Waikaremoana Loop

[DR Girl]

So long since I've been on KB, the new layout was quite a surprise!!
Went on my first BIG Adv ride since my broken leg & wrist back in Feb. (rod & plate being removed next month).
Left Napier Sat 9th Jan, went the back way through Puketapu, Glengarry Rd , Taupo Rd with XRJohnny ( XR650 )& Friday Flash on his newly aquired DR 650. Met up with bikeflite who lives in Taupo ( DRZ 400) at Pohokura Rd crnr then through the forest to Minginui, stopping just before to check out Johnnys 'Holiday Home', the forestry fire lookout tower. It was being manned at the time (or should I say 'womaned'), smoke spotted & radioed in. An awesome view from the tower !!! The Waikare Rd was pretty busy so keeping left was high on my agenda. . . which was a bummer on the 200, LOTS OF GEAR CHANGES!! OUCH!! Especially as some of the breaks in my leg were just above my left ankle (gear changing foot!) Talk about corrugations, rattled my tail light & indicators into not working no more
Sore butt by the time we finally got down to the Lake & shop. NB No need for me to gas up yet, got on to reserve a bit after leaving Waikaremoana & gassed up at Wairoa with 1.25 litres still in tank. DR 200 has a 13 l tank & I was running a 14 tooth front sprocket. Fish n chip tea in Wairoa & one quick one at Waikare Pub Pukorino. Back home in Havelock Nth by 10pm 470 ks later.
XRJohnny, Fridayflash & Tony W (DRZ 400) are planning a time challenge around same circuit other than missing out Wairoa & doing more gravel this weekend weather permitting.
Me off on hols to Lake Rotoiti tomorrow with the family for some r & r

[shafty]

Great Stuff!

[Trudes]

Awesome!! I'd love to do that road some day.

[cave weta]

what a great little write up!- photos please!
I used to live in Ahuriri and did that ride often to go trout fishing.
Pohukura has now been logged I believe? - also rode up to Lake Opuahi and bellbird Bush for caving expeditions.
thems were the days!

[duckonin]

what a great little write up!- photos please!
I used to live in Ahuriri and did that ride often to go trout fishing.
Pohukura has now been logged I believe? - also rode up to Lake Opuahi and bellbird Bush for caving expeditions.
thems were the days!

Long way to catch a trout weta, Pohukura many deer shot in my old grounds....

[crazyhorse]

Well done DR-Girl

Sounds like a great trip. I enjoy going the ride to Waikaremoana - but thats on road bikes, not the dirt ones.

[GPS MAN]

Great Write-up.. I did that trip last week .....Rain most of the way.. Other than that a very good trip!

It would be great to catch-up in Hawkes Bay...always looking for another adventure rider !

[sinned]

So long since I've been on KB, the new layout was quite a surprise!!
Went on my first BIG Adv ride since my broken leg & wrist back in Feb. (rod & plate being removed next month).
Left Napier Sat 9th Jan, went the back way through Puketapu, Glengarry Rd , Taupo Rd with XRJohnny ( XR650 )& Friday Flash on his newly aquired DR 650. Met up with bikeflite who lives in Taupo ( DRZ 400) at Pohokura Rd crnr then through the forest to Minginui, stopping just before to check out Johnnys 'Holiday Home', the forestry fire lookout tower. It was being manned at the time (or should I say 'womaned'), smoke spotted & radioed in. An awesome view from the tower !!! The Waikare Rd was pretty busy so keeping left was high on my agenda. . . which was a bummer on the 200, LOTS OF GEAR CHANGES!! OUCH!! Especially as some of the breaks in my leg were just above my left ankle (gear changing foot!) Talk about corrugations, rattled my tail light & indicators into not working no more
Sore butt by the time we finally got down to the Lake & shop. NB No need for me to gas up yet, got on to reserve a bit after leaving Waikaremoana & gassed up at Wairoa with 1.25 litres still in tank. DR 200 has a 13 l tank & I was running a 14 tooth front sprocket. Fish n chip tea in Wairoa & one quick one at Waikare Pub Pukorino. Back home in Havelock Nth by 10pm 470 ks later.
XRJohnny, Fridayflash & Tony W (DRZ 400) are planning a time challenge around same circuit other then missing out Wairoa & doing more gravel this weekend weather permitting.
Me off on hols to Lake Rotoiti tomorrow with the family for some r & r

How much of the road is gravel and how would a pure road bike deal with it?

[Waihou Thumper]

How much of the road is gravel and how would a pure road bike deal with it?

It is do-able, pick your time and weather. There is always the chance that there might be livestock or a rock fall somewhere. Most of the gravel is in fact good and there is a nice line to take between the metal that has been worn by cars etc.
It would just pay to leave plenty of time and cruise nicely......The scenery is well worth it.
South of Waikaremoana, the road is fine too, metal yes, but can be negotiated fine. Just watch out for bends, dust and the odd cowboy cutting corners....

[XRJohnny]

:Good writeup Dur Girl. Good to see others are keen to checkout that loop. Its a neat ride to do with a group and take all day. It is absolutely fantastic to do as a time trial personal challenge. Just watchout for WET WOODEN BRIDGES. The one on the Waikaremoana Rd by the huge waterfall caught me out. I should have been more aware of the danger as the last time we went over this on Clint640,s MMMMM ride, i remember helping to pickup a fallen KTM950. Once i,m healed i,ll be back to do an even quicker time.:

[fridayflash]

hey- fab write up drgirl, sure was a bit of fun! coming accross an old ford trader tow truck (come out from wairoa)
attempting to recover a subaru justy (why!!!???) from 40m down a near vertical bush covered bank was interesting!
the car (and occupants) were saved from a cold dunking in the lake by one lone punga!
a great day out, i intend to head back around by myself for a 'time trial' very soon.

[fridayflash]

How much of the road is gravel and how would a pure road bike deal with it?

what size road bike sinned? i would definately go through on a road bike, my old gsx750 would be a breeze
but a sportbike on 17s would be a bit harder...still do-able tho, i rode my rf900 to waikaremoana last winter
in atrocious weather (gravel road turned into a mud slurry) and got through no probs

[DR Girl]

Awesome!! I'd love to do that road some day.

Come join us sometime :-)

[DR Girl]

How much of the road is gravel and how would a pure road bike deal with it?

Spoke with XRJohnny re Ks on gravel & we are looking at approx 180 ks if you come back via Raupaunga.

[DR Girl]

:Good writeup Dur Girl. Good to see others are keen to checkout that loop. Its a neat ride to do with a group and take all day. It is absolutely fantastic to do as a time trial personal challenge. Just watchout for WET WOODEN BRIDGES. The one on the Waikaremoana Rd by the huge waterfall caught me out. I should have been more aware of the danger as the last time we went over this on Clint640,s MMMMM ride, i remember helping to pickup a fallen KTM950. Once i,m healed i,ll be back to do an even quicker time.:

An an amazing Time Trial Johnny, 4hrs 50 min on XR 650 ! One 10 min gas stop, & 10 mins to pick oneself & sort bike out up after wipeout. A week later & still a v sore shoulder!!