Gravel

**MSTRS:Me** · 25th July 2005, 09:48

Have been hearing about this 'Coro Loop'. Is this Thames-Coromandel-Whangapoua-Whitianga?-Thames and is there any unsealed sections left. Was last there in the early 70's & there was LOTS of gravel on the eastern side then.

**bugjuice** · 25th July 2005, 10:01

the eastern side (from memory), is almost race track smooth in a lot of places.. and with all those twists and contours, it's one hell of a road.. The west side (which I did yesterday) is that tar/stone chip most of the way, and cos it's real twisty and shaded in places, the middle of the road can have a lot of crap, and be damp. But, the loop is a top notch ride..

**MSTRS:Me** · 25th July 2005, 10:06

Also - good or bad place to go during Ak Anniversary??

**bugjuice** · 25th July 2005, 10:20

Originally Posted by MSTRS

Also - good or bad place to go during Ak Anniversary??

:spudwhat: dunno.. Some parts will be busy, others will be fairly empty. But then the empty bits could be busy with people getting to the busy parts. Never really been that way at that time really. I've always gone on just any ol' good weekend, and it's been fairly quite, or at least bearable..

One thing I don't know, which I'm curious about - is how long is the actual loop? From Kopu to Kopu?

**MSTRS:Me** · 25th July 2005, 10:25

Originally Posted by bugjuice

:spudwhat: dunno.. Some parts will be busy, others will be fairly empty. But then the empty bits could be busy with people getting to the busy parts. Never really been that way at that time really. I've always gone on just any ol' good weekend, and it's been fairly quite, or at least bearable..

One thing I don't know, which I'm curious about - is how long is the actual loop? From Kopu to Kopu?

Thanks for that BJ. Got a 4 day W/e this Jan coming & always wanted to get up that way.

**Firefight** · 25th July 2005, 10:27

Originally Posted by MSTRS

Also - good place to go during Ak Anniversary??

Wellington.

F/F

**FROSTY:Me** · 25th July 2005, 10:29

alll in all its a bloody good bit of road -the west coast for sure is better in summer--not after some shit weather-cos the hillsides have a tendancy to drop onto the road -in little chinks

**MSTRS:Me** · 25th July 2005, 10:34

Originally Posted by Firefight

Wellington.

F/F

**Riff Raff** · 25th July 2005, 11:02

The last gravel section between Coromandel Town and Whangapoua was finally sealed 4 years ago. Had some pretty wild drives over there in the ambulance just before they finished sealing - particularly good fun on the 15km corner! Unfortunately the sealing meant a lot more campervans on that bit of road.

The Coro loop is a great ride - you'll love it.

**mangell6** · 25th July 2005, 11:04

He's right though.

Its a dangerous place to be during AK anniversay, to many people.

**unhingedlizard** · 25th July 2005, 11:12

when is ack anniversary?

**Ixion** · 25th July 2005, 12:08

Originally Posted by Riff Raff

The last gravel section between Coromandel Town and Whangapoua was finally sealed 4 years ago. Had some pretty wild drives over there in the ambulance just before they finished sealing - particularly good fun on the 15km corner! Unfortunately the sealing meant a lot more campervans on that bit of road.

The Coro loop is a great ride - you'll love it.

Bastards !

**Motu** · 25th July 2005, 12:33

Originally Posted by Riff Raff

The last gravel section between Coromandel Town and Whangapoua was finally sealed 4 years ago. Had some pretty wild drives over there in the ambulance just before they finished sealing - particularly good fun on the 15km corner! Unfortunately the sealing meant a lot more campervans on that bit of road.

The Coro loop is a great ride - you'll love it.

There was a few km of gravel south of Whitianga too - I used to enjoy the Coro loop on my XLV750,it was not something anyone did much back then (like,5,6 yrs ago,ancient history) It's still a good ride,but I miss my undisturbed loop.Still gravel further north,I hope to do that this summer.