Welly coastline route question.

[tri boy]

So I'm heading sth, and taking the Interislander on 7/2, and I'm seeking info on the unsealed road/track that travels around the Welly coastline from Wharekauhau to Baring Head.(and then going through Wainuiomata and out to Petone-hwy2, and to the ferry terminal).I thought it would be a nice ride down the western side of Lake Wairarapa.
Is it open to a fat scrambler, or should I give it a miss, and take the Rimutaka's into the terminal.

[Eddieb]

Someone more knowledgable will surely pipe up soon I'm sure but I believe theres a big chunk between Lake Wairarapa & Wainui thats private land and closed.

[Ocean1]

Yup, haven't done it in years but in theory it's verboten. There's always the "Queens chain" though, so it is navigable without trespassing, (depending on the condition of the beach). I wouldn't rely on it if time's an issue, save it for a later exploritory mission.

[tri boy]

thanks for the info. I'll leave it for another day.

[merv]

Usually very locked gates. 20 years ago you could go around there freely between Orongorongo Station and Ocean beach and even go up Orongorongo river valley but then the owners of the station got a bit anti and put up all those boundary fences stopping you getting to the beach even at the Wainui end.

I haven't been right around there since the 1992 Pukemanu Adventure Ride - maybe that's a sign no one can get access easily coz it was never used for subsequent rides.

[Hitcher]

So I'm heading sth, and taking the Interislander on 7/2, and I'm seeking info on the unsealed road/track that travels around the Welly coastline from Wharekauhau to Baring Head.(and then going through Wainuiomata and out to Petone-hwy2, and to the ferry terminal).I thought it would be a nice ride down the western side of Lake Wairarapa.
Is it open to a fat scrambler, or should I give it a miss, and take the Rimutaka's into the terminal.

Buy a better map. Or a hovercraft. There's no such road.

[tri boy]

So does that mean the gentlemen who posted previously to you Mr hitcher are living in a dream world?
Or is it that you will not regonise any path that massive Touring bikes can't handle?

[Hitcher]

A few farm tracks that meander in the general direction of the end of the Western Bay Road past Wharekauhau and the Wainuiomata Coast Road, most of which are across privately-owned land, do not a "road" make. There is no "paper" road or even a formed road.

The Wairarapa's first settlers 150 years ago herded their livestock along the foreshore at low tide. Things have progressed little, access-wise, in the intervening period. And a thing to be watchful of in the Wairarapa is "blue-water title", i.e. no Queen's chain or riparian margin.

[Wannabiker]

Can navigate it on a mountain bike only! Have to hike-a bike a couple of sections. Get the Kennett brothers book "Classic NZ Mountain bike rides" Good luck carrying your motorbike thru the washouts and throwing it across the gates!! Its a day expedition on a mountain bike. Do the Rimutakas...if you have some time spare ride up to the Akatarawa summit and have a coffee at Staglands Cafe on the way!

[Ocean1]

A few farm tracks that meander in the general direction of the end of the Western Bay Road past Wharekauhau and the Wainuiomata Coast Road, most of which are across privately-owned land, do not a "road" make. There is no "paper" road or even a formed road.

The Wairarapa's first settlers 150 years ago herded their livestock along the foreshore at low tide. Things have progressed little, access-wise, in the intervening period. And a thing to be watchful of in the Wairarapa is "blue-water title", i.e. no Queen's chain or riparian margin.

H, the road was indeed a genuine one as late as the mid eighties. What's more you could damn near do it on the FJR, on a good day. Many a Land Rover managed it without breaking a sweat, and certainly many a trail bike with even less effort.

I never did know what unusual riparian rights applied that allowed the farmer at the Orongoronga valley to effectively close it, but that's what happened. Pity, it was a great ride, still is, on a chook chaser, if you can navigate the wire fence at the Wainui end.

[Zukin]

A few farm tracks that meander in the general direction of the end of the Western Bay Road past Wharekauhau and the Wainuiomata Coast Road, most of which are across privately-owned land, do not a "road" make. There is no "paper" road or even a formed road.

The Wairarapa's first settlers 150 years ago herded their livestock along the foreshore at low tide. Things have progressed little, access-wise, in the intervening period. And a thing to be watchful of in the Wairarapa is "blue-water title", i.e. no Queen's chain or riparian margin.

Well may I suggest you research a little further
There "was" a paper road there, its just been washed away

But you are right, most of the Wairarapa coastline is owned to the blue water by the respective landowners

Seriously, you can get permission, I used to often go that way for a much more scenic route, they are generally obliging unless there is lambing etc
I can find the numbers for you if you like
let me know and I can PM them ( I have them somewhere)

And there is no low tide access, because of the huge shingle fans and rocks, as well as a monster steel gate that cannot be driven/ridden around because it is on a bluff

Oh and here is proof, of my last little jaunt in there 2 years ago maybe), they even let me up the top of the hill and I got permission from the local council to drive to the gate at Eastbourne

[Zukin]

So I'm heading sth, and taking the Interislander on 7/2, and I'm seeking info on the unsealed road/track that travels around the Welly coastline from Wharekauhau to Baring Head.(and then going through Wainuiomata and out to Petone-hwy2, and to the ferry terminal).I thought it would be a nice ride down the western side of Lake Wairarapa.
Is it open to a fat scrambler, or should I give it a miss, and take the Rimutaka's into the terminal.

When are you riding down?
If you are leaving home on the 5th, then the 6th is a Public holiday I can show you some roads down there?
Maybe even a Wonderful Waitangi Wairarapa ride

[tri boy]

Hi Scott,
Can't get out of the Waikato before early morning 7th, and that may be cutting it a bit fine for the 6.15 sailing that evening if I start wandering too far afield.
But I do like the sound of a ride round that coastline in the future.
Maybe late summer early Autumn before the weather totally packs up.
Got a pretty good route planned out of Ham, so I'm pretty happy to do the seal section from sth Palmy etc.
Thanks for the input. Sounds like you would be the perfect trail blazer for that ride