Round the Ruahine Range Ride

**bart** · 12th January 2009, 20:56

I'd been wanting to ride the Taihape/Napier road for a long time, so decided to do a lap of the Ruahine Ranges, keeping as close to the hills as my shit fuel range would allow.

The first leg, on Saturday, was just Dannevirke to Napier, where I stayed for the weekend. There are some nice roads out the back of Norsewood and around the Blackburn area. I'll have to spend more time looking around there.

Today I left Napier and headed through to Taihape. What an awesome road. The gravel parts are as wide as a highway, and I was easily doing the speed limit

. Power sliding around big sweeping corners was a breeze.

Some major sealing going on in there now. Bye bye gravel

Greasy pie at Taihape, and it was back into the hills. Some awesome gravel sections on the way to Apiti (for more fuel). From there I hit Pohangina Valley East Road and up Takapari Road. Takapari is supposed to take you to the top of the range with awesome views. Just my luck, I was in the clouds by the top, so couldn't see 10 feet in front of me. Cool track anyway, and I'll try again on a nicer day.

From there it was back down to Ashurst, over the saddle road and home.

530km, 10 hours riding, and a hell of a sore arse.

Anyone keen on an RRRR adventure? I'm thinking do it the other way around. Woodville - Taihape - Napier (stay the night) - leisurely cruise back to Woodville and finish up Whariti.

**Paladin** · 12th January 2009, 22:55

Nice pics Bart!

This country has some damn fine places to ride doesn't it! Pic 2 is awesome. All around the country the ADV riders have some kind of decent riding on their doorstep, bloody wicked! I'm just thankful I got to move here, sure beats the pants off the UK!

No DRZ400 for my next bike then; had enough of sore arses on my KLX!!!!

**marks** · 13th January 2009, 06:54

Originally Posted by bart

Anyone keen on an RRRR adventure? I'm thinking do it the other way around. Woodville - Taihape - Hastings (stay the night) - leisurely cruise back to Woodville and finish up Whariti.

kewl

count me in

done it before and its awesome

**bart** · 13th January 2009, 08:46

I'm thinking about April. I'm pretty well booked up through Feb and March.

Awesome views. Most of the trip is easy with the exception of Takapari road.

Stayed at Hastings Top 10 Holiday park on the HBAR. They have brilliant facilities, so perhaps stay there, or the Napier one is supposed to be nice also.

People from any direction could join/leave the ride as they wish.

Perhaps Ashurst could be a better starting point, as day one is a long way, and it'd be nice to have plenty of stops.

**bart** · 13th January 2009, 09:01

Originally Posted by Paladin

Nice pics Bart!

This country has some damn fine places to ride doesn't it! Pic 2 is awesome. All around the country the ADV riders have some kind of decent riding on their doorstep, bloody wicked! I'm just thankful I got to move here, sure beats the pants off the UK!

No DRZ400 for my next bike then; had enough of sore arses on my KLX!!!!

I'm just blowen away by what you find when you start exploring down the little back roads. We are very lucky.

As for the bike.............watch this space. The old V8 that sits in the shed and doesn't get used, may have to go

.................to make way for something orange

**GSers** · 13th January 2009, 16:01

Awesome views. Most of the trip is easy with the exception of Takapari road.

Bart great pictures How bad was Takapari Road I was going to have a look up there this long weekend.
Do you think the whale will make it up there OK or will I need a Kawasaki to get me there.

Regards GSers aka Gerard

**bart** · 13th January 2009, 17:40

Takapari was quite easy. Got a bit wet towards the top, but no real drama on an absolutely rooted TKC80 rear, and a worn out, no brand, "not for highway use", knobbly on the front.

The only annoying thing were these bloody toitoi bushes hanging over the truck. Ducking out of the way of these causes you to stop looking at the track.

You made it through the Makairo, so you won't have any problems on Takapari on your Beemer.

**junkmanjoe** · 13th January 2009, 19:01

hi i be keen to tag along, about time i ventured a little further from home.

**marks** · 13th January 2009, 21:44

how far can you go in Takapari Rd? - I thought there was a doc gate before the hut at the top?

**andy mac** · 13th January 2009, 23:14

This trip sounds perfect for the Transalp, so count me in.

**bart** · 14th January 2009, 09:00

Originally Posted by marks

how far can you go in Takapari Rd? - I thought there was a doc gate before the hut at the top?

I didn't quite go all the way, as visibility was poor, and I was getting a wet arse (I was actually more concerned about my new camera gear getting wet). I got a long way in though as the foliage had turned to little waste high scrubby shit instead of big trees, so I must have been on top of the range. The sign on the gate said 11km to A Frame hut, so I'm guessing I got about 8km in.

Next really fine day, I might have another go at it.

**BMWST?** · 14th January 2009, 09:16

So the napier taihape is a typical kiwi gravel road??So ok for a road bike?

**bart** · 14th January 2009, 09:54

Originally Posted by BMWST?

So the napier taihape is a typical kiwi gravel road??So ok for a road bike?

I wouldn't quite call this typical. Most kiwi gravel roads are 2 wheel tracks with a mound of gravel in the middle and on either side. If you're real lucky there's grass growing in the middle, and you almost skin your knuckles on the fence posts as you go past.

Road bike should be fine on the Taihape road.

**bart** · 14th January 2009, 10:37

OK, the plan so far.

Date = March 7th and 8th (secondary option 4th and 5th April - daylight saving ends this weekend)

Start = Ashurst (early)

Saturday = Ride north up Pohangina Valley, with a side trip up Takapari road (this will require good knobbly tyres if wet). Fuel at Apiti. Back roads through to Taihape for lunch. Ride over the Taihape/Napier road to Napier (about 140km without fuel).

Stay = Kennedy Park top 10 resort Napier. Restaurant and bar on site.

Sunday = Ride south to Woodville keeping close to the hills. Ride up Whariti for lookout. Over saddle road to finish at Ashurst.

If we get good weather, there will be spectacular views.

This will be a leisurely ride with many stops. 60% winding Seal, 35% gravel, 5% difficult track.

How many takers? I'll post up a new thread and calender thing if sufficient interest.

Bart