Auckland to 'Naki, best route?

**Toast** · 13th September 2006, 11:59

Hi all.

I’m heading down to the Inglewood on Friday, leaving Akl.

Just been looking at wises, and it seems like the most direct way is:

SH1

SH39

SH37

SH3

SH3A

Can anyone propose a better route? i.e. less traffic, nicer corners, less HP, etc.

I don’t want to take too long, ‘cos I’ve got to be there before 10am, but I might be able to fit any recommended roads in to the return journey.

Thanks in advance

**Racey Rider** · 13th September 2006, 12:24

Just for your info, it takes two hours from Te Kuiki to NP or Ingelwood traveling at the speed limit. There shouldn't be much traffic at that time of the morning, so cruising at a 'reasonable' speed should see you cut that by 20 minutes or so.
Have a good one.
Racey

**pritch** · 13th September 2006, 12:55

Not sure about that SH37?
It's a nice road but it's a big detour.

SH1 to Ngauruawahia, right immediately after the BP station, then left just after crossing the railway line onto SH 39. These days this is all well signposted.
Join SH3 at Otorohanga and stay on it until the junction with 3A.

Going home, if you feel creative, you could turn left at Stratford onto SH 43 to Taumarunui then across to the junction with 32 at Kuratau and ride up the west shore of Taupo (not that you see much of the lake) to Whakamaru. You then have a choice of roads to take you back to SH1 and home.

All of these roads (except SH1) are recommended rides in the NZ Motorcycle Atlas.

Have fun

**inlinefour** · 13th September 2006, 13:07

Originally Posted by Toast

Hi all.

I’m heading down to the Inglewood on Friday, leaving Akl.

Just been looking at wises, and it seems like the most direct way is:

SH1

SH39

SH37

SH3

SH3A

Can anyone propose a better route? i.e. less traffic, nicer corners, less HP, etc.

I don’t want to take too long, ‘cos I’ve got to be there before 10am, but I might be able to fit any recommended roads in to the return journey.

Thanks in advance

I'm going far north from the naki on Friday in my van with bikes in the back. I'll be using the bypass from Otorahunga to Ngawahia, which I think is the better/quicker route to follow. If I see ya I'll wave. Watch out for that Inglewoodites though, hillbillys live there...

**skelstar** · 13th September 2006, 13:10

A naki-native mate of mine calls Inglewood 'Mingle-blood'. Cracked me up everytime I heard it.

**SlashWylde** · 13th September 2006, 13:18

Originally Posted by pritch008

Not sure about that SH37?
It's a nice road but it's a big detour.

SH1 to Ngauruawahia, right immediately after the BP station, then left just after crossing the railway line onto SH 39. These days this is all well signposted.
Join SH3 at Otorohanga and stay on it until the junction with 3A.

That's the route I've used in the past to get to Inglewood. Its fairly direct and scenic too.

**Toast** · 13th September 2006, 13:23

Yo Pritch, is SH39 really that big a detour?

From the map here, it doesn't look, distance wise, like it's much greater than SH1 or 1B.

Is there a lot of small towns or something?

**Motu** · 13th September 2006, 13:26

Get off SH1 at Rangiriri.I know lots of interesting ways to NP,but I don't think you'll like some of them.....

**Toast** · 13th September 2006, 13:32

Originally Posted by Motu

Get off SH1 at Rangiriri.I know lots of interesting ways to NP,but I don't think you'll like some of them.....

Yeah, you're right mate. 180 section rear tyres don't dig in to the gravel and drive too well. Not the right tool...

**sAsLEX** · 13th September 2006, 13:39

Originally Posted by Toast

Yo Pritch, is SH39 really that big a detour?

From the map here, it doesn't look, distance wise, like it's much greater than SH1 or 1B.

Is there a lot of small towns or something?

39 is faster than 1! No really a detour more an alternate. Get off 1 at Rangariri like Motu said.

You could always get off 1 at ridge road and go down 22!

**Toast** · 13th September 2006, 13:47

Ooops, apologies to Pritch, he said 37, not 39...

Can't see how else you get to SH3 though?

**Beemer** · 13th September 2006, 13:52

Originally Posted by skelstar

A naki-native mate of mine calls Inglewood 'Mingle-blood'. Cracked me up everytime I heard it.

Be careful - isn't one of our esteemed mods from that (red) neck of the woods?

**skelstar** · 13th September 2006, 13:55

Mr H?

10c

**Fishy** · 13th September 2006, 13:55

Originally Posted by pritch008

SH1 to Ngauruawahia, right immediately after the BP station, then left just after crossing the railway line onto SH 39. These days this is all well signposted.
Join SH3 at Otorohanga and stay on it until the junction with 3A.

This is the best way Toast.