Rotorua - Lake Waikaremoana - Wairoa - Gisborne - Opotiki - Whakatane...

[UberRhys]

So I'm going for a wee ride and planning it by spreading out the map and drawing a line from Rotorua - Lake Waikaremoana - Wairoa - Gisborne up round East Cape - Opotiki - Whakatane - Matata - Tauranga - Rotorua.

I'm just wondering if I can get some advice on what the roads from Murapara through to Wairoa via Lake Waikaremoana were like. I have googled it but can't get any decent info, one site said 160km of gravel, another said 2 short streches so I now have no idea.

Also, are there any points of interest along the way that you can offer for my wee ride.

[Matt Bleck]

So I'm going for a wee ride and planning it by spreading out the map and drawing a line from Rotorua - Lake Waikaremoana - Wairoa - Gisborne up round East Cape - Opotiki - Whakatane - Matata - Tauranga - Rotorua.

I'm just wondering if I can get some advice on what the roads from Murapara through to Wairoa via Lake Waikaremoana were like. I have googled it but can't get any decent info, one site said 160km of gravel, another said 2 short streches so I now have no idea.

Also, are there any points of interest along the way that you can offer for my wee ride.

Tono from on here went thru there (Murapara to Waikaremoana) and said that there is only about 50km's of gravel thru there now.

[clint640]

Hi Mate, it's less than 160 km of gravel, Murupara-Wairoa, but lots more than 50 km. It is very twisty & sometimes rough in places, but nothing you wouldn't take a car through. There is fuel available at the DOC camp/shop at the Wairoa end of Waikaremoana.

That loop makes for a good ride. Have fun. A side trip out to the East Cape lighthouse is worthwhile on a good day.

Cheers
Clint

[CookMySock]

So I'm going for a wee ride and planning it by spreading out the map and drawing a line from Rotorua - Lake Waikaremoana - Wairoa - Gisborne up round East Cape - Opotiki - Whakatane - Matata - Tauranga - Rotorua.

That will be an epic ride. The main problem is, the Waikaremoana road is basically a nasty gravel road - just the ticket for an adventure bike, while Wairoa->Rotorua via East Cape is all seal, and such a long long way.. Check out the distances on Google Maps first.

I'm just wondering if I can get some advice on what the roads from Murapara through to Wairoa via Lake Waikaremoana were like.

On a dual purpose bike? EPIC! You will want to turn around and do it again. Consider going via Te Teko.

Also, are there any points of interest along the way that you can offer for my wee ride.

Just being on either of those two roads is a privilege, as you will see. I'd look at breaking the trip up over three days. First night camp at Waikaremoana, second night someone way up the coast.

I don't know how rough you like it, but considering you are on DP bikes I'd be looking at getting offroad and tenting it - there are sooo many opportunities to do that on this route, and the population is so sparse.

Have a great trip!

Steve

[Maha]

Bit of advice, dont stop at Ruatahuna, you may never get out.

[Taz]

The main problem is, the Waikaremoana road is basically a nasty gravel road

Most of us in this forum would not agree with that. There are no nasty gravel roads.
At least at this time of year there should not be snow and ice through Waikaremoana. The best ride I had thru there was in the snow

[CookMySock]

There are no nasty gravel roads.

hehe I mean the good sort of nasty.

The best ride I had thru there was in the snow

Wow, I never thought about it snowing through there. I'd get to one end turn around and ride back.. rinse and repeat..

Steve

[CRM]

I went through there on my XR600 back in October - fantastic ride! Highlight of my trip - don't miss it. Some pics below and more of a ride report over here: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...=107693&page=4

I would do it on my V-Strom (but preferably without the hard panniers as its pretty narrow in places) but it's a road that certainly ticks all the boxes for us on the adventure forum .

[CookMySock]

Panniers? Narrow? I went through there in my hilux towing a trailer..

Steve

[CRM]

Panniers? Narrow? I went through there in my hilux towing a trailer..

Steve

Dig you meet guy on an XR600 on the wrong side of the road coming the other way? I just did some gravel on the V-Strom with the panniers and its a bit nerve wracking because you have to be aware of your extra width by fence-posts and other vehicles. They make the bike three times wider. Normally if you have to take evasive action because you're hanging it out a bit wide you get away with it but with the panniers not so great... Plus I'd hate to scratch them .

[CookMySock]

haha, no VERY surprisingly I didnt see a single biker on that road.. rather dissappointing actually..

Width, ah I see..

Yeah when we got back, I was ready to put knobblies on my daughters' 250 Comet school commuter, much to her disgust.. She just couldn't how much fun it would be..

Steve

[junkmanjoe]

Dig you meet guy on an XR600 on the wrong side of the road coming the other way? I just did some gravel on the V-Strom with the panniers and its a bit nerve wracking because you have to be aware of your extra width by fence-posts and other vehicles. They make the bike three times wider. Normally if you have to take evasive action because you're hanging it out a bit wide you get away with it but with the panniers not so great... Plus I'd hate to scratch them .

where is that photo mate..looks very much like the summit to wairiri rd. bideford.

JMJ

[Taz]

Wow CRM your baby's got "back" !! That is one fat ass. Who needs that much junk anyway?

[CRM]

where is that photo mate..looks very much like the summit to wairiri rd. bideford.

JMJ

Wow good spotting - spot on. Bit of a hairy road with the Strom fully loaded - and it was windy and the gravel was deep .

[CRM]

Wow CRM your baby's got "back" !! That is one fat ass. Who needs that much junk anyway?

Well I wasn't just adventuring - it was a work trip so top-box has laptop and projector etc, one pannier has work clothes and the other has the rest. I think if I was doing a pure adventure ride I'd ditch the wide-bodied look and just bungy stuff on the big carrier.