Far North Roads - some local knowledge, if you wouldn't mind

[NinjaNanna]

Who knows anything about all those lovely winding roads north of Mangamuka that link SH1 & SH10? Seems to be lots of different twisties around Peria.

Roads I see on google maps are:
Pekerau Rd, Parapara-ToaToa Rd, Paranui Rd, Duncan Rd, Fairburn Rd, Peria Rd, Mangatoetoe Rd, Peria Valley Rd, Victoria Valley Rd, Kitchen Rd, Oruru Rd, Kohumaru Rd, Back River Rd.

Are they sealed?
Are they in relatively good condition?
Are they known for being dangerous?
Anything else one should know?

There will be a group of us up there at the end of the month, can anybody suggest a circuit that would be a good afternoon loop ride after returning from the Cape on Sunday?

Cheers
NN

[Little Miss Trouble]

My knowledge of those roads is 8(holy crap!) years old now but back when I lived up that way at least half of those mentioned were gravel. (I'd be highly surprised if much had changed!)
Watch out for farmers on quads, loose cattle, even wandering pig dogs.

[NinjaNanna]

Thanks LMT, can you remember which ones were sealled back then?

[sil3nt]

Google street view shows whether the roads are gravel or not.

[Little Miss Trouble]

I think Oruru Rd is the only one completely sealed, the rest have sealed sections from the main road that abruptly turn into gravel.

[NinjaNanna]

Google street view shows whether the roads are gravel or not.

Holy shit, so it does, I can't beleive google actually sent cars down those roads too. Who the hell actually pays for all that!

[george formby]

Yup, lots of gravel & twisties. I have not ridden up their for a year or 6 but as stated already not a lot will have changed. Off the main highway road surfaces can change drastically, tar seal & gravel, so it always pays to be cautious.

[wynw]

Yip, +1 to what they said, the fairburn road is mostly seal and the bit that isnt is quite doable on a sports bike, the others however while good fun roads in someone else's work van or rally car etc , i wouldnt take my gixxer on. Saying that i havnt had to drive or ride them for a few years now. Back in the late 80's they were great fun on a motox bike. If you do take to those back roads just be a bit careful of some of the unregistered locals and the 12yr olds driving.

[Gremlin]

Pekerau Rd - unsealed
Parapara-ToaToa Rd - unsealed
Paranui Rd - unsealed
Duncan Rd - unsealed
Fairburn Rd - sealed until shortly after Fairburn, then goes to unsealed
Peria Rd - unsealed
Mangatoetoe Rd - unsealed
Peria Valley Rd - unsealed
Victoria Valley Rd - unsealed
Kitchen Rd - unsealed
Oruru Rd - sealed, but it leads into unsealed roads
Kohumaru Rd - unsealed
Back River Rd - unsealed

[george formby]

Pekerau Rd - unsealed
Parapara-ToaToa Rd - unsealed
Paranui Rd - unsealed
Duncan Rd - unsealed
Fairburn Rd - sealed until shortly after Fairburn, then goes to unsealed
Peria Rd - unsealed
Mangatoetoe Rd - unsealed
Peria Valley Rd - unsealed
Victoria Valley Rd - unsealed
Kitchen Rd - unsealed
Oruru Rd - sealed, but it leads into unsealed roads
Kohumaru Rd - unsealed
Back River Rd - unsealed

This is exacary why I want knobblier tires for me bike. It's all well & good having 18 inches hanging out the front but it's a bugger finding suitably ribbed rubber to fit.

Hope you all have a blast.

[Gremlin]

I just potter along and slide a bit when using gravel roads or tracks. I do too much road work, to sacrifice the life of tyre, grip etc, so just live with it on gravel.

[NinjaNanna]

It's all well & good having 18 inches hanging out the front but it's a bugger finding suitably ribbed rubber to fit.

Braggard, I'd have thought with 18" you wouldn't have needed ribbed rubber

[george formby]

I just potter along and slide a bit when using gravel roads or tracks. I do too much road work, to sacrifice the life of tyre, grip etc, so just live with it on gravel.

Currently ditto.

[Ntoxcated]

Back River Rd - unsealed

Never believe Google Maps when it tells you that Back River road is the best way to Oruru

It got bloody interesting when it started to rain. It wasn't so much a gravel road as a slick clay road

[Gremlin]

Never believe Google Maps when it tells you that Back River road is the best way to Oruru

Who uses Google Maps? I have a GPS running the open source mapset, and a kind Norflander has gone through the vast majority of the roads updating what is and isn't gravel.

That said, its kinda annoying... I wanted to do it