Waikato rides

[eldog]

I was returning to see what had happened to Phil. He was having visor troubles.

In other words you got ahead of him and he was lost.... I know the feeling

[oldiebutagoody]

I appreciate the effort you went to to find and post the picture. Cheers for that :-)

[awa355]

At 9.30 three of us left Te A still unsure whether the Gods would favour us or not. Out along the Puahue road then the Arapuni road. Through the village on onto the Old Taupo road. No traffic, clean dry surface and no cyclists to be dodging. We topped up in Tokoroa then cruised out towards Whakamaru. As Lance had already rode the distance down from Auckland, we decided take a break at Whakamaru.



From here we rode off to Kaahu road, again the road was all good. The farmland was far greener than the last time I rode this road. The volcanic rocks and outcrops give this land a distinctive appearance. A short burst along Poihipi and we turned right onto Marotiri road. Rolling hills, mature trees and well kept farms made for a pleasant run. Onto Waihora rd then Whangamata road. This passes through a lot of mature woodlots lining the roadsides. No photos from here as I was with others and didn't want to be stopping all the time. I will definately go back in the Autumn with the camera.
Back on Poihipi road briefly then onto Oruanui then Link road. It must have been a local 'keeping up with the Jones's ' day. All the lifestyle trendies were out on their ride on mowers. A boring stretch of SH1 then right onto Tutukau road. Down to the Orakei Karako park and a short break.



Back on the Tutukau road and a quick stop to view the Waikato river from the bridge.



Soon we were out on SH5 and in traffic. Pondering along we hung a left at the Waikite Valley turnoff.
Looking out across the valley, flanked by the Paeroa hills on the near side and the Horohoro hills on the far side.



I had remembered the sequence of roads I'd planned to follow from the map back home and managed to stick to the plan. Through the village of Ngakuru, 2nd right onto Twist, then onto Bryce road. This is a magic piece of road. If travelling between Rotorua and Taupo with a bit of time to spare, try this route.





A good surface, heaps of corners, nice views. Bryce ends at the Rotorua end of the Upper Atiamuri road. From here we filtered into the traffic flow through to Ngongotaha to re fuel and have a light snack. After this it was a regular ride back over the Mamaku's and home.

Phil and I did just under 400k's and Lance covered about 600k. Some new roads for all of us, The weather played ball and we had a good day's ride. Whangamata road had the more scenic views, and the biggest butterflys in the country. Our visors were a mess after these roads. Bryce road had the biggest fun factor. Flip flopping through the corners bought out the smiles.

[awa355]

Popped up town for an ice cream yesterday afternoon. Got lost and finished out Mahihi way. I rode various roads including Lurman, Paewhenua and Otewa roads.

The Waipa river was looking a lot better than my previous ride here.


A bit further along looking across the river.


Onto Tahaia road then Whawharua road where I found this old girl put out to pasture.


Old Tekuiti road was next and I tried out the extended zoom at a lower resolution on this old farm house way off in the distance.


A couple of locals checking me out.


Back on SH3 and into the Big Apple roadside market for my ice cream at last.


Back down to the Waitomo road and ya wouldn't believe it!! The biggest turkey I've ever seen


"Honest maw,, it was this beegg" Yes dear, I'm sure it was, now go take your meds".

You could just about put a name to this face.


From here I explored a no exit road off Haurua road then cruised on back through the back roads to home.

A 'nothing much' ride but was still time out riding.

[Swivel]

Awesome photos and tour reports. Always look forward to the updates.

[awa355]

My wife was sleeping this morning after a night shift so to keep from waking her, I started up the bike in the shed and after warming it up blatted down the drive and away. I took the back roads to Tekuiti and got there as the sun was rising above the hills.

Tekuiti, always looks picturesque.


Took the highway to Piopio and found the Mangaotaki road. This heads out into the back country in the hills between Piopio and the Marakopa-Awakino districts. A new road for me and what a neat piece of country to ride through.

The Mangaotaki stream.


Steep bluffs with the characteristic rock formations of this part of the country.


The road runs along side the Mangaotaki stream with the steep bluffs on both sides.


And through the Waitanguru reserve. A sign pointed out a walkway to the Waitanguru Falls. A short walk down a well made path bought me to a lookout at the falls. A lovely waterfall cascading over the layer'd rocks.

The falls. Probably about 25 metres high?.


After catching my breath back up at the park area I carried on a few more k's untill the seal ran out. I thought about carrying on around to the Ngapaenga road and back to the Mairoa road. About 17k of gravel, but decided I needed a coffee after my climb up from the falls, and the 23k's of Mangaotaki rd was just too good not to ride again so did a u-turn and cruised back to Piopio. I will come back to this road when I upgrade my camera. I could spend a day along here. I must have taken 30 photographs of the scenery over this 23k.

After a coffee and bite to eat, I stuck to SH3 for a while then turned right onto Tikitiki road. About 6k along and hung a left onto Nohonoa road. Gravel but super smooth and so easy to ride. Left again onto Tuhua road, more of the same. The flats were lush green dairy farms with much of the hillsides covered with native forest.

Saw this old house and decided to have a poke around.


It was quite eerie, only a front to rear passage with a single room each side.


The passage walls probably had scrim over the boards with newspaper between. The dates would suggest this home went up about 1935.


Just down the road and before connecting with SH4, is the site of an early historic Mission. The Whakatumutumu Mission. Frederick Miller and his wife came up the Mokau river and chose the highest hill to base his Mission on in 1840. He died in 1848 and is buried right at the top of the hill. You can see the cross on your left, just past the Tuhua rd junction if travelling north.

This must have been the latest in a long line of swing bridges over the years.


A maximum of five people, or one fat motorcyclist, The bridge was bowed before I stepped onto it Honest!.




I will go back and do the climb up to the grave of ole Frederick Miller some day. He must have been really dedicated to his cause. The local Maori's accepted him and after he died, they escorted his widow and child back to Auckland. Not sure if anyone else ran the Mission after him but successive generations of local Maori tended his grave, a nice gesture.

From here a straight run back to Tekuiti then Oparure/Fullerton/Waitomo roads home. If you are in Piopio and have spare time, ride the Mangaotaki road. The scenery is worth it.

[frogfeaturesFZR]

great photos, great write up. Thanks

[Motu]

You could've detoured down Pomarangi Rd, really nice country in there, but that road is scary narrow.

[awa355]

You could've detoured down Pomarangi Rd, really nice country in there, but that road is scary narrow.

Don't worry, I've cover that road before, back in 1973. and again in 2010?. I had a CBF250 then and my riding offsider was on his K1100. We came in from the Marakopa end. Grass along the centre and ponga fronds brushing the helmets.

[Moise]

Every few months I try to ride down to Kawhia for a fish and chips lunch. That's the excuse anyway, the ride is always the most fun part.

So I headed down that way last Saturday, but I was late leaving home and the long weekend traffic out of Auckland slowed me down at first. I normally go down what was SH22, but the middle part is a real mess, so I went all the way to Huntly power station, then right onto Hetherington Rd.

There are some typical North Waikato views from the road and I stopped and took this photo.



SH22 to the Raglan turnoff is a bit of a pain after being resealed, as there is still some loose metal between the car tyre tracks. After a couple of slides, I dialed it back a little.

Stopped for a coffee and pie at Te Uku, then decided it was getting a bit late to carry on to Kawhia and make it back to Auckland. So I did the tourist thing and went to the Bridal Veil falls for the first time for ages.

.

Not much water though, but worth the walk.

Rode back to Ngaruawahia through Waingaro, fun ride and almost no traffic. Then the slog back to Auckland...

[eldog]

My wife was sleeping this morning after a night shift so to keep from waking her, I started up the bike in the shed and after warming it up blatted down the drive and away.

And through the Waitanguru reserve. A sign pointed out a walkway to the Waitanguru Falls. A short walk down a well made path bought me to a lookout at the falls. A lovely waterfall cascading over the layer'd rocks.

The falls. Probably about 25 metres high?.
I will come back to this road when I upgrade my BIKE
After a coffee and bite to eat,

A maximum of five people, or one fat motorcyclist, The bridge was bowed before I stepped onto it Honest!.

From here a straight run back to Tekuiti then Oparure/Fullerton/Waitomo roads home. If you are in Piopio and have spare time, ride the Mangaotaki road. The scenery is worth it.

You forgot she was sleeping in the shed!
Waitanguru Falls I think that's on my list.... Waterfalls.co.nz?
its leaving stuff on the bike while I take a detour that makes me nervous - so now it's backpack able. Trouble living in Papakura you never can trust anyone.

Fixed ya camera for ya.

should have ridden the bike over the bridge.

yes quite nice all those areas. Hard living though in the 30's

[eldog]

Don't worry, I've cover that road before, back in 1973. and again in 2010?. I had a CBF250 then and my riding offsider was on his K1100. We came in from the Marakopa end. Grass along the centre and ponga fronds brushing the helmets.

Another road for the cruiser? Just a little gravel,

[awa355]

You forgot she was sleeping in the shed!
Waitanguru Falls I think that's on my list.... Waterfalls.co.nz?
its leaving stuff on the bike while I take a detour that makes me nervous - so now it's backpack able. Trouble living in Papakura you never can trust anyone.

Fixed ya camera for ya.

should have ridden the bike over the bridge.

yes quite nice all those areas. Hard living though in the 30's

I carried my jacket and helmet down the pathway and stashed them out of sight. Out there, I figured that it would be damn unlucky to have thieves passing by in the short time I was away.

[eldog]

I carried my jacket and helmet down the pathway and stashed them out of sight.

Cant attach helmet securely to my bike - no D ring
jacket has plenty of vents so leave on.
I only have a Tshirt/upants on underneath my gear..... I may get arrested.
Certainly won't win any wet Tshirt contests
OK looks like enough water to wash the bike.

Better off videoing same sequence with a clip with just the whole of the falls.
I wonder what it's like under the falls
No sound though?

[MarkH]

I was inspired, so I took the DR650 for a ride, went to Bridal Veils Falls, along some gravel to Kawhia and then along a fun winding road to Otorohanga and back home.