Best route from Wanganui to Wellington?

**Zapf** · 9th November 2004, 22:39

Hi, Can someone tell me what is the best motorcycleing route from Wanganui to Wellington specially when you are not pressed for time and want a good ride?

I assuming following SH3 all the way to Palmerston North, then?

either go down SH57 and joing up with SH1 and it gets boring right?

or hope across from SH57 to SH2 then SH58 to SH1 and then Wellington?

Thanks all in adv. This trip will be done on a Sat morning so what is the traffic going to be like?

LB · 10th November 2004, 04:40

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Wanganui-Palm'n SH3. McCafe in Rangitikei Street or the Square for a nice coffee.

Follow signs to Manawatu Gorge, turn right at Akoutere (sp?) and go over Pahiatua Track. (note: the sign for the Track is very close to the intersection, you don't get much warning)

Follow nose to SH2 (there's a couple of not-too-clear intersections, but you'll end up on SH2 either way), take detour around Masterton, go over Rimutakas, follow SH2 to bottom of Ngaurunga Gorge where it merges with SH1, then you're virtually in Wgtn.

Sat morning the traffic shouldn't be bad at all.

Call into Wgtn M/cycles if you're early enough - they're open till around 12.30/1.00pm (WT you may like to clarify this?)

What time will you be in Wgtn? We may be out riding on Sat avo, could meet up at the top of the Takas if that fits in with your timing?
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**Hooks** · 10th November 2004, 05:59

Originally Posted by Zapf

Hi, Can someone tell me what is the best motorcycleing route from Wanganui to Wellington specially when you are not pressed for time and want a good ride?

I assuming following SH3 all the way to Palmerston North, then?

either go down SH57 and joing up with SH1 and it gets boring right?

or hope across from SH57 to SH2 then SH58 to SH1 and then Wellington?

Thanks all in adv. This trip will be done on a Sat morning so what is the traffic going to be like?

You coming down this weekend ?? What time are ya aiming to be Palmy ?? I could do with a blat to Welly for the day so you could give me a yell when you get here .... PM me for my phone numbers if you're keen ...

**Paul in NZ** · 10th November 2004, 11:40

You will need a map but from Wanganui go inland to Fordell

Then to Kauangaroa, Mangahoe and come out onto SHW1 at Hunterville. (this bit is bloody magical - well worth the effort)

Ignore your instincts and head north to the Vinegar Hill turn off (right if headed north) This bit is kinda boring

Follow SHW 54 to Fielding, Bunnythorpe and Ashhurst. Look for a sign near Ashhurst for the herb Farm for lunch. GREAT riding

From Ashhurst turn left across the big bridge then turn right onto SHW 57A, then 57 through Shannon coming out at SHW1 south of levin. OK riding, watch for cops.

Shw1 all the way down (boring) Turn half your brain off.

We are in the book in Raumati if you get stuck

Paul Nuttridge

**JohnBoy** · 10th November 2004, 16:50

if your got time either pop over to martin then go up to the start of vinegar hill, (sh54) follow into palmy, go through the manawatu gorge down sh2 to masterton over the rima's then over the aka's to waikanae down sh1 to paekakariki, over the paekak hill, take the road from pauatahanui to parematta (northern side of porirua harbour) back to sh1 and follow into wellywood.
that would porbably be the longest and most action route to go, will take you a fair time but will cover some of the best roads in the lower north isl.
if you can only do a few, do either the rima's or the Paekak hill. those are must.
happy motoring!

**Zapf** · 10th November 2004, 21:48

Ok I have planned the most optimistic route... don't know if I'll be able to do all of it, as it might be ? 500+ k's?

Start at Wanganui
Fordell
Kauangarea
Mangaonoho
Vinegar Hill
Feilding
Bunnythorpe
Ashhurst (Hopefully finds Herb farm)
Aokautere
Pahiatua
detour around Masterton
Featherston
Birchville
(See if I am tired, if so head for Wellington)
If not then Waikanae
Paekakariki
Pauatahanui
SH1
Wellington

What do you guys recon? how long is that going to take me? doing the legal limit?

Paul in NZ, my only questions would be getting from Kauangaroa to Hunterville? is that a sealed road? I assume that road is L.Maungaratoiti ?

Hooks, will be cool / keen to meet up. Will be nice to be showed the local roads

and a riding buddy for the trip.

.... so begins the grand trek!

tkns all.! :spudwave:

**JohnBoy** · 10th November 2004, 21:53

Originally Posted by Zapf

What do you guys recon? how long is that going to take me? doing the legal limit?

well, a while i would think. i know that if you decide to go from upper hutt over to waikanae and into welly via paekak hill that alone will be about 1 - 2 hours. (if you go straight through about 40 min to welly)

**Zapf** · 10th November 2004, 22:00

ermm... Route map book says...

Wanganui to Palmerston 1h 10m direct
Palmerston to Woodville 30m direct
Woodville to Wellington 3h direct...

oh and any wet / slimey / gravel bits I need to watch out for?

..... ?

**Hooks** · 11th November 2004, 05:51

What time are you planning on leaving ?? I can meet you in Hunterville if you like and bring you over a couple of good twisties into Palmy then we could do the Pahiatua Track and on to the Rimutukas and maybe catch some of the Welly bunch up top ....

**Bonez** · 11th November 2004, 06:06

I might be in for a bit of a tiki tour too. Got some extra petrol money this week

**Paul in NZ** · 11th November 2004, 07:19

Originally Posted by Zapf

Ok I have planned the most optimistic route... don't know if I'll be able to do all of it, as it might be ? 500+ k's?

Start at Wanganui
Fordell
Kauangarea
Mangaonoho

What do you guys recon? how long is that going to take me? doing the legal limit?

Paul in NZ, my only questions would be getting from Kauangaroa to Hunterville? is that a sealed road? I assume that road is L.Maungaratoiti ?

:

Yes, it's well sealed all the way. (could be storm damage)

If you look at the map there are a ton of roads around there but the route described is the bigger road. From memory ther is only one tricky turn off (ok one I stuffed up last time) and it quickly became apparent it was a wrong choice so it added 3 minutes an a bit of hillarity.

The Fordell bit is kinda boring as the country there is a bit dire anyway.

The rest swoops through some magic little valley settlements etc. real Kiwi heartland stuff... Take a camera.

We took some yanks through there a while back and they were stopping every 100yd for pictures. Hilarious!

On the Vinegar hill road, stop at the Stormy Point lookout if it's fine. 360 degree views.

have fun.

**Zapf** · 11th November 2004, 11:17

Originally Posted by Hooks

What time are you planning on leaving ?? I can meet you in Hunterville if you like and bring you over a couple of good twisties into Palmy then we could do the Pahiatua Track and on to the Rimutukas and maybe catch some of the Welly bunch up top ....

Yea that would be great. Perhaps at 9:30?

What is your cellphone number? will txt you tomorrow to confirm aya

**Zapf** · 11th November 2004, 11:18

Originally Posted by Bonez

I might be in for a bit of a tiki tour too. Got some extra petrol money this week

yes plz come along. more the merrier! my cellphone is 029 241 0185

**Zapf** · 11th November 2004, 11:19

Originally Posted by Paul in NZ

Yes, it's well sealed all the way. (could be storm damage)

If you look at the map there are a ton of roads around there but the route described is the bigger road. From memory ther is only one tricky turn off (ok one I stuffed up last time) and it quickly became apparent it was a wrong choice so it added 3 minutes an a bit of hillarity.

The Fordell bit is kinda boring as the country there is a bit dire anyway.

The rest swoops through some magic little valley settlements etc. real Kiwi heartland stuff... Take a camera.

We took some yanks through there a while back and they were stopping every 100yd for pictures. Hilarious!

On the Vinegar hill road, stop at the Stormy Point lookout if it's fine. 360 degree views.

have fun.

thanks Paul