SH16 alternative

[Ixion]

What with the poxy gubbermint letting the secret about Sh16 out of the bag, there are so many Interchangeable Mabels using it now that soon it will be no better than SH1

So, I've been poring over the maps looking for an alternative.

So far, from Wellsford, going south I've come up with:

Wellsford to Tauhoa SH16. No way round this as far as I can see. Why oh why is there no road from Hoteo to Wayby. The railway runs between the two so why no road ? Or is there one, unmarked ? That railway isn't used any more, is it? Might be possible on a trail bike? Down the tracks.

Tauhoa , Tauhoa rd -> Hoteo -> Kaipara Flats

Old Woodcocks Rd -> Woodcocks -> West coast Rd -> Komokoriki

Burnside Rd -> Makarau

Makarau rd -> Haruru

Haruru Rd -> Wainui

Waitoki Rd -> Waitoki ->

Kahikatea Flat Rd -> Valley Rd (Is this opne to the public ?)

Ararimu Valley Rd (is this open to public, also) -> Waikoukou

Thence to Old North Rd , and back into Auckland.

Obviously, this route will be longer, and probably take longer.

But I'd rather have longer and slower and have the road to myself, or nearly so, rather than share with Mabel and Stan.

And I'm hoping that sections of this will still be gravel, which will keep Ethel away for a few years to come.And I don't mind gravel.

Can any locals comment on any problems? Or any roads that only exist on paper. Or any roads that exist but aren't on maps ? Or any other suggestions? Or any route from Hoteo to Wayby? And does anyone know if Valley Rd and Ararimu Valley Rd are open to the public?

One worry may be fuel, I don't know if there are any petrol stations along those roads.

Next fine weekend, I'll go exploring and report back!

[terbang]

Reckon youll find some lose metal around Makarau..

[The Pastor]

If the weather is fine tomorrow Im going to go for a blat - IF i dont get lost :P Would you be keen for a ride? I dont take corners very fast though.

[Lou Girardin]

I don't have a problem with 16 at present. What cars there are are soon left behind.

[Gremlin]

agreed with Lou, although, some other "cars" might take objection to the overtaking if they keep frequenting the area...

GRAVEL??? ach laddie, none of that

Woodcocks is good, but if running the length of it, apparently there are now cops checking the area. In heavy rain etc you also have to watch out as there can be a serious amount of mud, flooding etc, so do not barrel down the road after storms, because you could have a very nasty surprise

[Motu]

I wander around in there a fair bit,these days I only use SH16 to link up roads.I see dotted lines on the map in the area north of Hoteo to Wayby,but have never found roads there...Getting friendly with farmers or locals might show up some paper roads.Also you can go west into the Port Albert area and come out at Te Hana,only a couple of km and then east off SH1.

[eliot-ness]

Always preferred getting up early myself. Head out about 7.30am at this time of the year. No traffic or cops to worry about. I can ride the whole length of SH 16 and rarely see a another bike or car. A bit misty some mornings but never too bad. Traffic is usually building up on the way home. Woodcocks is no problem if you can keep control of the right wrist in the few places where you are likely to get a ticket. As mentioned before watch for mud. A few clay patches a couple of days ago that could be worse now.

[Ixion]

Just for clarification - I was not planning to use Woodcocks Rd. Old Woodcocks Rd is a quite different road, runs north-south.

[rasty]

Well thanks Ixion - there goes my secret. Great bits on some of those roads. You can almost believe it is 1966 not 2006 (well, you canif you are already losing it which i suspect I am)

[Pixie]

What with the poxy gubbermint letting the secret about Sh16 out of the bag, there are so many Interchangeable Mabels using it now that soon it will be no better than SH1

So, I've been poring over the maps looking for an alternative.

So far, from Wellsford, going south I've come up with:

Wellsford to Tauhoa SH16. No way round this as far as I can see. Why oh why is there no road from Hoteo to Wayby. The railway runs between the two so why no road ? Or is there one, unmarked ? That railway isn't used any more, is it? Might be possible on a trail bike? Down the tracks.

Tauhoa , Tauhoa rd -> Hoteo -> Kaipara Flats

Old Woodcocks Rd -> Woodcocks -> West coast Rd -> Komokoriki

Burnside Rd -> Makarau

Makarau rd -> Haruru

Haruru Rd -> Wainui

Waitoki Rd -> Waitoki ->

Kahikatea Flat Rd -> Valley Rd (Is this opne to the public ?)

Ararimu Valley Rd (is this open to public, also) -> Waikoukou

Thence to Old North Rd , and back into Auckland.

Obviously, this route will be longer, and probably take longer.

But I'd rather have longer and slower and have the road to myself, or nearly so, rather than share with Mabel and Stan.

And I'm hoping that sections of this will still be gravel, which will keep Ethel away for a few years to come.And I don't mind gravel.

Can any locals comment on any problems? Or any roads that only exist on paper. Or any roads that exist but aren't on maps ? Or any other suggestions? Or any route from Hoteo to Wayby? And does anyone know if Valley Rd and Ararimu Valley Rd are open to the public?

One worry may be fuel, I don't know if there are any petrol stations along those roads.

Next fine weekend, I'll go exploring and report back!

No gas on those roads.You're talking banjo country here.
SH 16 gets a little busier on the weekend,but I still see almost as many bikes as cars (not many cars ) .
I'm counting about 1 car a minute at the moment (11:45 am Sunday)
I can go from KKK to Wellsford on a week day at noon and see no vehicles at all.

[Ixion]

Well, I went and checked it out. Though I did it south to north.It's pretty good - very good I thought.

I'll write up a report now.

I'm counting about 1 car a minute at the moment (11:45 am Sunday)

My point exactly. Anything over 1 car per hour I reckon is too many.

EDIT> Report on the road is Here