Come in Ngawi, your time is up! [Archive]

Hitcher

15th July 2007, 14:58

A stunning thing about yesterday's ride day was discovering a road previously unridden by us in the Greater Wellington Region: The Cape Palliser road to Ngawi. Even better than that, it's a bloody cracker, four-plus stars.

Where is it? Turn left onto the Whangaimoana Road a few km on from the village of Pirinoa on the road to Lake Ferry (if you get to Lake Ferry, you've gone too far).

Apart from a 1km patch of hard-packed gravel across a "constantly moving slip face", and a 50m stretch of gravel by the Ngawi marina, the road is sealed all the way and in good repair. Some nice twisties and good straights. Find a radar cop down here and you're shit out of luck!

Why hadn't we ridden it before? Goodness knows. The last time we were down this way was about 15 years ago in the c.a.r. visiting Jacqui Sutherland's country garden at Whangaimoana Station, about 5km in from the Pirinoa end. At that time the seal stopped just past the Sutherland's gateway. I had always presumed that this road remained splendidly unsealed. Wrong.

Yesterday's weather was calm with a brooding sky. Cook Strait was millpond calm. The only patch of surf was about 2km before Ngawi township where a tribe of surfers had assembled and were out bobbing in the ocean like a bunch of fur seals.

The seal stops at Ngawi, so we didn't ride the last few km to Cape Palliser.

This won't we the last time we ride this stretch of road. Highly recommended!

Jantar

15th July 2007, 15:22

Skunk

15th July 2007, 15:41

That looks good. On google maps it appears that it would continue to be rideable right around the coast to White Rocks, then back up to Martinborough. I must try that on the way home from the Mini Returns ride next March. :yes:
It's a bit hard to go all the way round. It crosses Maori and private land. Many arguments about who can and can't access it. The Lemming Run/Rally used to be held round there but isn't anymore because of 'access' issues.

Nasty

15th July 2007, 17:12

Wannabiker and I were talking about doing a Sunday morning cruisy ride out that way once it warms a little ... would be great .. there is a fantastic place for fish and chips while watching the boats .. and then a great ride home!

Hitcher

15th July 2007, 17:18

That looks good. On google maps it appears that it would continue to be rideable right around the coast to White Rocks, then back up to Martinborough. I must try that on the way home from the Mini Returns ride next March.

One would need a ride of the trailie variety to complete that circuit. There's a bit of hard-core 4X4 country in there, depending on the weather!

paturoa

15th July 2007, 17:23

...was about 15 years ago in the c.a.r.

That looks like a acronym for something....

Hitcher

15th July 2007, 17:27

That looks like an acronym for something....

The Vehicle Whose Name Shall Not Be Spoken. The Voldemort of transportation.

merv

15th July 2007, 17:46

Yeah love that road too. My last trip right round was on the 2004 Pukemanu Adventure ride and I'm not sure how sorted the land wars are. It wasn't usually the Maoris causing any trouble it was the old Dutchman at the White Rock end (isn't he the leather guy?). Sounds like they've sealed even more to Ngawi than my last trip.

I don't think you'd get the FJR up this gravel scree http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1412&d=1080246286 That's Richard Palmer from TSS on his DT175 leading the charge.

I posted this earlier on the Pukemanu thread http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=2336

Skunk

15th July 2007, 17:58

One would need a ride of the trailie variety to complete that circuit. There's a bit of hard-core 4X4 country in there, depending on the weather!
I know a girl who rode her FJ1200 in as far as the gravel scree from the Ngawi end. Merv - you'll know the terrain and the river crossing required to get that far.

So I figure a lightweight road bike should be OK.

Skunk

15th July 2007, 17:59

merv

15th July 2007, 18:01

I know a girl who rode her FJ1200 in as far as the gravel scree. Merv - you'll know the terrain and the river crossing required to get that far.

So I figure a lightweight road bike should be OK.

If you get the road bike up the steep hill from the White Rock end like this traillie going at it two up http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1364&d=1079828976 you might be able to drift it down the gravel scree OK. The rest as you say "the terrain" is a bit rocky but yeah passable on most bikes but probaby heaps more fun going faster on a dirt bike bouncing over it.

Zukin

15th July 2007, 18:03

Ngawi - Lived there for 2 years :laugh:
Great place when the weather is good, try going there in a stinking Southerly :gob:

merv

15th July 2007, 18:04

Thanks for reminding me about Pukemanu Merv.

Yeah was a fun ride, except for those that busted there arms eh. Rumour is next one in 2009 after 4skins runs the next Capital Coast in 2008.

merv

15th July 2007, 18:07

Ngawi - Lived there for 2 years :laugh:
Great place when the weather is good, try going there in a stinking Southerly :gob:

Were you a fisherman or something, otherwise you'd have to be crazy to live there? Nice ride as Hitcher says, provided you know you going home someplace else eh!

Further round from Ngawi the locals are good swimmers, someone lives in a smiley house and isn't that a good view of the road from the front window of my 4x4?

merv

15th July 2007, 18:36

The last time we were down this way was about 15 years ago in the c.a.r. visiting Jacqui Sutherland's country garden at Whangaimoana Station, about 5km in from the Pirinoa end.

Whangaimoana was a good stop for bikers to enjoy the gardens and partake of Devonshire Tea - does she still do those? Here's some cool guy there with his VFR a few years ago.

Yeah nice gardens there.

Big Dave

15th July 2007, 18:47

Number six - are you in trouble?

limbimtimwim

15th July 2007, 19:00

Yes, went there in the cage a couple of months ago. The road was vastly better than it was a decade or so ago. I thought it would have been quite do-able on the GSXR as long as there had not been a whole heap of recent rain.

Wasp

15th July 2007, 19:58

um guys cmon, this road is my favourite - ive been saying this since xmas 05!!!

jimbo600

15th July 2007, 20:13

We went there today funny old thing. I've been a few times before. Its an awesome ride alright. Take care not to piss off the locals though as they might bulldoze all the bikes into the sea.

Colapop

15th July 2007, 20:23

Is the shop still a Ngawi? With the house over the top? My dad built that shop!

jimbo600

15th July 2007, 20:28

Sure is. Sell a mean steak pie too.

flame

15th July 2007, 20:37

Is the shop still a Ngawi? With the house over the top? My dad built that shop!
Jimbo even left a present behind the bushes out the back of that there shop!

Colapop

15th July 2007, 20:51

That was back before the road was sealed past Whangaimoana! Good times though... used to live in the house just around from the Ngawi turn-off. Townies would come hoonig round that corner and not realise that it changed shape (dunno whether it's still like that) half way through and lose it, go through the AA sign tree and end up in the bull paddock... happened real regular like... Haw haw we used t' laff some...

Hitcher

15th July 2007, 21:02

Presumably the "shop" at Ngawi is on a "back street"?

merv

15th July 2007, 21:10

Presumably the "shop" at Ngawi is on a "back street"?

That's the one.

Hitcher

15th July 2007, 21:11

That's the one.

Will go looking for it next time. Shouldn't take too long...

merv

15th July 2007, 21:22

Used to have a sign on the main road telling you it was there - food available etc. Sounds like Jimbo and Flame found it OK.

jimbo600

15th July 2007, 22:30

Jimbo even left a present behind the bushes out the back of that there shop!

Yep, a first one to find it gets a prize!!

Skunk

15th July 2007, 22:35

Found it! (Years ago)

What's my prize?

merv

15th July 2007, 22:47

You sure Skunk, doesn't sound like the kind of thing I'd go looking for!!

Colapop

16th July 2007, 08:22

Presumably the "shop" at Ngawi is on a "back street"?
The "back street" used to be the "main road". I haven't been out there in 20 years so I can only assume it's still there. Sounds like a tour of my own is in order.

Zukin

16th July 2007, 16:23

Korea

16th July 2007, 18:10

Last Sunday's ride to Ngawi was a nice spur-of-the-moment diversion into previously uncharted territory (for myself on two wheels).

Long winding roads stretching across the countryside and then around the coast make this an excellent excursion. It will be even better come summertime when the icy washed-out sections dry out.
Paving those gravelly bits would be a bonus too (that or get out of the way of the V-twin thou flicking up loose stones in front).

For anyone heading out that way in the immediate future, watch out for the slippery muddy sections marked out with 30KMPH signs. I spun it up exiting the curve - brown trouser moment. :shit:

Highlights of the ride included slips, scenery, sheep, and Jimbo600 showing the finer points of monos on the way back.

Pics too...

16th July 2007, 19:04

Those sheep look nervous with a couple of perverts tailing them on bikes.

Bugger I didn't follow you out there Jimbo. The call of my stomach was louder than the call of the wild.

So is the road really sealed well? Like sportsbike well, not quasi adventure bike well.
On second thoughts, I can't risk dust settling on my clean bike or sheep shit on the underside of the motor. Mind you some of those sheep did look attractive..

Colapop

16th July 2007, 19:15

Hi ya Merv

Yes I was a fisherman and was on the rescue boat too, it used to get to rough for the rescue chopper it would land at Ngawi and we would take them out in the boat :yes:

When you go up to the shop, our little house is right in front of you just before you go up the drive.

Small world aye Colapop, did your old man build that for the Sinclairs?

Cheers Scott
No, I think it for the Nix's. Murray Nix (sp?) He had a daughter and twin sons from memory....
My sisters and me would pick up agar from the beach... a good little earner...

Hitcher

16th July 2007, 19:34

So is the road really sealed well? Like sportsbike well, not quasi adventure bike well.

The road meets the usual Wairarapa standards for sportsbikes. Any "trouble" is well signposted. Sounds like weekend patronage at the Ngawi store is about to rocket!

limbimtimwim

16th July 2007, 21:58

So is the road really sealed well? Like sportsbike well, not quasi adventure bike well.It's sealed F800S well.

21st July 2007, 19:47

Well I rode out this afternoon and it was well worth the effort. Ngawi is where old tractors and bulldozers go to die. Sort of like the elephants graveyard.
Good bit of seal though. Even better scenery as the road follows close to the beach with waves crashing beside you. Then that weird looking steep cliff with the amusing sign - extreme care active slip. Active slip? Does it have a gym membership to show off to those other inactive type slips?
Having never ridden that road before the blind corners can bite.
It adds another twist to the Wairarapa bikers road menu.

I went out too late in the day. As I was riding back towards Lake Ferry I could see this wall of fog coming in ahead of me. The first few minutes with 100m visibility were fun but then the novelty quickly wore off as the road kept vanishing in front of me and the fog got thicker.

wayne708

24th July 2007, 21:28

Also did this ride today with some some work mates I ride with, funny thing was they wern't aware of this renewed interest in the caost road on this site and it was the first time I have ridden it on a road bike.

Have travelled it may times over the years from trail bikes and 4x4s doing the complete loop around White rock. And early attemps at rally driving in my teenage years driving a 105E Ford Angia while looking for new hunting areas and fishing spots.

Today we set out at 09:30 from Wellington and headed to Martinbrough for the frist coffee and to pick up a friend on this bike. The weather was brilliant and the Rimutaka Hill at that time mid week is a treat, only came up behind one vehicle on the way up which was quickly dispatched. After a quick break at the top it was of to Martinbrough . (Noted green van in Featherston with camara mounted in rear facing toward open road, made mental note to check hair and make up in case photo taken on return.)

After Martinbrough we headed out to Ngawi stopping several times along the way to take it all in. Also passed a lone rider going the other which looked like Buck Buck on the V storm.

At Ngawi we decided to check the gravel section to Cape Palliser out, this is fine apart from the ford were the constrution of a new bridge is underway, complete with construction workers who all stopped to watch a SV 1000, VTR 1000 Multi Strada 1100 and XT 600 negoiate foot deep water and a loose gravel bottom. Needless to say my conti road attacks handled surpurbly and the I believe the surfies in the Suburu had to follow after waiting to see our progress firist. Yes we encounted the sheep at the golf corse but they now seem to run when bikers approach....hmmmm... nervous maybe?
The return trip was a bit quicker as lunch at Lake Ferry was beckoning, and then the return blat back over the hill, once again with very light traffic.
Yes, this is another great variation to riding in the Rapa and makes a good day trip.All up we covered 300km.
Wayne.

merv

18th August 2007, 19:14

Went to Ngawi this arvo to check it out coz we hadn't been there in a wee while and right the only gravel was at the big unstable slip part of the road.

Bugger though the Top House store and Cafe was closed - WTF on a Saturday. So after cruising onto the Cape and checking out the snoozing seals as we went, it had to be back to lake Ferry for about a 3pm lunch.

jeff

18th August 2007, 23:10

We went out there last Sunday on the Transalp. We went as far as the lighthouse - heaps of seals past Ngawi.

We took lunch with us and sat at the picnic table at the start of the road up to the pinnacles.

We then went across to Ocean Beach, another really good ride, but not for a road bike - couple of creeks to cross - but definitely worth going. We are going back there for a bit of fishing when the weather warms up.

Chrissie and Jeff

Hitcher

19th August 2007, 16:27

We excurted there this afternoon. Fantastic. No real wind to speak of, in fact quite balmy. This road has become a firm favorite of the Hitcher clan.

merv

19th August 2007, 16:43

Was the cafe open today Hitcher?

Hitcher

19th August 2007, 17:09

Was the cafe open today Hitcher?

We didn't ride round the block to find out.

19th August 2007, 18:42

We didn't ride round the block to find out.

Fair enough. It is all the across town and no gas stations in between. :laugh::laugh::laugh:

I would like to go all the way (funny, that's what I've been saying to the wife since our wedding...) but need one of those ugly adventure/offroad bikes. Would it be passable in summer on a road bike? Or does anyone who is into ugly bikes hire them over there?

merv

19th August 2007, 19:07

MD are you meaning around to White Rock from Cape Palliser? If so I wouldn't recommend it on a road bike.

Check out pics on the old Pukemanu thread here http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=2336

You'd struggle to get a road bike up the gravel scree http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1412&d=1080246286 without knobbly tyres.

19th August 2007, 19:11

MD are you meaning around to White Rock from Cape Palliser? If so I wouldn't recommend it on a road bike.

Is that what's beyond Ngawi Merv? I would just like to see what's around the bend ..and the next bend... I tried to google-earth it but it's out of the hi-res picture section. Which just intrigues me more to go see what's there.

merv

19th August 2007, 19:19

OK when you said all the way I had thought you were talking about riding right around, but you could ride the road bike to Cape Palliser OK it is a gravel road of about 6km and ordinary cars go that far and I think Hitcher mentioned earlier in this thread they are building a new bridge so at one place you have to ford a small gravel based stream and there are two other concrete bottomed fords. I'll see what pics I can find. You can get fit climbing the steps to the lighthouse.

If you go back to my post #14 the first 3 pics there are between Ngawi and Cape Palliser - you see stacks of seals they sleep right by the road. That last pic on that post is way beyond the gate at the Cape and that's when a trail bike comes in handy or as I was that time driving my Landcruiser taking the whole family plus a Japanese exchange student to have a look.

Here's a pic looking down from the lighthouse you can just make out my blue vehicle in the gravel carpark and the gate to the rough stuff is just to the left of that. The gravel road approaches to the right are about what the road is like to the Cape. Besides the fords there is one little narrow piece with rough concrete holding it together above a drop to the sea.

OK I've added a pic looking up to the lighthouse, some more of the seals and a view back towards Ngawi from the front of my vehicle. All worth a look I reckon and that smiley faced bach is still there too that I showed you on the other post.

merv

19th August 2007, 19:47

As for the poor baches above the cliffs on the way to Ngawi they aren't looking any safer!! Its difficult to fight nature.

6th September 2007, 18:51

Well I drove the family to Ngawi in the car on Fathers Day.
Enjoyable day but to be honest there is not much to do when you get there is there?
I meant to post something about Akitio back in In January when I stumbled onto Akitio beach while running in the Beemer. Beautiful spot and a great swimming beach.
I did a search on KB and Akitio has had a bit of mention with the Coast to Coast event. It is a fair hike for Welly riders and not a half day effort. Those with piss poor sportsbike tank ranges would be advised to top up in Dannevirke or Paihiatua before venturing into the wilds of the far South-East coast. Otherwise they may run out on the return to civilisation.
Another tip is don't take the direct road from Pongoroa to the beach - that becomes rough gravel and I turned back after 10 minutes at what appeared to be still miles from the coast. Go further up from Pongoroa to Waione and turn right on to a top notch curvy well sealed race track all the way to the beach.
The day I stumbled onto the beach and took this picture was a scorcher and a dip in the surf never felt better. That's my clothes discarded all over the bike and hanging in the nearby tree to air.

merv

6th September 2007, 18:58

Well I drove the family to Ngawi in the car on Fathers Day.
Enjoyable day but to be honest there is not much to do when you get there is there?

You go to the Cape this time though? There's the seals to see on the way, the steps to climb to the lighthouse (depends how old the family is) and depending on your car you could venture a bit past the gate. All good exploring for the first time.

Back in 2001 I took our Japanese exchange student around there on a wet day and she loved the rugged country escape - see the smile on her face. Because the river was up near the rock wall I didn't go past there that time even in the 4x4. Here's a few pics - nice views eh.

merv

10th September 2007, 19:54

I presume you all saw the Sherriff Of Ngawi story on TV last night. I reckon he did well but of course his use of the shotgun was against the law.

p.s. While I've been talking with VXRider on his thread I've found this photo which shows very well the track up the hill at the White Rock end of the Cape Palliser to White Rock track. On my Pukemanu thread I showed people riding up it while I was looking down. This photo shows more clearly the extremes of the terrain with the hillside forever succumbing to the ocean hence the track needing to go up and over. Not really F800s riding terrain eh MD?

On this trip me and my Bro' rode from my home to Ocean Beach first, then lunch at lake Ferry and then rode to White Rock and back and then home, which on the dirt bikes is a reasonably quick trip and fun to do both ways around the Cape.

Does anyone know for sure if this track is open again free access or is the Dutchman still causing trouble?