Sealing of the Tangarakau Gorge

[Gezza]

I was travelling from Taumranui to Stratford in the weekend and got to think that it's about time that stretch of road was sealed. Shit ....Wer'e only talking about 18km,s of seal here so i don't think it would break the bank. I'm not sure on this info but apparently this stretch of road is both in the Ruapehu and Taranaki boundries and that Ruapehu have sealed there end but Taranaki won't spend the money. Who know's??? I don't know how many bikes,cars and tourist vehicles go throught this route but it sure seems that it's popular with all. This would have to be Taranaki's most scenic road i would imagine, and what a fantasic ride. C'mon Taranaki let's get our act together.

[Hitcher]

Gezza, it's only the lack of seal that keeps the effing campervans off this stretch of road. There's enough road lice for the state highways without making it easier for them to pollute perfectly good biker roads.

[Gezza]

Yeah i suppose Hitcher.Point taken. Just pisses me off when i ride through there and hit the 18km's of metal. I hear what your'e saying about the road lice.

[STJim]

Yeah i suppose Hitcher.Point taken. Just pisses me off when i ride through there and hit the 18km's of metal. I hear what your'e saying about the road lice.

I am certain that it's only 13Km's. Usually well packed down and easy to handle

[Oscar]

There's far too much of this seal nonsense being put on our roads.
Spoils all the fun...

[MaxB]

Heard a while back that the reason it wasn't sealed above Tahora was that it was reserve/Crown land and needed different consents etc. Then it goes into the too hard basket.

[Hitcher]

Heard a while back that the reason it wasn't sealed above Tahora was that it was reserve/Crown land and needed different consents etc. Then it goes into the too hard basket.

If that were true, then there would be vast tracts of unsealed highways throughout New Zealand.

[PeteJ]

It would be such a shame if that were to be sealed.

I broke 12 spokes in the back wheel of a GT550 Suzuki through there in about 1973.

I bet it's easier now than then.

[Motu]

The whole road wasn't sealed back then - it really was the forgotten highway.I drove for hours and wondered if I'd get out.I wasn't on a bike,but had one in the back of my ute.

[pritch]

The first time I went through SH43 it was in an Army truck and most of the road was unsealed. That was probably the right vehicle for the job back then.

Last time I went right through, eighteen months or so ago, the difference between the King Country maintained end of the route and the Taranaki end was quite marked. And not in the latter's favour.