Auckland to Stratford via the Forgotten Highway - but then where?

[Jock_in_NZ]

Being Auckland anniversay weekend I'm heading off down Taranaki way. Leaving Auckland on Saturday morning and down the Forgotton Highway to Stratford for Saturday evening. But I need some ideas on what's an interetsting way back home? I could head straight up to New Plymouth and north on SH3 but that's not much fun and I've done that heaps of times before.

Anyone suggest an alternative route or roads worth exploring on the way up? Gravel ones even better

[Hitcher]

Head off back up the coast on SH3. Turn left just north of Awakino, over the bridge just past the service station, and follow your nose and the signs to Kawhia. There's some very enjoyable scenery and gravel to be had through there.

[RE5]

Head down the west coast through Raglan, Kawhia, and on to Awakino. Fuel up and head south on SH3 to Ahititi, just north of Mt Messenger. Turn left and head through Ohura, Marterie and on through Taumaranui to National Park for the night. Join the Chateau to Plateau ride on Sunday through the Forgotten World Highway to Stratford. We go to the Bruce for Breakfast in the morning before the ride. Head home on Monday morning.

[Gremlin]

East Cape is always nice...

otherwise, wot Hitcher sed.

[Brian B]

Head down the west coast through Raglan, Kawhia, and on to Awakino. Fuel up and head south on SH3 to Ahititi, just north of Mt Messenger. Turn left and head through Ohura, Marterie and on through Taumaranui to National Park for the night. Join the Chateau to Plateau ride on Sunday through the Forgotten World Highway to Stratford. We go to the Bruce for Breakfast in the morning before the ride. Head home on Monday morning.

Lovely route or if you want to go further. Once heading out on Route 40 once you've turned off SHW3 at Ahititi about 10 or 11km turn onto Kiwi Rd which you can join with other roads to bring you out on SHW3 at Waitoetoe, then after a short stint on SHW3 turn off at Onaro just up the hill on the corner and there are a miriad of roads to get you to just East of Stratford on the FWH or further up it close to Pohokura. Some seal some gravel but at least your off the main rd. I have done it on a push bike absolutly stunning.

Enjoy.

[Red39]

Remember what I said about the Forgotten Highway

[Rosie]

Lovely route or if you want to go further. Once heading out on Route 40 once you've turned off SHW3 at Ahititi about 10 or 11km turn onto Kiwi Rd which you can join with other roads to bring you out on SHW3 at Waitoetoe, then after a short stint on SHW3 turn off at Onaro just up the hill on the corner and there are a miriad of roads to get you to just East of Stratford on the FWH or further up it close to Pohokura. Some seal some gravel but at least your off the main rd. I have done it on a push bike absolutly stunning.

Enjoy.

Mmmmm Kiwi Road It's an awesome ride through there

[clint640]

Good advice above, don't forget the coast north of Raglan too, sticking as close to the sea as you can up to Port Waikato yields a pretty good route.

Cheers
Clint

[Jock_in_NZ]

Head off back up the coast on SH3. Turn left just north of Awakino, over the bridge just past the service station, and follow your nose and the signs to Kawhia. There's some very enjoyable scenery and gravel to be had through there.

Think this will be the way I'll go. Good advice guys. Thanks very much.

Gremlin

East Cape is always nice...

otherwise, wot Hitcher sed.

That would be nice, but only got the two days free. That'll be the next ride.

[That looks like fun]

Sunday is Chateau to Plateau ride so there may be a few bikers heading North through Tangarakau on Saturday and there will be a lot of bikes heading South on Sunday . In other words ride carefully (but still have fun )

[red mermaid]

Im going this way on Monday...

Think this will be the way I'll go. Good advice guys. Thanks very much.



That would be nice, but only got the two days free. That'll be the next ride.