North Island tracks?

[greerADV]

Some of you may remember a post I put up some time ago about my Bluff to Cape Reinga trip.

I started in Wanaka, made it to Bluff, and came up the east coast via a few mountain passes and just did the Molesworth and Rainbow with everyone last Wednesday.

I am now in Picton and catching the ferry tomorrow to start my push to the top of the north island. Problem is, I hardly know any of the tracks that would suit my ride. I'm looking for mostly point to point tracks up the east side of the island going north, and the west side coming down. I do have a full load (around 30kg) I'm carrying with me and this is something I have to take into consideration.

I'm not opposed to doing loops, as long as there is a purpose (ie, something to see along the way.) Any must-see locations/beaches/forests/mountains etc. would also be appreciated. Other than stops on the Coromandel, Auckland, and Bay of Islands, I don't have much of a plan. Does anyone have suggestions of some tracks I can ride along the way?

Thanks for any and all help!

Cheers
Andrew

[clint640]

OK, I'll have a go...

Head over the Rimutakas & out to Palliser bay & Ngawi for a look, (maybe stay at Lake Ferry) then just try & stay as close to the coast as possible on the way up, you'll find plenty of gravel, have a look at Castlepoint, on to Napier, turn inland via the Napier-Taihape Rd, Desert Rd (a look up the Tukino skifield rd is good) go up through Taupo towards Rotorua, turn East up Hwy38 through the Urewera Nat Park to Wairoa, round East Cape, A loop up the Motu & back down the Waioeka is good - Coromandel is good - ride right up both sides, Auckland, then just stick to the coast again North.

Same again heading South down the West side, if you hug the coast you'll find lots of good stuff. A bit of an inland diversion after Awakino through the backroads to Whangamomona is cool, then hit the coast again (some of the upper circumferential route around Mt Taranaki is good too) & it's all good 'til you have to get back on hwy 1 at Bulls.

If you want somewhere to stay 'round Rotorua let us know - plenty of room at my place.

Cheers
Clint

[Grub]

PM Zukin as he and his family road the coastline - described here.

It was an outstanding effort, well researched and executed.

[Frodo]

Sent you a PM with photos of a trip around the North Island I did last month. I found the NZ Motorcycle Atlas to be useful (but not quite as helpful as tips from Kiwibikers).

Cheers

[marks]

Sent you a PM with photos of a trip around the North Island I did last month. I found the NZ Motorcycle Atlas to be useful (but not quite as helpful as tips from Kiwibikers).

Cheers

so where do we get to read about your trip then?
(I enjoyed your south island trip report)

[T.I.E]

were do you start? (north of auckland)
dargaville through to the big kauri tree, or the middle road to kaikohe twin bridges?
maybe east old russel road. oh so many choices. best ya give us a ring when ya in auckland. can give ya a bit of a tour and point ya in the right direction.
depends on what ya wanna see.
027 457 9427. give me some warning if ya can.
cheers andrew

[greerADV]

My internet use has been extremely limited. I have a countdown from 5mins as I type this!

But thank you to everyone that has passed along route info and tracks. Even got a couple PMs and invites for places to crash for a night.

When internet is once again more plenitful (and cheap!) I hope to post a ride report for both islands. Thanks again!

Andrew

[cooneyr]

Sorry to hijack the thread but any of your norf islanders got any kml or gps files of adventure routes. After data for my new web site (see my signature).

greerADV - you didnt happen to carry a GPS with you on this ride did you???? Would really like some data files if you did

Cheers R