Auckland to Te Puke, Queens Birthday Weekend

[Fatt Max]

Gidday my lovelies,

Venturing down the line at QB weekend to meet up with a load of mateys. I've never done the trip before and wondered what the best route would be (250cc friendly with a few places to stop and pig out / admire the view etc etc)

Also, how long do you think this would take a fat bastard like me.


Thanks for your help

[xgnr]

Hi Max

The most direct route is 230km (approx 3 hrs from Remuera) but I expect that there are more scenic / enjoyable roads that will be suggested.

Route from the GPS attached.

have a good time !

Stu

[Fatt Max]

Hi Max

The most direct route is 230km (approx 3 hrs from Remuera) but I expect that there are more scenic / enjoyable roads that will be suggested.

Route from the GPS attached.

have a good time !

Stu

Cheers mate, just the ticket...!

[MaxB]

Gidday my lovelies,

Venturing down the line at QB weekend to meet up with a load of mateys. I've never done the trip before and wondered what the best route would be (250cc friendly with a few places to stop and pig out / admire the view etc etc)

Also, how long do you think this would take a fat bastard like me.


Thanks for your help

Depending where you live in Auckland it is about 220km to Te Puke. That should take you no more than 3 hours on a 250. Remember holiday time makes cages drivers more mental than usual.

Somehow you have to cross the Kaimais into Tauranga. So that is Matamata and SH29 or via Paeroa and the Karangahake Gorge.

The fastest way is probably via SH29 but there is not much to see or eat that way.

If you are going to enjoy yourself then maybe something like SH1 to Ohinewai. Take Ohinewai-Tahuna road and pass through Tahuna and the golf course and turn left over the big bridge. Go across SH27 and head for Paeroa.
Pick up SH2 through the gorge and look out for scenery and pancakes at Athenree. The road hugs the coast down into Tauranga.

If you want to look at Tauranga then head into town and go over the old Toll bridge that passes into Mt Maunganui by the airport. Turn right at the end of the road and Te Puke is sign posted form there.

Everyone will have their favourites but the above takes in a heap of scenery and cafes and is 250 friendly.

Hope this helps

[crynsie]

pack your wet weather gear... weather is going to be s**t

Have a look on metvuw.co.nz, 7 day forecast charts

[Ragingrob]

pack your wet weather gear... weather is going to be s**t

Have a look on metvuw.co.nz, 7 day forecast charts

Since when can NZ weather be forecasted 7 days ahead?!?!

[jtzzr]

There are some nice pies to be had in Te Puke ,FattM, it`s right next to the shell at the southern end of town. And the owner is a biker too , unless he sold it.

[cowpatz]

There is an awesome little Cafe in the Athenree Gorge to. Bugger if I can remember the name of it. A great place for a bikkie stop.

[Tubbsy]

Since when can NZ weather be forecasted 7 days ahead?!?!

I fly paragliders in my other life (and we watch the weather religiously).....Metservice can't even accurately forecast a single day ahead. It's amazing how many times they change the site at 4pm in the arvo to tell you what the weather has already been that day!!!! :Offtopic:

[Fatt Max]

Thanks all for your help and tips,

Much appreciated. Needless to say, I'll check the weather but all going well there will be a fat bloke in Te Puke by lunchtime nect Saturday.....can I shout anyone a pie...?

[CookMySock]

Hey Max, welcome to our neck of the woods. I might even shoot over and stuff a pie or six down with ya.

It's an easy ride whichever way you go.. either through matamata and over the mountain, or through paeroa and the gorge. We go through aucks occasionally, and even I wonder which way would be best on the bike, so just eenie-meanie-minie-mo it and see which way your bike wants to go on the day.

Steve

[madkiwi]

I go down regually, If taking the car I will normally go through Paroea but if taking the bike it is Ohinewai-Tahuna nearly everytime. even going to paroea races had to go this way (longer but more fun)

However, did it once on a GN and that was not so much fun, take the quickest way through Pareoa if you are on anything like that.

[greminn]

Thanks all for your help and tips,

Much appreciated. Needless to say, I'll check the weather but all going well there will be a fat bloke in Te Puke by lunchtime nect Saturday.....can I shout anyone a pie...?

A good route away from the main traffic is head to hamilton, turn off at tahuna, then head to morrinsvile, then back road to matamata, then over the kaimais (which will be a short sharp bit of fun, rather than Pairoa to Tga in the crappy taiffic) thru tga to te puke.. Google Maps (http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Auckland,+Auckland&daddr=Waikato+Exp+to:Morrinsville+Tahuna+Rd+to:Mor rinsville+Walton+Rd+to:Landsdowne+Rd+to:-37.788488,175.735245+to:Te+Puke&hl=en&geocode=%3BFYQFxP0deLxwCg%3BFSjawf0dMwd2Cg%3BFdgUw P0dtgN4Cg%3BFXb0v_0dkjp5Cg%3B%3B&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=5&sz=13&via=1,2,3,4,5&sll=-37.756194,175.710011&sspn=0.117533,0.264359&ie=UTF8&ll=-37.490115,175.866394&spn=1.887237,4.229736&z=9)

[MotoGirl]

A good route away from the main traffic is head to hamilton, turn off at tahuna, then head to morrinsvile, then back road to matamata, then over the kaimais (which will be a short sharp bit of fun, rather than Pairoa to Tga in the crappy taiffic) thru tga to te puke.. Google Maps (http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Auckland,+Auckland&daddr=Waikato+Exp+to:Morrinsville+Tahuna+Rd+to:Mor rinsville+Walton+Rd+to:Landsdowne+Rd+to:-37.788488,175.735245+to:Te+Puke&hl=en&geocode=%3BFYQFxP0deLxwCg%3BFSjawf0dMwd2Cg%3BFdgUw P0dtgN4Cg%3BFXb0v_0dkjp5Cg%3B%3B&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=5&sz=13&via=1,2,3,4,5&sll=-37.756194,175.710011&sspn=0.117533,0.264359&ie=UTF8&ll=-37.490115,175.866394&spn=1.887237,4.229736&z=9)

Yes, this is the route we religiously take because it has less traffic, although the distance is similar to going through SH27. If you're after a hassle-free ride then use this route.

There's a good food place in Matamata called The Bakehouse - it's cheap as chips and is good quality.

[CookMySock]

Yes, this is the route we religiously take because it has less traffic, although the distance is similar to going through SH27. If you're after a hassle-free ride then use this route.

There's a good food place in Matamata called The Bakehouse - it's cheap as chips and is good quality.Yeah there's rarely traffic on that road. It's great.

There's also Kaimai Cheese at Waharoa to stop at. They do great coffee, cheese, and all sorts of other stuff. Their travelling rep is a KBer too.

http://www.kaimai.co.nz/

Steve