Info about the Akatarawa forest needed

**dafydd roberts** · 18th November 2007, 03:42

Hi Everyone
I’m new to kiwi biker and will soon be moving to upper hut near Wellington from the Wales uk, Could anyone tell me what the terrain is like in Akatarawa forest? Also does anyone have pictures of the devils stair case and the rock garden? As I would be very interested in seeing this famous track. I will be arriving around Jan and if anyone has info on local clubs or were to ride other than what is in the forum or if anyone would be up for meeting up and doing some trail riding that would be greatly appreciated. My ride will be a crf250x 07 model.

Regards Dafydd

**jimbo600** · 18th November 2007, 07:57

Hello man man from wales. I have a good mate from wales who is a damn good fisherman. In fact he is at a national level. Of course when I explained this to the missus "yeah he fishes for Wales" she got the wrong idea and thought he was Japanese. True.

Anyway akatawara is awesome for off road riding. I don't have any pics of the rock garden and devils staircase, but I MTB them at times and I tell ya devils staircase is a bitch. I don't know how guys ride they're bikes up there I really don't. Takes he ages to climb up it with my MTB slung over my shoulder.

Found some pics

**Wasp** · 18th November 2007, 08:14

I've been in the back of a 4wd that went down and back up devils staircase

bloody scary - but my bro was driving

**Deano** · 18th November 2007, 08:26

I've gone down the staircase but the ruts were so deep we just clutched it and idled down it. Going up the rock garden was fun though.

**F5 Dave** · 19th November 2007, 13:33

Jimbo you dirty slut, you guys are almost nakid. Sickos.

The tracks around there are pretty rocky & there is a lot of 'transport sections'. It just gets a bit boring after you've done it a few times. The Staircase loop is a good ride, really you just roll down the case in stages. Then back up the rock garden is fine but only if it is dry, a bit of run up & section at a time & it is easy, a friend went up on an XT250 a few months back. But if you gak it up then yes it gets hard & better to roll back & try it again. Don't go in the wet. Or if it has been wet.

But the good news is there are heaps of organised trail rides in Wairapa Manuatu (1 - 2hrs drive) & they vary from good to gooder. Check out Silver Bullet -events page.

**Hitcher** · 19th November 2007, 20:27

Read all about the Akatarawa Forest Park here -- http://www.gw.govt.nz/section397.cfm

**xr-rider** · 20th November 2007, 16:50

Originally Posted by dafydd roberts

Hi Everyone
I’m new to kiwi biker and will soon be moving to upper hut near Wellington from the Wales uk, Could anyone tell me what the terrain is like in Akatarawa forest? Also does anyone have pictures of the devils stair case and the rock garden? As I would be very interested in seeing this famous track. I will be arriving around Jan and if anyone has info on local clubs or were to ride other than what is in the forum or if anyone would be up for meeting up and doing some trail riding that would be greatly appreciated. My ride will be a crf250x 07 model.

Regards Dafydd

Me and my dad ride up there nearly every weekend so we should be able to ride over to karapoti and meet up with you and take you round some awesome tracks when you get over here. i think it is the best stuff in NZ up there

**Blue Velvet** · 20th November 2007, 16:57

Originally Posted by xr-rider

Me and my dad ride up there nearly every weekend so we should be able to ride over to karapoti and meet up with you and take you round some awesome tracks when you get over here. i think it is the best stuff in NZ up there

Has Orange Hut been rebuilt yet?

**F5 Dave** · 20th November 2007, 16:58

Originally Posted by xr-rider

Me and my dad ride up there nearly every weekend so we should be able to ride over to karapoti and meet up with you and take you round some awesome tracks when you get over here. i think it is the best stuff in NZ up there

Is that right? What other areas have you ridden?
I'd like to do some riding in the South Island but how do you think it compares to the Wairarapa or to the Manuatu & where do you ride up there? What about to the central plateau?