Kaipara Head and Pouto Point ride

**Waihou Thumper** · 25th January 2009, 06:43

Hi all knowledgeable ones...
I am planning on heading north next weekend

for a few days, managed to get a bit of time off finally...
Anyway, I want to ride up to Ninety mile beach and I was looking at the map and thought it would be great to do this ride if possible.
Can you ride the Pouto road all the way from Dargaville, down to the beach and then follow the beach all the way north to Baylys beach or EVEN further to Kai iwi lakes?

It looks like a great place for the adventure bike. I can then crash or sleep near the beach and head north the next day. I haven't worked out a route but will do lots of miles and take loads of pictures too.

If anyone has any information or good eats and camping spots, then let me know please, the main thing is whether the route is negotiable. It looks big enough out there and the beach looks wide!

Thanks

**paturoa** · 25th January 2009, 07:41

Yep the beach is very rideable on a trailie. Very safe for 3 hours each side of low tide, with flat hard sand.

The road from Dargaville to Pouto Point is fine, with the last 30 or so ks gravel. It goes straight onto the beach at the point.

It is one long beach from Pouto point right through to the bluff at the northern end. It is almost exactly 100km long.

There are several beach exits mostly at the northern end / half. The bluff itself (I haven't been there for years so don't know if the road access onto the beach still exists) and about 14km south of that is an access called Omamari (again haven't been there for years so don't know about the road access)

There is a good camp ground at Glinks Gully (about half way along the beach), and another at the Kai Iwi lakes themselves, with several in between.

Things to watch out for - speed limits near the settlements on the beach - They get very grumpy including the cops. A'hole fisher types who surf cast / kite fish / torpedo, and then walk back up the beach so that you would naturaly ride between them and the water and garotte (sp?) yourself.

Another thing to consider is which way the wind is blowing, I prefer to ride with the wind along that beach as the sea spray on the goggles is a major pain.

**Waihou Thumper** · 25th January 2009, 08:05

Great information, many thanks. Yep, I thought about the fishing thing too....I guess I will have to go higher up the beach if that is the case.
Looking forward to it...

Cheers

**CRM** · 25th January 2009, 19:35

Originally Posted by paturoa

There are several beach exits mostly at the northern end / half. The bluff itself (I haven't been there for years so don't know if the road access onto the beach still exists) and about 14km south of that is an access called Omamari (again haven't been there for years so don't know about the road access)
.

We were at Omamari a couple of months back - see pic below - good access off the beach then go north and it's just a quick step up to Kai Iwi Lakes. From what we could see Omamari is the only exit off the beach you can take to get to Kai Iwi Lakes.

NZKTM we're planning on a similar trip from Poutu to Cape soon so might see you on the way - or maybe post a ride report and some pics if you do it first and tell us the best places you find .

**Waihou Thumper** · 26th January 2009, 19:45

Originally Posted by CRM

We were at Omamari a couple of months back - see pic below - good access off the beach then go north and it's just a quick step up to Kai Iwi Lakes. From what we could see Omamari is the only exit off the beach you can take to get to Kai Iwi Lakes.

NZKTM we're planning on a similar trip from Poutu to Cape soon so might see you on the way - or maybe post a ride report and some pics if you do it first and tell us the best places you find .

I will be posting some photos, and thanks for the Omamari exit ramp....

to Kai Iwi lakes....
If the tides are right as Brian suggests, we can ride all the way North to Kawerua or Waipoua settlement....
Ninety mile beach is going to be fantastic!
I will keep you posted on this post, so stay tuned...
I got a mate coming now and he has the big 990 and I got the 640, so it will be a good contrast in stlyes and weight for the sand.

Mark

**Waihou Thumper** · 26th January 2009, 19:47

Originally Posted by CRM

We were at Omamari a couple of months back - see pic below - good access off the beach then go north and it's just a quick step up to Kai Iwi Lakes. From what we could see Omamari is the only exit off the beach you can take to get to Kai Iwi Lakes.

NZKTM we're planning on a similar trip from Poutu to Cape soon so might see you on the way - or maybe post a ride report and some pics if you do it first and tell us the best places you find .

We are leaving on Friday morning, up with the cows, nice and early....Hope to get to Kai-iwi at approx 4-5pm depending on tides etc

**ducatijim** · 27th January 2009, 07:11

Was there this weekend Mark!

No1....get your tide info RIGHT>>>>>you will NOT go north from Baylys on anything higher than 1/2 out thru low to 1/2 in. 3x rocky outcrops that extend well into the water!

You can happily leave the beach at Maunganui Bluff, just a very soft, steep pull up some DEEP sand>>>>>you can do it!

The rest of the trip:Poutu to Cape R is a cake walk, a kid can do it on a pit bike.

**Waihou Thumper** · 29th January 2009, 15:41

Originally Posted by ducatijim

Was there this weekend Mark!

No1....get your tide info RIGHT>>>>>you will NOT go north from Baylys on anything higher than 1/2 out thru low to 1/2 in. 3x rocky outcrops that extend well into the water!

You can happily leave the beach at Maunganui Bluff, just a very soft, steep pull up some DEEP sand>>>>>you can do it!

The rest of the trip:Poutu to Cape R is a cake walk, a kid can do it on a pit bike.

I hope we have the right information then...lol
If not, it will still be a nice ride North..
I will post some snaps when I am back...
Cheers!

**ducatijim** · 29th January 2009, 19:56

Originally Posted by NZKTM

I hope we have the right information then...lol...

Oh you do Mark, I've just given it to you M8!

High tide region also effects progress around the huge low lying area at North head near the lighthouse.

Go here Mark>> http://ofu.co.nz/webgraph/index.php

You will have a ball.

**jrandom** · 29th January 2009, 20:04

Originally Posted by NZKTM

Can you ride the Pouto road all the way from Dargaville, down to the beach and then follow the beach all the way north to Baylys beach or EVEN further to Kai iwi lakes?

You sure can. Make sure to check the tides though; unless it's low you'll be riding up through soft sand at the top of the beach.

While you're down at Pouto point, see how far up the dunes you can get, you should be able to ride straight up to the lighthouse on those bikes if you give them some stick.

(Just don't do what I did once and get your vehicle stuck up there as the tide comes in and the sun sets.)

There are some mint camping spots tucked in between the beach and the forestry along the Pouto peninsula. A bit difficult to find, mind you. Lovely little freshwater lake out back of the dunes about 20km south of Glinks.

I wish I still had a 4WD.

**Waihou Thumper** · 30th January 2009, 03:44

Originally Posted by jrandom

You sure can. Make sure to check the tides though; unless it's low you'll be riding up through soft sand at the top of the beach.

While you're down at Pouto point, see how far up the dunes you can get, you should be able to ride straight up to the lighthouse on those bikes if you give them some stick.

(Just don't do what I did once and get your vehicle stuck up there as the tide comes in and the sun sets.)

There are some mint camping spots tucked in between the beach and the forestry along the Pouto peninsula. A bit difficult to find, mind you. Lovely little freshwater lake out back of the dunes about 20km south of Glinks.

I wish I still had a 4WD.

Cheers for the information...
Might just try it!

**Waihou Thumper** · 30th January 2009, 03:46

Originally Posted by ducatijim

Oh you do Mark, I've just given it to you M8!

High tide region also effects progress around the huge low lying area at North head near the lighthouse.

Go here Mark>> http://ofu.co.nz/webgraph/index.php

You will have a ball.

Yep, I did work out som of the tides myself from a web page, but this one is a piece of cake!
Looking forward to this and it looks as though I can hit the right times in the morning and afternoon, perfect!
Thanks, my man....
Mark

**ducatijim** · 30th January 2009, 07:28

Oh and.....almost forgot>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Real important Mark>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Mind out for the QUICKSAND hollows down around the North head region, there are huge areas of sandhills to ride in/over around this area and very tempting....go for it, but......

KEEP CLEAR OF THE HOLLOWS!!

**CRM** · 30th January 2009, 09:38

Originally Posted by ducatijim

Oh and.....almost forgot>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Real important Mark>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Mind out for the QUICKSAND hollows down around the North head region, there are huge areas of sandhills to ride in/over around this area and very tempting....go for it, but......

KEEP CLEAR OF THE HOLLOWS!!

Yeah been there done that - over the handlebars and took four people to get the bike out...

So second that one.