Southward Bound (Auck to Wellywood) 3-7 Jan

**.chris** · 16th December 2009, 22:06

I have a rough plan, looks somewhat like the attached, but will really depend on the weather and how I feel about the comfort of the bike.
The general plan has me doing about 400km per day, keep to the quiet roads with a fair splashing of gravel.

Day 1, coast roads from Raglan, Kawhia, Awakino south then inland to Whangamomona,

Day 2, might duck down the Whangamomona road if I feel keen, up the big pointy mountain Taranaki for a look see, and have a general perv at anything that looks worthy of a look on the way down. Head towards Whanganui

Day 3, Not really sure about getting further south from there, I hear good things about the Whanganui river road, but that is not really on my way, but could be done.

Day 4, get to wellington from where-ever day 3 puts me, or if I am already there relax in the city, maybe hit up the locals for a day trip around wellywoods (anyone keen? as I could make an effort to be in wellington area for a ride if anyone is keen.)

Any suggestions for roads/routes I can do on the way down?
Probably stay at pubs/camping grounds along the way, nothing booked as my km's per day might be quite variable.

I have my ferry booked for the evening of the 7th, so my plan is to make it to wellington in time for that (11pmish on the 7th).
.

**bart** · 17th December 2009, 20:16

Hi Chris. That looks a bit mind numbing from Wanganui to Welly. If you slip over to the east side and go down the Wairarapa, I could show you a few 'woohoo' roads.

I'll be at a loose end around then too....(and been dyeing for a ride on a 690)....shit, did I say that out loud.

**.chris** · 17th December 2009, 22:05

Originally Posted by bart

Hi Chris. That looks a bit mind numbing from Wanganui to Welly. If you slip over to the east side and go down the Wairarapa, I could show you a few 'woohoo' roads.

I'll be at a loose end around then too....(and been dyeing for a ride on a 690)....shit, did I say that out loud.

Hi Bart, yeah that part of the country is pretty new to me, so I was thinking of just following my nose.

I had a play with my maps (which are not detailed enough, bloody AA, at least they were free), but mapsrouce has way more detail.
I found a cool road called Tarere Rd (point c on this), which leads to a track called, stock track which leads a bit closer to the lake.
Which could be fun, anyone know anything about that area? Locals?

As far as the Wairarapa, I plan to do the east coast on the way north (late feb) so I shall post up when that journey beings.

**Crisis management** · 18th December 2009, 06:33

Chris, be a bit careful of the GPS based maps as they may show a number of paper roads that aren't real, I recently ended up in a farm paddock following one of "those" roads. I have to say the AA maps usually are very accurate with what is actually a road.

Have a good trip south, if your doing the DB I will see you there.

**.chris** · 18th December 2009, 07:52

Originally Posted by Crisis management

Chris, be a bit careful of the GPS based maps as they may show a number of paper roads that aren't real, I recently ended up in a farm paddock following one of "those" roads. I have to say the AA maps usually are very accurate with what is actually a road.

Have a good trip south, if your doing the DB I will see you there.

Yep, I understand that some roads just plain are not roads anymore, or never were, that is partially why I have not made any accommodation plans, as I am bound to end up doing some back-tracking.

Yep doing the DB, looking forward to it

**alane** · 18th December 2009, 21:41

Just did it 2 weeks ago,on my Super Sherpa farm bike.It was in pretty good nick really.(The road,NOT the bike

) Someone has corduroyed the hole through the tunnel with pungas.I was just behind a couple of katoom Adventures & a transalp

.A couple of options going south
(1) Turn left @ the southern end of Normanby & go down Ohangai Rd,& come out on the main road @ Mokoia,it,s no further than the main road,but it misses Hawera.
(2) Turn right @ Maxwell -maxwell stn. Rd.--& go down Rapanui Rd etc ,into Wanganui. A little bit of gravel ,but no real challenge.
(3)A bit off from your main direction ,but the Turakina valley is quite a good easy ride.you,d hit the main drag near Taihape.
(4) A bit out of my neck of the woods but one road I,ve never done,& I think would be good is the Akatarawa Rd from Waikanae to Upper Hutt.
The Wellywood boys might put you/us straight on this one??

You,ve got te gear down to a minimum.Doe,snt include a tent,doe,s it??
Happy travels ---AL.

**.chris** · 19th December 2009, 21:01

Originally Posted by alane

Just did it 2 weeks ago,on my Super Sherpa farm bike.It was in pretty good nick really.(The road,NOT the bike

) Someone has corduroyed the hole through the tunnel with pungas.I was just behind a couple of katoom Adventures & a transalp

.A couple of options going south
(1) Turn left @ the southern end of Normanby & go down Ohangai Rd,& come out on the main road @ Mokoia,it,s no further than the main road,but it misses Hawera.
(2) Turn right @ Maxwell -maxwell stn. Rd.--& go down Rapanui Rd etc ,into Wanganui. A little bit of gravel ,but no real challenge.
(3)A bit off from your main direction ,but the Turakina valley is quite a good easy ride.you,d hit the main drag near Taihape.
(4) A bit out of my neck of the woods but one road I,ve never done,& I think would be good is the Akatarawa Rd from Waikanae to Upper Hutt.
The Wellywood boys might put you/us straight on this one??

You,ve got te gear down to a minimum.Doe,snt include a tent,doe,s it??
Happy travels ---AL.

Thanks for the info.

My gear will be pretty light, going to stay at pubs/camping ground/b&b's so no tents and stuff needed, plenty of tech onboard tho, camera + dslr + gps + laptop etc (just the essentials), couple of changes of underware/teeshirts and my togs, which is everything I should need (or can think of).

Will be riding with MX boots on which will be bloody hot and probably a pain, but safe, and easier than putting them on the back somehow. I have been thinking that taking some secondary riding boots might be a good idea, have to see how I manage to pack all this gear in on the day before. Taking the mx boots along is pretty much essential for me (plan on some serious trail rides in the south island)

**Lucy** · 19th December 2009, 21:20

Originally Posted by c.h.r.i.s

Thanks for the info.

My gear will be pretty light, going to stay at pubs/camping ground/b&b's so no tents and stuff needed, )

There's a nice bike friendly Backpackers in Raetihi if you end up riding up the Wanganui river road or the Paraparas...it's cheap too, but you have to be careful, the owner doesn't have a bike at the moment and somtimes drools.

**marks** · 20th December 2009, 07:13

Originally Posted by bart

Hi Chris. That looks a bit mind numbing from Wanganui to Welly.

wot he said - Wanganui to Welly via SH3 and SH1 is a boring pox.

take the back roads east from Wanganui (No 3 line or No 2 line) across to Kapakapa Rd - either Taurimu Rd or Makuhou Rd and ideally end up at Vinegar Hill on SH1

then either up to Ohingaiti and right towards Managa Mako Rd towards Hinau or down onto SH54.

Work your way across to Ashhurst then either head down SH57 to Shannon or if time - through the gorge towards Woodville but turn right onto Ballance Gorge Rd then right onto Hall Block Rd and onto North Range Rd - its a really great ride - then west down the Pahiatua Tract to SH57 and down to Shannon etc

if you have time - when you leave Ashhurst go over Saddle Rd and left (north) up Whariti Rd to the radio towers at the top - awesome views and a great lumpy rd - then do the North Range Rd bit

you can easy spend a day getting from Wanganui to Wellywood. and very little is boring (Levin to Welly is unavoidable and yuck)

if you have time I'll show you through the Mungatooks - it will take a good few hours) - which will bring you from Paraparaumu out in Upper Hutt (via Karapoti)

Have a great trip

**.chris** · 20th December 2009, 08:51

Originally Posted by marks

wot he said - Wanganui to Welly via SH3 and SH1 is a boring pox.

take the back roads east from Wanganui (No 3 line or No 2 line) across to Kapakapa Rd - either Taurimu Rd or Makuhou Rd and ideally end up at Vinegar Hill on SH1

then either up to Ohingaiti and right towards Managa Mako Rd towards Hinau or down onto SH54.

Work your way across to Ashhurst then either head down SH57 to Shannon or if time - through the gorge towards Woodville but turn right onto Ballance Gorge Rd then right onto Hall Block Rd and onto North Range Rd - its a really great ride - then west down the Pahiatua Tract to SH57 and down to Shannon etc

if you have time - when you leave Ashhurst go over Saddle Rd and left (north) up Whariti Rd to the radio towers at the top - awesome views and a great lumpy rd - then do the North Range Rd bit

you can easy spend a day getting from Wanganui to Wellywood. and very little is boring (Levin to Welly is unavoidable and yuck)

if you have time I'll show you through the Mungatooks - it will take a good few hours) - which will bring you from Paraparaumu out in Upper Hutt (via Karapoti)

Have a great trip

Cheers, added to my route.

I was going to touch base with you welly guys when I am on my way back north as then I shall more time. But with my current plan I might be able to make it to wellington area on the 6th, which leaves me all day on the 7th to do something, but that being mid week is hardly going to be convenient.

**bart** · 20th December 2009, 12:34

Originally Posted by c.h.r.i.s

Cheers, added to my route.

I was going to touch base with you welly guys when I am on my way back north as then I shall more time. But with my current plan I might be able to make it to wellington area on the 6th, which leaves me all day on the 7th to do something, but that being mid week is hardly going to be convenient.

Cnut on the 7th then. I'm in.