Vote for best NZ road [Archive]

ZeroIndex

9th June 2007, 03:32

Karangahake Gorge Road Coromandel
Only done it twice, but it's a great little piece of tarmac.
wasn't too impressed with that stretch... hamilton to kawhia is quite a nice stretch of road... after pirongia that is :yes:

yod

9th June 2007, 07:20

springs junction to murchison (highway 65) and as cowboyz mentioned above, the awakino gorge is a ripper too - i like the faster flowing stuff better than the tight twisties generally....i also liked highway 4 between eight mile and taumarunui...

Kendog

9th June 2007, 09:20

the awakino gorge is a ripper too

Gets my vote easy. On a good day this road is magic!!!!

Flatcap

9th June 2007, 10:35

From an engineering point of view, the Otira Gorge is hard to beat

Big Dave

9th June 2007, 10:41

From an engineering point of view,

I'd say a point of veiw shunned by most motorcyclists. We want twisty, torturous conditions - not engineering excellence.

Flatcap

9th June 2007, 10:44

I'd say a point of veiw shunned by most motorcyclists. We want twisty, torturous conditions - not engineering excellence.

Ah, yes - that is either side of the engineering excellence

Best of both worlds...

The Pastor

9th June 2007, 10:47

DON'T VOTE!!!!!!

This is a scam from the nz police to see what roads they should patroll next!

Matt Bleck

9th June 2007, 10:58

Waioeka Gorge, between Opotiki and Matawai, SH 2.

50k's of corners and great scenery!!!

pritch

9th June 2007, 11:11

the awakino gorge is a ripper too -

The Awakino is in my back yard so to speak but it is just a baby compared to the Waioeka Gorge on the East Coast.

The best ride in the country is the West Coast Highway and that poll just has bits of it: Haast Pass, and Queenstown to Wanaka. The whole thing is brilliant. The only boring bits I saw were either side of Greymouth.

For those who haven't seen it:

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=47535

I haven't been up to Karamea but I'm told that's a nice ride and I might look at that next summer. Similar terrain to Mount Messenger?

I tried the Akatarawa Road a few months back but I needed another gear between first and second. It'd be OK on a dirt bike.

Most people are just going to vote for the bit they know: the Coro Loop, The Awakino Gorge, The Paekak Hill, the Takaka Hill, The Akaroa Road(s), and the Catlins are all nice. They can, however, only ever be second rate.

If you haven't done the West Coast Highway you are missing something special.

NighthawkNZ

9th June 2007, 11:15

any road with heaps of twisties... :yes: like duh

banditrider

9th June 2007, 11:40

Milford Sound.

It's got everything!

http://banditrider.blogspot.com/2007/05/great-rides-milford-sound.html

cowboyz

9th June 2007, 12:07

Damn, The Parapara has been relocated to the Manawatu, Next time I head north for a blast I got no idea what I'll find....

EVERY road goes to the Manawatu!! Where the sun always shines and ......................... ...

Sorry trailed off somewhere in wonderland there.

DON'T VOTE!!!!!!

This is a scam from the nz police to see what roads they should patroll next!

Just because your paranoid doesnt mean they aren't out to get you?

The Pastor

9th June 2007, 12:57

EVERY road goes to the Manawatu!! Where the sun always shines and ......................... ...

Sorry trailed off somewhere in wonderland there.

Just because your paranoid doesnt mean they aren't out to get you?

damn straight, Man the helicopters are trying to evesdrop on my brainwaves, little do they know i have a tinfoil anti wave hat! they cant hear a thing!

Patrick

9th June 2007, 13:08

The Paraparas is great in the dry, but watch out for the marbles on the corners (in patches and places) from the new seal at the moment...

The road out to Whangamomona from Stratford is still the current fav......:Punk: :rockon: with a good place to stop for a feed and brew to rid the bugs from the system... awesome.

As for the Awakino? Average at best... (is only about 20kms long...)

Mental Trousers

9th June 2007, 13:23

Some interesting choices in there.
The Forgotten Highway (Adventure bikers will love that one)
Hamilton to Raglan (a staple if you live in Hamilton/Raglan)
Awakino Gorge & Waitara to Awakino (I like all of SH3 south of Te Kuiti and North of Urenui)

Swoop

9th June 2007, 15:39

It HAS to be State Highway #1!!!
Such a dangerous road.
WICKED (high speed) STRAIGHTS!!!!:yes:

I emplore every police officer to concentrate on looking after the safety of every motorist, by looking after this piece of pristine tarseal. PLEASE forget every other bendy road in NZ (that slows down motorists!) and concentrate your safety quotas here!!!:yes: :yes:

Trudes

9th June 2007, 15:57

DON'T VOTE!!!!!!

This is a scam from the nz police to see what roads they should patroll next!

That was my initial thought too!!

I haven't ridden down south yet, but I love the Rimutaka Hill as it's the road I ride the most for corners per kms. Love the road between Gisborne, Wairoa and Wairoa to Napier, familiar road that I know well from living in Gisborne. The Waioeka Gorge road between Gisborne and Opotiki again is a family favorite, just got to watch for falling debris, but a beautiful scenic road to ride. Coromandel loop of course, especially love the Thames to Coro bit, brings back so many memories, love coming over the hill before heading down to Coro township, the view over the harbor is something special.

bell

9th June 2007, 17:44

The best ride in the country is the West Coast Highway and that poll just has bits of it: Haast Pass, and Queenstown to Wanaka. The whole thing is brilliant. The only boring bits I saw were either side of Greymouth.

For those who haven't seen it:

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=47535

I haven't been up to Karamea but I'm told that's a nice ride and I might look at that next summer. Similar terrain to Mount Messenger?

If you haven't done the West Coast Highway you are missing something special.

Yep, I'd second that. The stretch between Greymouth and Westport is not too unpleasant though. With a setting sun on your left and the dips and twists and general absence of traffic, this is a smile-inducing ride.

North of Granity to Karamea is also top notch riding. The scenery is enough to run you off the road though. Got to watch out for the odd slip too.

peasea

9th June 2007, 20:16

http://www.lovetheroad.co.nz/ have any one seen this and voted??

Yup. I just added Greymoth to Haast

Big Dave

9th June 2007, 21:51

West Coast South Island didn't make my top 10.

Milford
Queenstown - Glenorchy
Buller
Arthurs
Takaka
Lewis
Cardrona
SI rides I rated higer.

Headbanger

10th June 2007, 01:20

The Paraparas is great in the dry, but watch out for the marbles on the corners (in patches and places) from the new seal at the moment...

The very worse ride I have ever had was through the Pararara during a raging storm, after a truck had driven through a few K's before us with his cap off his fuel tank, leaving a trail of diesel weaving all over the road...soaked to the skin,getting lashed by torrentioal rain and winds that blew us right across the road, visibility of 20 feet at best and eyes firmly glued to the twisting trail of diesel which couldn't be avoided.

Of course, we got through that, continued to ride through the killer storm for a few more hours, Front tire blew out coming down the hill into Te Kuiti, Got that sorted and I biffed the bike on a corner in Whatawhata.

Skyryder

10th June 2007, 20:07

Desert Road at night in the summer. It's even better under a full moon.:love:

Sidewinder

10th June 2007, 20:23

coro loop is damb good. the best part of road on it would be between Waihi and Whangamata

jrandom

10th June 2007, 20:39

Desert Road at night in the summer. It's even better under a full moon.:love:

Try doing it at night in the winter when you forgot to bring your warm gloves.

The power pylons really spoil the view, though.

MotoGirl

10th June 2007, 21:23

coro loop is damb good. the best part of road on it would be between Waihi and Whangamata

Funny you say that - that same piece of road is my least favourite :shutup:
As for my favourite road, it's short and sweet. Otherwise known as the Matamata side of the Kaimai Ranges 30mins from Tauranga. It only takes a couple of minutes from top to bottom, but it's balls out the whole way!

Patrick

10th June 2007, 21:52

The very worse ride I have ever had was through the Pararara during a raging storm, after a truck had driven through a few K's before us with his cap off his fuel tank,

Bummer... but it rates as a 5 smileys in the Motorbikers Roadmap of NZ. In the dry, I can see why... but in your case, I can see why not!! Bummer... it is a nice ride in the dry, and worth a go some time for ya.

BarBender

10th June 2007, 22:17

Coro Hook (Kopu - Hikuwai - Tairua - Coro Town and then back the same way)
Opotiki to TeAraroa
Queenstown - Glenorchy
Milford

Headbanger

10th June 2007, 22:42

Bummer... but it rates as a 5 smileys in the Motorbikers Roadmap of NZ. In the dry, I can see why... but in your case, I can see why not!! Bummer... it is a nice ride in the dry, and worth a go some time for ya.

I wasn't knockin it, Ive ridden it more times then I can count, Just recalling a ride that sticks out in the memory banks.

Patrick

11th June 2007, 09:57

I wasn't knockin it, Ive ridden it more times then I can count, Just recalling a ride that sticks out in the memory banks.

Heheh... we did the Awakino last winter and hit ice fog... scary shit, that! Wifey won't ride in that ever again, thought it was character building, myself... Dunno if there is such a thing as a bad ride tho:yes:

cowboyz

11th June 2007, 16:55

Bummer... but it rates as a 5 smileys in the Motorbikers Roadmap of NZ. In the dry, I can see why... but in your case, I can see why not!! Bummer... it is a nice ride in the dry, and worth a go some time for ya.

Never been able to get a clear run through there. In the winter it is shit.

In the summer all the tar melts and very un nerving riding over it.

Doesnt get my vote.

peasea

11th June 2007, 17:03

The Awakino is in my back yard so to speak but it is just a baby compared to the Waioeka Gorge on the East Coast.

The best ride in the country is the West Coast Highway and that poll just has bits of it: Haast Pass, and Queenstown to Wanaka. The whole thing is brilliant. The only boring bits I saw were either side of Greymouth.

For those who haven't seen it:

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=47535

I haven't been up to Karamea but I'm told that's a nice ride and I might look at that next summer. Similar terrain to Mount Messenger?

I tried the Akatarawa Road a few months back but I needed another gear between first and second. It'd be OK on a dirt bike.

Most people are just going to vote for the bit they know: the Coro Loop, The Awakino Gorge, The Paekak Hill, the Takaka Hill, The Akaroa Road(s), and the Catlins are all nice. They can, however, only ever be second rate.

If you haven't done the West Coast Highway you are missing something special.

I added Westport to Haast on that poll, it's got to be one of the best in NZ and while I admit I haven't seen every road there is in NZ, I've covered a fair few. There are heaps of good suggestions here though...

peasea

11th June 2007, 17:07

The very worse ride I have ever had was through the Pararara during a raging storm, after a truck had driven through a few K's before us with his cap off his fuel tank, leaving a trail of diesel weaving all over the road...soaked to the skin,getting lashed by torrentioal rain and winds that blew us right across the road, visibility of 20 feet at best and eyes firmly glued to the twisting trail of diesel which couldn't be avoided.

Of course, we got through that, continued to ride through the killer storm for a few more hours, Front tire blew out coming down the hill into Te Kuiti, Got that sorted and I biffed the bike on a corner in Whatawhata.

I couldn't tell you how many times I've gone over that road, good weather and bad. Never a storm though. It's a nifty bit of tar seal but needs respect. No doubt you know it well?

peasea

11th June 2007, 17:11

damn straight, Man the helicopters are trying to evesdrop on my brainwaves, little do they know i have a tinfoil anti wave hat! they cant hear a thing!

You need to get Agents 86 and 99 to build you a 'cone of silence', you can think/say what you like then and no big brother can hear it.

Nor can anyone else, brilliant!

marty

11th June 2007, 17:16

surprised no-one's mentioned the western bypass from tokoroa to turangi

peasea

11th June 2007, 17:28

surprised no-one's mentioned the western bypass from tokoroa to turangi

Or Queen Charlotte

Patrick

11th June 2007, 17:35

Love to do the south island some time and when the time comes, will seek suggestions from ya'all here. Good stuff.

peasea

11th June 2007, 17:38

Love to do the south island some time and when the time comes, will seek suggestions from ya'all here. Good stuff.

You won't need suggestions, any road down there will do. It doesn't matter which direction you head when you roll off the ferry you won't be disappointed. Just go, book the leave for this coming summer, do it now.

Kickaha

11th June 2007, 18:26

Or Queen Charlotte

Narrow little goat track infested by camper vans (especially Picton end)

Hundalees are much better and with the Inland road all sealed, you can do a good loop back to Chch

peasea

11th June 2007, 19:20

Narrow little goat track infested by camper vans (especially Picton end)

Hundalees are much better and with the Inland road all sealed, you can do a good loop back to Chch

I must admit I've only done QC two or three times but if you're first off the ferry, the road is pretty much yours. Even on a heavyweight I really enjoyed it each time. Not as good as the West Coast mind you. Hundalees? Please elaborate.

Kickaha

11th June 2007, 19:24

Hundalees? Please elaborate.

the bit of road from Oaro (south of Kaikoura) through to the Conway River

or the Inland road, you can turn off at Kaikoura Golf course and it takes you through to Waiau, it's very much like the road through Vinegar hill

peasea

11th June 2007, 19:37

the bit of road from Oaro (south of Kaikoura) through to the Conway River

or the Inland road, you can turn off at Kaikoura Golf course and it takes you through to Waiau, it's very much like the road through Vinegar hill

Cheers. You got me curious so I've just had my snout in the map. I also Googled it, looks like fun. I've done the coast several times but I wasn't aware that you could loop right through up there. We've got friends in Waikuku Beach and Methven so next time we're down that way, probably this summer after we move to Nelson, we'll check it out as part of a 'loop' trip.