Hamilton to Palmy in 1 day - best route?

[TheTengTheory]

You must be joking?
I managed to do more than that per day last week and still have time for food and fixing a rally car Hamilton to Palmy isn't a big drive/ride

Most people... Not everyone does big drives all that often. I would drive to Auckland and probably bqck to Hamilton possibly tqupo at a stretch but I probably wouldn't attempt that on a bike. Again my inexperience taken into account here. Just my 2 cent

[Murray]

Paraparas are always fun (Wanganui to Raetihi) and National Park to Te Kuiti is more adventurous than State 1.

Totally agree with going this way, done it many times and its no longer than going SH1 as much less traffic

[mikemike104]

Via New Plymouth?

Maybe SH43? Although i think there may be gravel parts.


Seriously, if I was going to palmy I'd take the longest route I could find!

Did 43 recently, 12km's of gravel (I measured) so no big deal on KLR

Being your first big trip, I'd keep it simple. Plenty of time to expand later...

I reckon pretty much this, keep it simple. Straight to New Plymouth, Lunch then on through Whanganui and then Palmerston North. Still probably going to take you most of the day, I see this trip looking like this..

Hamilton - Te Kuiti (one hour) - TK - Mokau (one hour) Mokau - Inglewood turnoff (50m) turnoff - Hawera (50m) Hawera - Whanganui (one hour) - Whanganui - Palmy (one hour)

That's roughly 5 hours 40 minutes with out stops!

Take it easy bro!

[insomnia01]

follow SH3 to Mokau/Awakino @20km south turn off Okau Road as you come in to Ahititi & follow through to Tahora, you miss out the gravel section on SH43 but there is still gravel on Okau road through to Mt Dampner, you come out at the Moki tunnel

[yod]

Te Kuiti to New Plymouth is only interesting as far as Urenui, from there all the way to PN is boring as shite. Far more fun doing the whole of SH4 to Wangas or cutting across to SH1 through Ohakune and then turning left onto SH54 (Vinegar Hill)

[insomnia01]

Te Kuiti to New Plymouth is only interesting as far as Urenui, from there all the way to PN is boring as shite. Far more fun doing the whole of SH4 to Wangas or cutting across to SH1 through Ohakune and then turning left onto SH54 (Vinegar Hill)

thats why I turn off onto Okau Rd VERY INTERESTING road there on in

[SPman]

Last time I went this way,(from Auckland) it was through the back road to Otorohonga, down through National Park, divert off down through the Paraparas to Wanganui, then on to (through) PN. Then carried on down the west side and back over the Rimutakas. The next day I went back up the same way to Wanganui and carried on back via New Plymouth! Made a good weekend ride......and on a Gixxer thou it wasn't too uncomfortable....

[release_the_bees]

Paraparas are always fun (Wanganui to Raetihi)

If you do go this way, keep an eye out for bloody big rocks on the road around blind corners. Other than that it is a great road.

[GrayWolf]

Auckland to Wellington is a good day ride. Anything less is .... well ... less ...

wellington to Invergumboot, or wellington to rotovegas (return) are a good days ride too.

[maxwellee]

thanks everyone for you responses.
cheers

and the winner is: SH39 down to Otorohanga, SH3 down to Okau Road, back up SH43 to Taumarunui, and all the way down SH4 to Whanganui.
(still yet to plan the return trip)

Thanks everyone for your suggestions, I'll get a camera and post pics.

Cheers again