Ixion
17th November 2007, 21:44
I posted a report on this road here (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=60802)
Leslie Rd is a public road that runs through the central forest. More or less from Putaruru to Mamaku, outside Rotorua. CHH tried recently to claim it as a private road for their own benefit. A noble public spirited gentleman call Russell Orr invoked the law and the Ombudsman to stop them and CHH and the council have had to back down and admit that they have NO right to restrict access.
So, you can legally ride the road, right through the forest. It is not challenging as an adventure trail, but it IS an interesting road and a nice alternative to SH5.
There are also quite a lot of other tracks and trails opening off it, the legality of which for riding purposes is uncertain. CHH claim of course that they have total and absolute control of everything, but the truth is very much more complex, and their right to restrict access to tracks or trails that were no longer used when they took ownership of the forestry lease (they do NOT own the land) is very debateable.
It would be good to see bikers using the road so it can't be claimed that it is unused and abandoned. But be responsible of course.
Leslie Rd is a public road that runs through the central forest. More or less from Putaruru to Mamaku, outside Rotorua. CHH tried recently to claim it as a private road for their own benefit. A noble public spirited gentleman call Russell Orr invoked the law and the Ombudsman to stop them and CHH and the council have had to back down and admit that they have NO right to restrict access.
So, you can legally ride the road, right through the forest. It is not challenging as an adventure trail, but it IS an interesting road and a nice alternative to SH5.
There are also quite a lot of other tracks and trails opening off it, the legality of which for riding purposes is uncertain. CHH claim of course that they have total and absolute control of everything, but the truth is very much more complex, and their right to restrict access to tracks or trails that were no longer used when they took ownership of the forestry lease (they do NOT own the land) is very debateable.
It would be good to see bikers using the road so it can't be claimed that it is unused and abandoned. But be responsible of course.