Where is the longest continuous stretch of gravel road in NZ?

[young1]

We have spent the last couple of weekends exploring the west coast roads between Auckland and New Plymouth. The stretches of gravel are now less than I remember and in fact we went past two roading crews sealing new stretches.

It got me thinking about where is the longest CONTINOUS stretch of publicly accessible gravel road now. By CONTINOUS I mean you are on gravel the whole way with maybe a few metres where the road crosses a sealed road.

Putting my thinking cap on I think the longest stretch I have done is the Molesworth but is that longer than the Nevis Road?

I haven't done the Rainbow yet, but I understand that road links to Moleswoth so would combining them be the longest?

Or....have I missed somewhere else?

The North Island, been a while since I did it but, around Lake Waikaremoana?

Mike

[awayatc]

Some loooooong stretches of gravel once you venture in outer Marlborough sounds......

Not sure if chip losely strewn around on roads counts as well, if so inner fuckin new plymouth adds up to a fair few clicks at the moment.....

[Gremlin]

This is an interesting question actually...

Waikaremoana is around 100km from memory, easily less than Molesworth (around 140km) and Rainbow (less than 100km). Yes, if you combined both Molesworth and Rainbow it's going to be around 220km, and if you throw in a few side trips (and return) to Maling and Edwards Pass, plus a little detour to Tennyson, it's going to be longer.

Best ones to answer this will likely be those that do the Dusty Butt ride in the South Island...

[Woodman]

Yeah, my pick would be the Molesworth, Rainbow road. The dustybutt has some long gravel sections, but not really one continuous road. probarbly the longest non sealed part of the dusty would be the Lawrence, Lamamoors, Dunstan trail, Serpentine, Poolburn Dams, Moa Creek and beyond. Its a good half day without seeing seal, and some good high speed sections too, but not really one continuous road like the Molesworth Rainbow, and not all road either.

[Tazz]

Molesworth is getting shorter gravel wise. Every year they're sealing more and more of the Awatere Valley

[Kickaha]

Waikaremoana is around 100km from memory

It used to be 120km, although that was back in 1988 when I did it

[Woodman]

Molesworth is getting shorter gravel wise. Every year they're sealing more and more of the Awatere Valley

This is what happens when people, motorcycle lobby groups included, moan about the roads in NZ. Fuckers.

[Tazz]

This is what happens when people, motorcycle lobby groups included, moan about the roads in NZ. Fuckers.

Haven't seen any mumblings about the state of gravel roads to be fair, only main roads in shit condition.

[R650R]

Waikaremoana is bugger all gravel now, heaps of sections now tar sealed and that was over six months ago I was last up there. Plus there so much traffic now its like riding/driving on concrete as its normally hardpacked down good.

[BMWST?]

if you go all the way through the Nevis Bannock burn to Garston its a fair way esp if you detour down to carrick town and back.The carrick town detour is pretty gnarly in a couple of places.

[CrazyFrog]

Molesworth combined with Rainbow is longest unsealed section around @ 220km from Awatere Valley where seal ends, to Rainbow Skifield area where seal starts again.
Slightly more (7-8km) if you drop down into Hanmer for fuel. Or as Gremlin said, even more if you add Malings/Edwards Passes into the equation.
Hakataramea is a good stretch, but only 78 km gravel, due sealed now from Cattle Creek to Kurow.
Nevis track via Hawksburn to Clyde is around 90km.

[young1]

Good stuff 😄😄

But what about the North Island then?