Potentially the best Christmas ever

**release_the_bees** · 21st December 2010, 10:11

This Christmas, I have a couple of weeks of work, so my father and I have a bit of a journey planned, taking on some of the more motorcycle friendly roads that the North Island has to offer.

Here is a map of the planned route, which works out at 2200 KM plus riding.

My office closes on the 23rd of December, and reopens on the 5th of January, so time isn't really an issue. The plan is to camp out along the way, and just do as much riding as we feel like each day. So far the only date penciled in is being in Tauranga for the night of the 23rd and setting off from there early on the morning of the 24th.

Having not been around the East Cape before, but knowing that it is pretty isolated, do you think that any of the limited number of petrol stations in that area will actually be open on Christmas day? I think I will be struggling to get around there on a single 17 litre tank.

**MSTRS:Me** · 21st December 2010, 10:17

Fill up in Opotiki. I doubt that any gas will be available beyond there on Xmas Day.

**Slyer** · 21st December 2010, 10:24

Yep you'll need to be taking a 5L jerry can with you at least. You may very well need it.

**Gibbo89** · 21st December 2010, 10:27

Looks like you'll be having one hell of a good time. What bike will your old man be on?

Here's hoping the weather will be kind to you.

**release_the_bees** · 21st December 2010, 11:03

Thanks for the replies. I have a 10 litre petrol can, so I will make sure I take it with me. The plan was to gas up in Opotiki, so I will definitely be doing that now, and filling up the can there too.

Dad has a KLR650. It has a massive tank, so I guess I can steal some of his fuel as a last resort.

**firefighter** · 21st December 2010, 11:06

More importantly, you will be needing a shotgun. Learn to sleep with an eye open. Thieving erm...... 'so and sos'

around 'them parts.

**SMOKEU** · 21st December 2010, 11:12

Too many traffic cops out at this time of year.

**Morepower** · 21st December 2010, 20:59

Phone ahead but Gas should not be a problem at Te Aroha , Tokomaru bay and Tolaga Bay .

**Gremlin** · 21st December 2010, 21:04

About 350km round the cape (not going to the lighthouse) from Opotiki to Gisborne from memory...

**2wheeldrifter** · 22nd December 2010, 10:01

It may interest you...............

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...pe-ride-report

**MSTRS:Me** · 22nd December 2010, 10:06

Originally Posted by Morepower

Phone ahead but Gas should not be a problem at Te Aroha , Tokomaru bay and Tolaga Bay .

Te Araroa?
Maybe you're right, but something tells me that in between Opotiki and Gisborne will not be friendly re gas on Xmas day...

**dogsnbikes** · 22nd December 2010, 10:25

Originally Posted by release_the_bees

Thanks for the replies. I have a 10 litre petrol can, so I will make sure I take it with me. The plan was to gas up in Opotiki, so I will definitely be doing that now, and filling up the can there too.

Dad has a KLR650. It has a massive tank, so I guess I can steal some of his fuel as a last resort.

Ring the easten store at Te Araroa (06) 864 4874 too find out if they open as they operate the gas pumps,and it was 329k's from Gisborne too Opokiti at labour weekend

**release_the_bees** · 22nd December 2010, 11:51

Cheers. I will look into it. Thanks for all the information everybody.

**release_the_bees** · 7th January 2011, 21:54

Well, I am back. I ended up riding 3200 kilometres in total!

Here is a map of the route that I took. If I have time this weekend I might go up to the Cape and back, just so I can say that I have basically done the whole Island!

To sum up the trip in a few lines:

I didn't realise how many great twisties there are in the North Island! The route I took from Masterton to Auckland took 2 full days riding, but wow what roads and views!
Basically blue sky all the way, with only one gray day, and no rain at all!
There are gas stations open around the East Cape on Christmas day, but only in the morning. In the end it didn't matter, as we had cleared the cape by the night of Christmas Eve.
The Gentle Annie is almost totally sealed now, but there is one section that I wouldn't call gravel - pebbles and rocks would be a better description! Great fun on the GT650 as the bars were moving around like a mini tankslapper. Dad's KLR650 was perfectly at home of course.
I couldn't have had a better view of the mountains on the way back. It was so clear that I doubled back to Tongariro National Park for a better look.
The GT650R was surprisingly comfortable considering the distance that I travelled. The only issue I had during the trip was having to replace the rear tyre halfway round. In fact the bike is working better than when I left, now that the gearbox has loosened up a bit.

I'll upload a few pics soon.