Wellington to Auckland

[rebel]

Piece of piss. Did it on my CBR250 in 5:45ish and that was four fuel stops too. Have yet to try it on the thou but I dare say shed be a bit quicker.
My route was Akl - TeAwamutu via Pironga.
Te Awamutu - Turangi via west of Lake Taupo/Mangakino
Turangi down SH1, watch out for coppas round there, common knowledge.
I'd recommend this route as there are pretty much no cops for the north half (Waikato expressway maybe), and between Te Awamutu and Turangi is some awesome riding, just watch out for the odd logging or stock truck and hawkes eating road kill.

[dogsnbikes]

Hi,

I'm thinking of taking the bike to TechEd in a few weeks, instead of flying.

(Have to see if boss will chip in a little for petrol in lieu of the flights he'd have to pay for anyway.)

Looking for advice.

Longest I've ever ridden in "one go" was Wellington to Rotorua. Managed fine. Would going to Auckland in one day be much more? Would an over-nighter be recommended?

Given the time of year - what's the "best" route?

Thanks,

Right Now From Wanganui to Te kuiti the roads are in great condition,we did it on saturday the (7th),like any ride,ride at your own pace...If a b-train can do Otahuhu to wgtn in 6.5 8hours With stops will be more than enuf time for you

[Insanity_rules]

Do it, its awesome fun. I did it in 8 hours with 4 long stops (heard of the Ducati crouch, its a killer). Amazing how many of us propeller heads have bikes!

[Rogue Rider]

Hi,

I'm thinking of taking the bike to TechEd in a few weeks, instead of flying.

(Have to see if boss will chip in a little for petrol in lieu of the flights he'd have to pay for anyway.)

Looking for advice.

Longest I've ever ridden in "one go" was Wellington to Rotorua. Managed fine. Would going to Auckland in one day be much more? Would an over-nighter be recommended?

Given the time of year - what's the "best" route?

Thanks,

I have ridden that road heaps of time on the way to the South Island. I always do it in a day, and never had any probs.
I Live in Warkworth and usually leave at 0530am and arrive in Wellington around 1300-1430. You can take the SH1 option, though I have found it quicker and more interesting riding to Ngarawhaia and turning onto the road via Otorohonga on SH3 and 4 to National Park, Ohakune then across to Waiurou. From there onto SH1 to Welly.
It's a lovely scenic ride, and depending on the bike 2-3 fuel stops, or 4-5 if you on a shitty V Rod HD...... lol.

You'll have a hoot. It can be done quicker, but I tend to toodle and stop for food at Waiurou Subway.

[pzkpfw]

I cheated a bit by visiting my folks in Levin on the way up and back; so the times shown below don't include another hour the day before and the day after (Tawa-Levin; and back).

---- ----

To Auckland (Sunday August 29th)

05:30 Leave Levin

Was nice leaving in the dark. Roads pretty empty, and the Levin/Foxton/Sanson/Bulls part is so damn straight I could cruise along nicely at 103.99 km/h. Very interesting to be riding in the dark and seeing the dawn come up. Haven't been awake at that time of day for ages.

Already getting a bit cold, and hit the horn (steibel) instead of indicator turning into the petrol station in Taihape.

07:00 Gassed up in Taihape

On the way into Waiouru I saw a sign that said "Danger! Stay on the road!". Even without the "explosions" and "live fire exercises" they always promise but never supply, it seemed like good advice - and I did my best to stay on the road for the remainder of the ride.

Didn't want to bother with the desert road again ( = boring) so turned left at Waiouru to go the "other" way (also from advice in this thread). Was really enjoying the bursts of sunshine as I came out of dips and bends in the road; but turning right onto [4] after Ohakune I was blinded a moment by the sun being right in my face. That had me thinking about the dangers of "double-edged swords", then I figured as "the pen is mightier than the sword" maybe that ought to be one of those pens that's blue and red, and then you go to fill in a form that wants blue or black but you've left the pen on red and stuff it up.

And then I figured I'd better concentrate a bit more on the road.

Stayed on [4] though Taumarunui and Eight Mile Junction.

Lots of goats at the side of the road through this area. Mostly cute young ones, mainly pure black. Also had to duck a couple of Pukeko's that flew out of a ditch just as I rode past.

Stopped for a piss and a picnic (chocolate bar) at a fairly ugly rest area somewhere along here; populated by one lonely rooster. Far from any farm-house I could see.

It started raining around about here.

09:30 Gassed up in Te Kuiti

A few friendly folk complimented the bike - but also thought it was not a nice day to be riding.

Rain now so strong it was like hail. Nearly had to stop at times because I couldn't see well enough through the huge drops hitting my visor. I'm very wet and very cold. And loving it.

10:30 Eat Moro in Whatawhata

I went Otorohanga/Pirongia/Karakariki/Ngaruawahia from here.

From Huntly or so into Auckland is way boring. Motorway seems endless. Saw lots of cops here, but all on other side of the road. I was mostly just cruising with the cars at this point so wasn't worried in any case.

For that matter, had seen VERY few bikes on the whole trip. My waving arm had plenty of wave left in it.

12:30 In Hotel room, bike parked.

Nobody knew much about parking for guests (let alone for bikes), but the Chinese student manning the parking office pointed me to the $5 per day bike area (this is at Crowne Plaza), so I just shoved the Z in there and hoped for the best.

07:00 hours total, with two stops for gas, and two for chocolate bars.

[pzkpfw]

To Wellington (sort of) (Thursday September 2nd)

9:30(ish) Leave Hotel

I had checked the bike each day, and no one seemed to even breathe near it, so I was pretty happy. Nice green Ninja had kept it company. I gave the Chinese student manning the booth a $20 note and said "four days". She gave me $15 back. Maybe I'm a sucker or maybe my instinct is for honesty, because I gave back the $15 and repeated the "I've been here four days".

I'd already had to deal with the counter staff at the Hotel asking "so you didn't have a car?" as I stood there in all my gear. Geez.

10:00 Gassed up in Bombay

I managed to miss the turn-off after Bombay, but turned off at Pokeno and was able to find a way back to highway [2], as I wanted to go back via Rotorua (and go there via Tauranga).

Went via Paeroa/Waihi. There's some very nice country here. Call me a poof, but I like Magnolia trees. And rocky canyons.

12:00 Gassed up in Tauranga

I'd planned to go through to highway [33] to get to Rotorua on the Eastern side, but the rain had started so just took the service station owners advice and went down [36] - the Pyes Pa road.

The road surface here wasn't the best, and given the rain and my unfamiliarity with the area I was taking it pretty easy. I even pulled over to let a car past (gasp). It was a car I'd previously passed - and it was clear from what I saw as I followed that they were trying to prove something.

14:15 Leaving Rotorua after a visit with some people

Still raining. Went via [5] to Taupo. One thing I noticed in this area was a lot of cars pulling into the shoulder of the road to let me past. That was very curteous - but sometimes it still wasn't safe, or I was simply content to follow the car in front (happy enough with it's speed) - so occasionally it was annoying (especially when it meant they kept hitting deeper patches of water...).

I also noticed lots of "keep your headlights on at all times" roadside signs. Oddly (especially in all the rain!) I thought fewer cars used their lights here than back in Wellington. Maybe they are all "rebels" and the signs are counter productive?

15:15 In Acacia bay (Taupo), consulting google maps on phone

I always have this misonception that I can go the "other way" 'round the lake via Acacia bay. After a quick visit behind a bush, I got my phone to show me Poihipi road, so I back-tracked a bit and headed over to [32].

When [32] got to [41] I still wanted to - not - go the same-old desert road way, so turned right. Somewhere on [41] my fuel gauge started flashing. I had no idea how far I'd get (not studied it properly) so got pretty nervous. Slowed down to 80-100 km/h to conserve fuel.

Still raining. Very wet. Very cold. Still loving it.

17:00 Gassed up in Taumaranui (actually Manunui, I think)

Down [4] past National Park again. Still wanted to do something "different" so continued on to Raetihi - to go the back way to Wanganui. I last did that on an RD350LC, in 1990.

As it began to get darker, and was still raining, I spent a lot of time from here on following cars that looked like they knew what they were doing.

It got pitch-dark half way through to Wanganui. Still raining so again pretty cautious. Windy dark roads in the rain plus muddy road works. Pulled over to let a couple of cars past. No point holding up locals who know the road and have on it twice the rubber I have. Biggest issue was cars coming the other way who didn't dip their lights or just had too-bright lights. Occasionally had to pretty much stop as I could not see the road.

Along this way I started wondering if I should stop for the night, and kept an eye out for B&B's. I started to have the idea of a "farmers daughter" fantasy. I've got no pornographic details to give, as the idea of it was as much as my cold brain could manage. Kind of like deciding you are hungry but not even getting to the point of thinking "Burger or Steak?".

In Wanganui, I could barely type my PIN when I bought petrol (so didn't send SMS to Wife, so don't have a time-stamp) but decided the roads from there were pretty straight and pretty well known to me, so decided to continue.

20:30 In Levin

11:00 hours total, with four stops for gas and one stop gas-bagging.

---- ----

No cars tried to kill me. The worst moment I had was actually the Saturday before the ride up. At the roundabout leaving Tawa to go up on to the motorway, I thought I might "beat" a car. I decided late that I'd better stop and give way - and locked up the back. A bit of a fish-tail to a stop. No biggie; but I realised my head wasn't in the right space yet.


The Z was perfect, never missed a beat. It couldn't have been wetter if I'd mounted a schnorkel on it and ridden through a swimming pool. Very glad not to have a bike that has issues in the rain.

I'm also well aware that I run out of (Talent+Experience) before the Z runs out of (Power+Torque+Handling); so still very very happy with it. I do think I might one day want a bike with more space between pegs and seat, as my knees cramped up a bit. (But there's doubtless mods I can make...)

---- ----

Thanks everyone for the advice.

And don't anyone call me a "fair weather rider"!

[marty]

Holy shit the way home was pretty convoluted! The Kuratau-Taumaranui road is great fun

[gijoe1313]

I wholeheartedly approve! Hear hear! Glad to see you went and just did it!

[dogsnbikes]

Best trips are the longway roundGlad you went for it and mixed it up some

[Conquiztador]

Impressive! Did Napier - Rotorua - Puhoi - Tauranga - Gisborne - Napier this w/e and did not manage to get wet once! Just hate that wet stuff!

[Griffin]

This is probably a redundant reply now that you have done the trip but I will put it anyway.

I go to Ak on my bike 2 - 3 times a year to visit family and used to always go SH1, overnight at Turangi or Taupo to break the trip up.

Last time I went I decided to do something different and went up the West coast, overnighted at New Plymouth and then carried on the next day... it was a MUCH more pleasant ride and didnt take any longer - the difference in distance is bugger all. For this time of year it is a safer option as well cos you dont have the treachorous icy desert road to conquer.

Hope you enjoyed your trip - no better way to travel than on your baby