty enough over enough of it.

[TygerTung]

Nah the summit road is way windier, but shite for bikes though, surface is always average at best, bumpy and usually a bit of gravel.

Great for ya cage though (if ya into that sort of thing). Have done many a rapid pass in my classic '75 corolla at midnight.

The akaroa run is great on bikes though, shit for cages though as it's too dificult to overtake.

[Jantar]

I would vote that the windiest piece of road is the East Cape road fro Te Kaha to Hicks Bay,

2nd would be the section of road from Twin Bridges to Kaikoe,

3rd would be Akaroa.

4th would be between Franz Joseph and Fox Glaciers.

[98tls]

I agree on summit road in a cage...took a hell trip over it in a R32 GTR...fuck it was Awsome...mrs had white knuckles the whole way over...if you want the best windy road in NZ go to westport and then go north until you find the road up to the Dennistown Coal Mine.....dont know how many KMs but its heaps.....it just keeps on going..left/right/left....etc..would probably be the best kept secret in NZ....:shutup: not now.....

[gav]

Queen Charlotte Drive, Havelock to Picton? Takaka Hill?

[rwh]

Queen Charlotte Drive, Havelock to Picton? Takaka Hill?

I like that road - and used to live in the middle of it (lengthwise, not widthwise - at Linkwater). I'm almost tempted to splash out on a one-day return ticket on the ferry to ride it ...

[Biff]

Lake Ellesmere on the way to Akaroa on a bad day.

I've still got the dirty pants and the mental image of the lady driver's face coming towards me as a gust threw me into oncoming traffic along there.
:gob:

[Big Dave]

te anau to milford sound

waipoua forest

buller gorge

queen charoltte dr

coromandel town to whitianga

[98tls]

buller gorg :yes: Thats a real Road eh.......:banana: :banana:

[rwh]

I'm not convinced anything I've seen on here, that I've ridden or driven, would beat the Akatarawas.

[98tls]

I'm not convinced anything I've seen on here, that I've ridden or driven, would beat the Akatarawas.
you have never been up the Denniston hill then...

[Lou Girardin]

Akaroas would be hard to beat. Coronet Peak Rd, Scenic Drive Auck, Coro loop must all be up there too.

[merv]

Check out this thread http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=29036

[Big Dave]

Akaroas would be hard to beat. Coronet Peak Rd, Scenic Drive Auck, Coro loop must all be up there too.

scenic drive wouldn't make the top 50!. Ridge road Albany to riverhead is twistier.
Grab that Buell demo and carve up baby!

[Bend-it]

I'm not convinced anything I've seen on here, that I've ridden or driven, would beat the Akatarawas.

Just went up the akatarawas yesterday and paekek hill back... Must say paekak hill was much nicer. With the Akatarawas, it's not a matter of skill, more a case of playing Kiwi Roulette on the bike, with one lane and blind corners!! I took it easy and still managed to scare the pants of afew cars coming in the other direction (which is always fun...), but you basically have to be riding on the far left ALL THE TIME, 'coz you never know what'll turn up around the next corner.

Paekak on the other hand, is windy (bends, not blowy windy) as heck, but at least there's a line you know you'll be fine if you don't cross. Having said that there were 2 bloomin' cages that did cross the line and quickly scooted back when I showed up. Could see the panic on their faces too...

[James Deuce]

I reckon the Rimutakas might be the windiest. You get gusts up to 180kms/hr sometimes.

[MSTRS]

I reckon the Rimutakas might be the windiest. You get gusts up to 180kms/hr sometimes.


Depends on your diet, Jim!!

[Ruralman]

I reckon the Rimutakas might be the windiest. You get gusts up to 180kms/hr sometimes.


When I posted this I thought - do you spell windiest (as in lots of wind ) the same as windiest (as in lots of corners) .I kind of assumed everyone would guess I meant the latter.
I had forgotten about Queen Charlotte drive - its certainly got heaps of corners but the downside are all the batches etc that mean theres lots of unpredictable traffic. The Hilltop drive has virtually no distractions like that, it has 2 lanes and a couple of small overtaking bays and enough short straights that a good bike can zap past cars pretty easily on. Most cage drivers seem to pull over a bit to give you room as well.

[James Deuce]

I stole your mickey. Muahahahahahaha

[Ruralman]

I stole your mickey. Muahahahahahaha

I know that last trip was cold and wet but last time I looked it was all still there.

[Big Dave]

When I posted this I thought - do you spell windiest (as in lots of wind ) the same as windiest

any way is fine - I understood.

[R6_kid]

Here is a pic of the Hicks Bay - Te Kaha bit. Well the tighter sections anyway. Can someone whos ridden it give an estimate of the total distance as it looked like a days worth of riding (or half maybe).

There were heaps more flowing sections but if i'd included them all then you'd be here forever.

[James Deuce]

I know that last trip was cold and wet but last time I looked it was all still there.

Me pwned.:crybaby:

[Ruralman]

Me pwned.:crybaby:

pwned?????? - what?? I'm going to have to get the kids to teach me this bloody text language

[TerminalAddict]

Here is a pic of the Hicks Bay - Te Kaha bit. Well the tighter sections anyway. Can someone whos ridden it give an estimate of the total distance as it looked like a days worth of riding (or half maybe).

There were heaps more flowing sections but if i'd included them all then you'd be here forever.

haven't ridden it but plan to.

in a car its an 8-10 hour round trip from opotiki to opotiki
I went round the cape and back through the gorge

[Jantar]

Here is a pic of the Hicks Bay - Te Kaha bit. Well the tighter sections anyway. Can someone whos ridden it give an estimate of the total distance as it looked like a days worth of riding (or half maybe).

There were heaps more flowing sections but if i'd included them all then you'd be here forever.

Opotoki to Te Araroa is 3 hours, the Te Kaha to Hicks Bay section is just over one hour.

[RiderInBlack]

My vote has ta be Fields Track (see ride report from last years GC) (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showpost.php?p=403967&postcount=10) from last years Grand Challenge. That tarsealed goat's track is one twisty mother f*cker.

[petesmeats]

Akatarawas are twisty as hell... waaay more twisty than paekak hill road. Summit road up the port hills is twisty and i often do quick (relatively considering i ride an 87 CBR) passes on the bike... average surface though with gravel bumps and sometimes wet patches in random places. I swear i got both wheels off the ground at one corner. Almost binned last time due to dodgy front tyre but am doing some work now so can afford to get my warrant now... and proper brakes...

[_intense_]

4th would be between Franz Joseph and Fox Glaciers.

OMG that is the most senic aswell, so id have to rate it higher, creamed myself doing that bit... Theres a roadsign just south of FJ that sez "35km winding roads" *sigh*

Queen charlotte drive was a new experience to me when i moved up to welly, i came from nelson with a carload of my stuff, and on the map it look ed like a shortcut to picton.... misleading. shame about all the loose gravel, but gnarley twists!

My former favorite local bits in South Canterbury were the Pareora george (The Makara road is VERY similar) and the mount Michae road round the cliffsides at the hiiltop before you drop down to Fairlie travelling inland.

[_intense_]

pwned?????? - what?? I'm going to have to get the kids to teach me this bloody text language
its derived from computer gaming, originally from miss-spelling "owned" as p and o are next to eac other on the keyboard, hence, to own some one becomes pwn someone as in to kick their ass :headbang:

-or something like that

[Ruralman]

its derived from computer gaming, originally from miss-spelling "owned" as p and o are next to eac other on the keyboard, hence, to own some one becomes pwn someone as in to kick their ass :headbang:

-or something like that

Thanks mate, it fucks you off when you know someones taking the piss and you haven't a bloody clue what they've said!!!

[Skunk]

you have never been up the Denniston hill then...
Yep, done it twice now. Look forward to the next time. Too many straight bits, though the corners are 180's...

Some roads...

Denniston Road
Akatarawa Road (Western end)
Rimutaka Road (Eastern end)
Another road ;)

[TerminalAddict]

that is an impressive sign

[scumdog]

SO guess what I did - I counted the bloody corners!!!
Here's the challenge - the section of road from Barry's Bay back over the hill as far as Cooptown (just before Little River) is 13km long. There are 35 corners from Barry's bay to the hilltop pub, and another 42 from there to cooptown for a total of 77 corners in 13km.

Has anyone else got a windier section of sealed road ??- must be at least 10km long.

Certainly SEEMED as twisty as it gets when i went over it last week - would hate doing it with a lot of traffic, would have to travel too slow.

[Rashika]

Certainly SEEMED as twisty as it gets when i went over it last week - would hate doing it with a lot of traffic, would have to travel too slow.

nah...thats when you practice your overtaking skills Scummy :yes: ...a lot...

[figjam]

So who here has done Field's Track (such an apt name)?

[Big Dave]

Yep - but we had a yarn about it over a BBQ last night and Waipoua forest got the north island vote from 4 of us. (with no certainty).

SI we haven't done entirely.
We were all certain it's not the canterbury plains.

[Qkchk]

A similar thread was put up a couple of months ago......... I still insist the the Maungamuka Gorge (20kms south of Kaitaia) is the twistiest stretch. Even tho I havent explored SI yet..... then the next bit would be from Kohukohu (off the Rawene Ferry) to SH1 @ Maungamuka Township.

[T.W.R]

Nah the summit road is way windier, but shite for bikes though, surface is always average at best, bumpy and usually a bit of gravel.

The akaroa run is great on bikes though, shit for cages though as it's too dificult to overtake.

The Summit is more technical & a better challenge than highway 75, 75 has less vision & proper corners by comparison to the summit. The Summit has a lot more kinks & dog-legs, and is a lot more open



SI we haven't done entirely.
We were all certain it's not the canterbury plains.


:weep: :zzzz: It isn't all that bad, you'd be supprised what wee gems are stashed away around the plains & foothills :yes: and being central to most of it, the bikes nice n warm & ready to be unleashed once the good stuff is reached

[MD]

SI we haven't done entirely.
We were all certain it's not the canterbury plains.

Thanks Dave. That gave me laugh but just thinking about those canty plains roads will send me back to therapy. Chch to Ashburton must have the highest suicide rate for motorcyclists who just can't go on suffering the boredom and agony of a straightline road, with zero scenery to distract you and bumper to bumper grannies doing 83kph in their Morri thous. Oh yeah and a cop every 20 minutes just for good measure.

Twisty?
I'd have to go with my favourites in no particular order;
Little river to Akaroa (Ok maybe that's the best)
The original zig-zags (Arthurs Pass to Otira before the viaduct was built)
Takaha Hill
Rimutaka Hill and Kaimai Hill but both are too short.
Napier to Gizzy- in fact the entire East Cape is hard to beat
Lindis Pass & Burkes Pass and there abouts
Paraparas might win the 'most tight bends' but maybe too risky to be the 'most fun'
Nelson to Picton via Queen Charlotte drive
In fact Nelson to anywhere, all roads out of Nelson are bliss
Being born a Coaster I have to add that Buller Gorge and Westport to Grey have scenery and sweepers that take your breath away.
Man are we blessed in this country :yes:

[Skunk]

Man are we blessed in this country :yes:
Very true...

[Fatjim]

Rimutaka Hill and Kaimai Hill but both are too short.


Yep, but for someone like me who takes ages to learn a road the tukas are great. Still learning the Northern side.

[RiderInBlack]

So who here has done Field's Track (such an apt name)?Aye that was my vote see:

My vote has ta be Fields Track (see ride report from last years GC) (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showpost.php?p=403967&postcount=10) from last years Grand Challenge. That tarsealed goat's track is one twisty mother f*cker.
The Maungamuka's have nothing on that Quicky, but if ya were ta ask me which was more enjoyable ta ride then the Muka's win hands down. Fields Track would be better ridden on a 150 IMHO. It is one tight twisty Mother and really single lane for most vehicles.

[sugilite]

Yep, done it twice now. Look forward to the next time. Too many straight bits, though the corners are 180's...

Some roads...

Denniston Road
Akatarawa Road (Western end)

Akatarawas by a mile, look at the photos for goodness sake, like there is any doubt!
Just because I've done the akas over 200 times does not mean I'm biased :innocent: