KB Newbie east cape question

**RobMac** · 6th October 2005, 16:19

Hello All, just signed up to KB in the hope that someone can help me.
I live in Christchurch (normally) but am currently up in Palmerston North for a couple of months with work. Looking at the map the other day I decided to go for a weekend ride up the east coast (from Palmy), spend the night somewhere at east cape and back a different way on the sunday.
Can someone please give me an idea of ride times between places, eg Palmy to Gisbourne, Gisbourne to Whakatane (via the cape), Whaka to Taupo, Taupo to Palmy - or derivitaves of.
Am up here on the FJ so can't really do any scratching but do travel a bit quicker than Mr Plod says we should.

I would also appreciate if someone can tell me if there is a usual ride around this area that takes in a pub or two eg. Those in Akl go to Puhoi, ChCh ride around the hills to the Wheatsheaf etc etc.

TIA, Rob.

**MSTRS:Me** · 6th October 2005, 16:56

Originally Posted by RobMac

Can someone please give me an idea of ride times between places, eg Palmy to Gisbourne, Gisbourne to Whakatane (via the cape), Whaka to Taupo, Taupo to Palmy - or derivitaves of.

Gidday Rob - that's a big ride for 2 days....
PN - Gis 4.5hours
Gis - Whak 8/9hours (a lot of this road is tight/scenic - you'll be stoppin heaps for the views & not exceeding 60/70kph at times)
Whak - Taupo ?2hours
Taupo - PN 3hours
Times approx
Hope that helps

**scooterboynz** · 6th October 2005, 17:43

hi ya ,i have stayed at a motel in hicks bay while riding past on the bike , its cheap and basic has a bar and a restaurant , a good half way stop from gisborne to whakatane

**marty** · 6th October 2005, 18:55

Originally Posted by MSTRS

Gidday Rob - that's a big ride for 2 days....
PN - Gis 4.5hours
Gis - Whak 8/9hours (a lot of this road is tight/scenic - you'll be stoppin heaps for the views & not exceeding 60/70kph at times)
Whak - Taupo ?2hours
Taupo - PN 3hours
Times approx
Hope that helps

i would argue the giz - whakatane trip is only around 4 hours cruising - it's only 200-odd k.

whakatane - taupo is about 160ishk, and boring (so 90 minutes) - take the reporoa turnoff to taupo 25k out of rotorua to avoid the 5-0

taupo - pn in 3 hours? hell i can do pn from cambridge in that!

anywhere on the east cape - hicks bay, waihau bay (cabins @ the camping ground) opotiki, all are lovely spots. take a bottle of port and watch the sun go down over the water, while sitting on the east coast - not many places in the world you can do that! - te kaha is one of the best for it.

**What?** · 6th October 2005, 19:00

You could comfortably do Gisborne to Whakatane in 4 hours, but that is pretty full-on travelling. Reality is more like 6 to 8 hours allowing for sight-seeing and the detour out to the cape.
Take it easy between Te Araroa and Opotiki - some of the advisory speed signs on corners mean what they say!

**scooterboynz** · 6th October 2005, 19:05

Originally Posted by marty

take a bottle of port and watch the sun go down over the water, while sitting on the east coast - not many places in the world you can do that! - te kaha is one of the best for it.

dont want to sound like a smart arse but doesnt the sun come up on the east?

**What?** · 6th October 2005, 19:27

Get a map - if you sit on the beach at Te Kaha and look staight out, you are facing north-north west, not east.

**marty** · 6th October 2005, 19:28

Originally Posted by scooterboynz

dont want to sound like a smart arse but doesnt the sun come up on the east?

so yeah - you sounded like a smart arse

**saul** · 6th October 2005, 19:33

Originally Posted by What?

You could comfortably do Gisborne to Whakatane in 4 hours, but that is pretty full-on travelling. Reality is more like 6 to 8 hours allowing for sight-seeing and the detour out to the cape.
Take it easy between Te Araroa and Opotiki - some of the advisory speed signs on corners mean what they say!

Yep have just been up that way

some of those corners have a decent straight before them, 45k sign and then the corner straight after it. Made for an exciting ride, beautiful place

**scooterboynz** · 6th October 2005, 19:35

Originally Posted by What?

Get a map - if you sit on the beach at Te Kaha and look staight out, you are facing north-north west, not east.

ahhh i was thinking of Te Araroa

**Big Dave** · 6th October 2005, 20:23

Personally didn't like the look of the accommodation on East cape - preferred a nice room at Whakatane before the assault.

Stuck some pics and a report on my site:
http://www.davidcohen.co.nz
From the archives - Cape and a Petticoat.

**RobMac** · 7th October 2005, 10:45

Thanks for all those who have replied, it gives me some ideas on how much prep-h I should take!
Thinking of going early Nov so will probably do a couple of hours after work on the Friday to give a bit more time rubber necking on Sat.
Sunday back sounds simple enough.

Cheers, Rob.

**Jackrat** · 7th October 2005, 18:55

Be carefull just south of hicks bay,the road signs say "uneven surface" an they bloody mean it.Broken surface,massive drops in the road,fine gravel.
This is on the last big hill just before you drop down into hicks bay.Other than that the road is in good nick.
Take care an have a good one.

**Cary** · 7th October 2005, 20:06

And watch your fuel, not alot of places to full up round that way!

**Cary** · 7th October 2005, 20:16

Theres fuel in Ruatoria, and (I think)Hicks Bay but thats about it other than Gis & Opotiki.

You GOTTA do the Waioeka George even if you only go Opotiki-Oponae-Opotiki, magic road

Watch for stock, you WILL get some.

Hope this helps