East Cape on sports tourer?

[TomJ]

Hi, I am a little nervous after reading about the poor state of roads around the Cape. This will be first longer ride for the wife on pillion. Any news on current state of roads - we leave Friday and also time to get from Ohope to Te Puia Springs with coffee and photo stops. Cheers

[yod]

i've done it on the blackbird twice, awesome....

there are some sections that aren't the best but just don't get silly and you'll be fine

[Hitcher]

I've done East Cape on a FZX250 Zeal, ST1300, FJR1300 and on an Aprilia Shiver. The road is just great. Watch out for stock and their shit on the roads and all should be well.

[Maha]

The only section I would say to watch for would be between Tolaga Bay and Ruatoria, but in saying that, the signage is good and its not really that bad, its been almost three years since I have been around the East Cape and its worth the effort.

[banditrider]

The East Cape rocks! As mentioned above it pays to take care for stock, road works and loose metal on the roads. I last went through in March and there is still a large detour approx 50km (A bit of a guess there) East of Opotoki. It has been there for a while and they even have sealed some of it - the rest is very dusty gravel but not too bad a surface.

Pics of diversion from October last year:

[CookMySock]

This will be first longer ride for the wife on pillion.

Just make sure she is up for that, because it's a hua of a long trip for the pillion especially if you are, er, hurrying, and believe me it's tempting to, er, hurry on that road. A quick glance at the map doesn't look very far around there, but its a long way and newbs (even pillions) will need lots of breaks. Tolaga bay Inn is good to stop overnight, with secureish parking around the back.

If I was in your position I'd go - but depart at crack of dawn so you can relax and hum along, as having to, er, hurry, will ruin the pillions day unless they are predisposed to, er, hurrying.

[TomJ]

[QUOTE=DangerousBastard;1130040897]Just make sure she is up for that, because it's a hua of a long trip for the pillion especially if you are, er, hurrying, and believe me it's tempting to, er, hurry on that road. A quick glance at the map doesn't look very far around there, but its a long way and newbs (even pillions) will need lots of breaks. Tolaga bay Inn is good to stop overnight, with secureish parking around the back.

we plan to leave early Fri then head for Te Puia Springs Hotel. We have done 2 hour stints before and she has good quality gear to keep warm etc. We will have lots of stops on the way but I have heard it is a v twisty route. we can get a shift on from time to time but generally I dont push it through the corners with a pillion.

[Highlander]

I last went through in March and there is still a large detour approx 50km (A bit of a guess there) East of Opotoki. It has been there for a while and they even have sealed some of it - the rest is very dusty gravel but not too bad a surface.

Pretty good guess. I measured it as 30km from Opotiki and the detour is 2 km, of course TomJ will have found this out already by now.

For those thinking about it the East Cape is well worth making the effort.

[TomJ]

thanks for the comments. We had a great ride round the Cape and enjoyed better weather than most of the Nth Islands by all accounts. The gravel section was short and sweet and as Maha said the section leading to Te Puia Springs was pretty rough. We got a bit wet on Gd Friday and the return on Sunday but mostly it was dry roads and very little traffic. A fantastic ride and having posted pics on FB many friends comment how beautiful NZ is. Now planning the next excursion with the better half seeing as this went so well.

[TomJ]

[Highlander]

So around the Cape and back through the Waioeka Gorge?
Very pleasant riding through there.

[TomJ]

So around the Cape and back through the Waioeka Gorge?
Very pleasant riding through there.

yup, we stayed at Te Puis Springs Hotel enjoying a good soak in their hot pool. The following day we had an awesome trip down to Gisborne and stayed there overnight before returning to Tauranga through the gorge. I would like to do the gorge again on dry roads but it was still v enjoyable riding with minimal traffic.

[Highlander]

yup, we stayed at Te Puis Springs Hotel enjoying a good soak in their hot pool. The following day we had an awesome trip down to Gisborne and stayed there overnight before returning to Tauranga through the gorge. I would like to do the gorge again on dry roads but it was still v enjoyable riding with minimal traffic.

The Waioeka Gorge is a great ride on a wet day (can be a bit challenging sometimes because of the hill sides dropping all over the road ) but on a nice day it is simply outstanding !!!

[Maha]

The Wioeka Gorge is a great ride on a wet day (can be a bit challenging sometimes because of the hill sides dropping all over the road ) but on a nice day it is simply outstanding !!!

Must do that sometime.
Anne loved the Awakino Gorge last at the weekend and I said the Wioeka is the same but three times as long, plus a nice little Tavern at Matawai...

[banditrider]

The Wioeka Gorge is a great ride on a wet day (can be a bit challenging sometimes because of the hill sides dropping all over the road ) but on a nice day it is simply outstanding !!!

Yeah and not bad in the middle of the night either - mind the wildlife!