Roads: Featherston - Castlepoint?

**mashman** · 22nd January 2009, 17:57

Me und ein chum are thinkin about riding to Castle Point on sunday. Caged there a couple of years ago and from what I remember the roads were superb. The route we're thinking about is:

Martinborough - Longbush - Te Wharau - Whareama - Tinui - Castle Point

Does anyone have any local info on road works, ways not to go, fuel stops etc...

Cheers

**ElCoyote** · 22nd January 2009, 18:31

Originally Posted by mashman

Me und ein chum are thinkin about riding to Castle Point on sunday. Caged there a couple of years ago and from what I remember the roads were superb. The route we're thinking about is:

Martinborough - Longbush - Te Wharau - Whareama - Tinui - Castle Point

Does anyone have any local info on road works, ways not to go, fuel stops etc...

Cheers

Can't answer that precisely as my bike developed fuel surge every time it saw the Tin Hut. Stopped for an hour or so to let it sort itself out and back home no probs. Should I start a new thread to see why?

**gunrunner** · 22nd January 2009, 18:51

Originally Posted by mashman

Me und ein chum are thinkin about riding to Castle Point on sunday. Caged there a couple of years ago and from what I remember the roads were superb. The route we're thinking about is:

Martinborough - Longbush - Te Wharau - Whareama - Tinui - Castle Point

Does anyone have any local info on road works, ways not to go, fuel stops etc...

Cheers

martinborough would be good for fuel and that would be it til castlepoint if you are willing to pay thru the nose , there is a slip 3/4 the way there tho as i was there not so long ago - feckin windy but .

**Hitcher** · 22nd January 2009, 19:08

There's fuel to be had at the Castlepoint store.

The road is sealed all the way. Remember it's a country road and expect the unexpected.

And this is one of the better routes:

View Larger Map

**mashman** · 22nd January 2009, 19:34

Originally Posted by gunrunner

martinborough would be good for fuel and that would be it til castlepoint if you are willing to pay thru the nose , there is a slip 3/4 the way there tho as i was there not so long ago - feckin windy but .

I get about 150 - 170 on a brisk run out of the Prila as she's a hungry monster... hope they're open on a Sunday, hmmm

Originally Posted by hitcher

The road is sealed all the way. Remember it's a country road and expect the unexpected.

Killjoy

thanks for the alternate directions... I'll keep my eyes open as i'll likely be on point. Last time I saw the unexpected was someone making a porn movie, lights, cameras, nekkid ladies, the works in a layby in Scotland... twas a nice day though... although it's not route 1, at least it allows for a drop into Masterton for fuel, then at least I'm in with a fighting chane of getting back should Castlepoint be shut...

Ta Much...

**James Deuce** · 22nd January 2009, 19:44

Originally Posted by mashman

I get about 150 - 170 on a brisk run out of the Prila as she's a hungry monster... hope they're open on a Sunday, hmmm

Killjoy

thanks for the alternate directions... I'll keep my eyes open as i'll likely be on point. Last time I saw the unexpected was someone making a porn movie, lights, cameras, nekkid ladies, the works in a layby in Scotland... twas a nice day though... although it's not route 1, at least it allows for a drop into Masterton for fuel, then at least I'm in with a fighting chane of getting back should Castlepoint be shut...

Ta Much...

It's only a 125km round trip from Masterton to Castlepoint and back.

Take it easy too. The road surface is crap and if it's really hot the roads will be gritted.

**The Baron** · 22nd January 2009, 20:15

You have picked some good bike roads but I would gas up in Masterton. It is about 65km each way and you can get a bloody good coffee at the Castle point store. There are new toilets on the beach.
Enjoy you ride and treat the Castle point road with respect (gravel on corners and that sort of thing).

**mctshirt** · 23rd January 2009, 06:11

Roadworks between Triangle (Langdale Rd turn off to Whareama) and Tinui - 50m dip in the road covered in gravel - don't ignore the sign!

Patchs of new seal with loose stones at the top of the big saddle (last big hill before Whakataki Pub when you get to the coast)

Short section of the southern end of Longbush Rd and the whole Lees-Pakaraka Rd are narrow so leave a bit of room for oncoming traffic which will be around.

I prefer the Ponatahi Rd between Masterton and Martinborough which gives you the option of a break at the Gladstone Pub or going through Masterton for gas. Most of the roads connect round Gladstone.

Alternative to Lees-Pakaraka Rd would be Korarau Hillclimb Rd (look for the tower), turn left at the bottom on the other side, left again at the school which takes you back to Castlepoint Rd on eastern side of Masterton.