Maratoto

[rogerh]

AKA the wires track. Not normally a big bike friendly track at all, but just at the moment from the car park up to the Tairua river (only a stream really, and the hut just past it) has had a digger through there. (Mucho thanks to the 4WD club) It is an opportunity to go where normally only enduro bikes can go.

The rest of the tracks up there are still way too knarly for most things on two wheels (still real hard work on the Husaberg. Take ropes and a lifting crew….. See DOC’s comments here (.pdf). Don’t attempt the Waipaheke. Even on an enduro bike at the moment!) but the 5 or 6 km up to the hut is positively accessible for a change. There is a $5 fee to pay into the honesty box down at the corner, (to pay for the digger) so cough up, but if you are looking for somewhere different, with a few knarly bits off the side to keep you entertained, and to see where the serious enduro nutters hone their skills, it is worth a visit.

Lots of slippery clay, so dry weather only unless you are keen.

Have fun.

[Oscar]

AKA the wires track. Not normally a big bike friendly track at all, but just at the moment from the car park up to the Tairua river (only a stream really, and the hut just past it) has had a digger through there. (Mucho thanks to the 4WD club) It is an opportunity to go where normally only enduro bikes can go.

The rest of the tracks up there are still way too knarly for most things on two wheels (still real hard work on the Husaberg. Take ropes and a lifting crew….. See DOC’s comments here (.pdf). Don’t attempt the Waipaheke. Even on an enduro bike at the moment!) but the 5 or 6 km up to the hut is positively accessible for a change. There is a $5 fee to pay into the honesty box down at the corner, (to pay for the digger) so cough up, but if you are looking for somewhere different, with a few knarly bits off the side to keep you entertained, and to see where the serious enduro nutters hone their skills, it is worth a visit.

Lots of slippery clay, so dry weather only unless you are keen.

Have fun.

Ahhhh Maratoto - did an Enduro there once (and amazingly enough, finished). I think the whole thing was less than 80km's and it still took 4 or 5 hours.

Prior to that we used to pop over there from time to time. As you say, coming down the Waipaheke on yer IT200 was always interesting - I found out that when your arse puckers enough the vacuum created will slow you down...

[Waihou Thumper]

I went out exploring that two weeks ago. I got to the end of the road by the quarry and turned around. I remember walking it with the dogs, there was a little car park and a gate with the honesty box there. there were loads of tracks...Before I went there, on the way home I came through Waihi, so had a looksie at the other end of the road...
I followed the road until a reservoir, it was a dead end. Nice road and all tar sealed but narrow.

[rogerh]

Ahhhh Maratoto - did an Enduro there once

Holy crap! Not sure I would want to do a speed event in there. I am happy to just survive still breathing and vertical. Good for when you feel like a challenge tho... I like it, but I am also smart enough to know when to turn back.

Don't attempt anything that looks like you can only manage it one way

DAMHIK

[Oscar]

Holy crap! Not sure I would want to do a speed event in there. I am happy to just survive still breathing and vertical. Good for when you feel like a challenge tho... I like it, but I am also smart enough to know when to turn back.

Don't attempt anything that looks like you can only manage it one way

DAMHIK

Believe me, it wasn't a speed event

[andy mac]

Hi Roger, did you take your son YZ85 on this ride? Isn't that parental abuse?

[rogerh]

Didn't take him that time, but he has been in there a couple of times. Sticks to the main track up to the river. Anything too far off that and I am on my own. He likes it more than me, so I am not quite sure who is abusing who