Desert Road/Tongariro?

**colsan1** · 23rd July 2010, 21:24

Hi all, just a quicky
fairly new to nz but noticed a lot of dry river beds that seem to go on for miles when
travelling back up the desert road around the Tongariro area.
Had a look on Google maps and there appears to be mile after mile of tracks and gullys
chris crossing the area just of SH1
Can these be riden?

**Taz** · 23rd July 2010, 21:42

I have ridden them back in the days of the original desert storm but most of that land is an army training area and off limits.

**Eddieb** · 23rd July 2010, 21:51

Originally Posted by colsan1

Hi all, just a quicky
fairly new to nz but noticed a lot of dry river beds that seem to go on for miles when
travelling back up the desert road around the Tongariro area.
Had a look on Google maps and there appears to be mile after mile of tracks and gullys
chris crossing the area just of SH1
Can these be riden?

Most of those tracks are on army training ground so access is not allowed. Other areas are Department of Conversation, I'm not sure what rules are for access there.

**FJRider** · 23rd July 2010, 22:04

Beware of yellow signs that proclaim DEFENCE AREA, KEEP OUT. Most of the land either side on highway one from Waiouru to the summit of the desert road is defence property. Most areas can/are used as LIVE firing zones ... so apart from the occasional artillery round/mortar round/grenade/bullet(of varying caliber) ... with the odd rocket/missile from our allies aircraft ... not really much to worry about.
AND ... if you happen to damage it by running into a tank/truck/LAV ... or just can out ... your insurance by be void, and YOU get sued by the ministry of defence for their damaged vehicles. THEIR area ... YOUR fault for being there ...

AND ... there is a "fair" amount of UNEXPLODED shells that have NOT been dealt to .... feeling lucky ?????

**Waihou Thumper** · 23rd July 2010, 22:07

Basically from the turn off on Western side - Tukino skifield, Eastern side - Kaimanawa access Rd to Waiouru is off limits AND you will be found out....
It isn't worth the risk. The road up to top of Tukino ski-filed is worth a look but don't wander off track.
The army Multi-sport club orgnises a trail ride each year that explores the back of beyond, well worth it, weekend away and some fantastic scenery...Well worth it, I have done two if these and camped inside the army base for free, good company and they get a good turn out.
Check it out, happens around spring time....

**dino3310** · 23rd July 2010, 22:12

hey i thought these TRX850s were bullet proof

**dino3310** · 23rd July 2010, 22:13

if in doubt get a DR650 there bullet proof

**FJRider** · 23rd July 2010, 22:18

Originally Posted by dino3310

hey i thought these TRX850s were bullet proof

SOME of those areas they dont let the ARMY go ... as I said ... feeling lucky ????

There are some BIG bangs around there ... that didn't go bang.

**buggsubique** · 23rd July 2010, 23:50

Originally Posted by colsan1

Hi all, just a quicky
fairly new to nz but noticed a lot of dry river beds that seem to go on for miles when
travelling back up the desert road around the Tongariro area.
Had a look on Google maps and there appears to be mile after mile of tracks and gullys
chris crossing the area just of SH1
Can these be riden?

a couple of over-dramatised responses, but the guts of it is right. Under the mountain in the sandy area is Zone 1 - used for explosives disposal, demolitions practices and some live firing. there are a few tracks through it but it's nasty work. Generally quite acidic too so brake pads take a hammering. You'll get a similar experience by heading up the Tukino Skifield road at the northern end as recommended. That's well worth it.

On the eastern and western sides of the main road from the desert back into Waiouru itself is generally a low-use access / driver training / route march etc area. The Armoured vehicles rip the land up pretty bad so I you don't get em along there too much anymore. A few of the tracks literally parallel the road for miles and are great fun in summer. In the wet they are very slippery and full of holes. Well used / worn tracks you can generally expect to be free of UXO. The areas alongside SH1 are very low risk for the obvious reason that ma and pa jones wouldn't appreciate a ricochet zipping past the thermos while they take photos.

Getting in there with out permission is at your own (and the wider 1WD community's) peril and possibly the peril of some poor bastard trudging his way through 12km of blisters and self doubt. The exciting shit is 20km further east...a long way from cell phones, gas and hot pies.

With permission most of it can be ridden without issue. Without permission it can all be ridden with possible repercussions.

**GPS MAN** · 24th July 2010, 08:26

Well, looks like - get permission - have a big time

the other - don't get permission - have a bigger time

**Eddieb** · 24th July 2010, 08:41

It would be a great area to ride with permission, I'd come up for a weekend of that.

**Box'a'bits** · 24th July 2010, 10:02

Originally Posted by Eddieb

It would be a great area to ride with permission, I'd come up for a weekend of that.

The original Desert Storm trail rides (back in 93'ish) used a lot of that land & were huge fun, riding through tank tracks etc. That was my first trail ride.

**george formby** · 24th July 2010, 10:09

That sounds very much like the Otterburn ranges in the UK. The army would allow access 2 days a year. The place is littered with blown up tanks, jumbo jets, old vulcan bombers & piles of used ammo from target practice. Very cool.
Watch out for shell craters full of snow, guaranteed to sheer off your forks.....