My trip plan: Auckland to Cape Palliser 17-26 March (including the RRRR)

[.chris]

Hey guys, this is my rough plan for my trip.
Pretty low km days by design, will be looking for plenty of good rivers for swimming along the way as I expect the weather to be nice and hot.

What I am after is a bit of community input into my plans, I do not know this area of NZ very well and these locations/routes are just from what I have done/remember others talking about.
Any suggestions for better spots/routes/POI's would be much appreciated.
Also if anyone is keen to join me for any portion/destination/guided tour of your local spots that would also be appreciated.
My preference is for backwoods camping, the more remote the better. I love camping beside rivers. 22nd/23rd are still entirely open, not sure what to do, but figure there i something to do around that region.

Oh that reminds me, there have been a few photos of people getting down onto the beach at the bottom of the north island somewhere, some tight rock V formation access (for some reason hells gate rings a bell?), always wanted to check that out. Any idea where that is/what I am talking about?

• day1 18th
  Auckland to Minginui (Whiniraki riverside camp site).
  POI/Detours: Leslie Road
  
• day2 19th
  Minginui to Mangatutu Hot Springs, Kaweka Forest via Waikeremoana
  POI/Detours:Aniwaniwa Road/Stream, Waihi Rd
  
• day 3 20th
  Kaweka Forest to Kiriwhakapapa Camp site, Masterton (Tararua Forest Park)
  
• day 4 21st
  Masterton to Sutherlands Hut then Cape Paliser/Putangirua Pinnacles campsite
  Or stay at Sutherlands hut? Is that even an option?
  
• day 5 22nd
  ????????
  
• day 6 23rd
  ???????? - Piripiri campsite (near Woodville for start of RRRR).
  
• day 6 24th
  RRRR day 1
  
• day 7 25th
  RRRR day 2 - back to Kaweka Forest or wherever group ends up?
  
• day 8/9 26/27th
  back to Auckland, probably an overnight camp somewhere on the way home (Minginui/Pueroa Forest maybe?)
  

[Eddieb]

Sutherlands Hut is possible, it's very basic and runs on the DOC ticketing system for a bed

http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-rec...therlands-hut/

Interestingly, according to this site: http://www.tramper.co.nz/?5531 access is also possible from the pinnacles carpark with permission. I wonder where that goes.

[bart]

Never heard of Piripiri campsite, however there is an area (and road) called Piripiri just north of Dannevirke.

I could offer you a bed and a beer on the Friday if you want anyway. The beer fridge is always full....

[.chris]

Never heard of Piripiri campsite, however there is an area (and road) called Piripiri just north of Dannevirke.

I could offer you a bed and a beer on the Friday if you want anyway. The beer fridge is always full....

Apparnetly it is just past Takapari Road.
But your place with beer sounds pretty good to me. Offer appreciated and accepted

[GSers]

Sutherlands Hut is possible, it's very basic and runs on the DOC ticketing system for a bed

http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-rec...therlands-hut/

Interestingly, according to this site: http://www.tramper.co.nz/?5531 access is also possible from the pinnacles carpark with permission. I wonder where that goes.

C-Nut hill of course. I think it could take a while to get from the pinnacles through to Sutherlands by foot.
GSers

[.chris]

C-Nut hill of course. I think it could take a while to get from the pinnacles through to Sutherlands by foot.
GSers

Not sure if I like the idea of going down or even up Cnut hill with full luggage. Might be more a in-out trip to Sutherlands hut, but interesting to know you can get in from the other side (thanks Eddie), might be worth a ride up just to see how it pans out.

[bart]

Apparnetly it is just past Takapari Road.
But your place with beer sounds pretty good to me. Offer appreciated and accepted

I didn't say it was good beer...

I just thought by then you might need to run a spanner over that high maintenance hussy of yours

[Eddieb]

C-Nut hill of course. I think it could take a while to get from the pinnacles through to Sutherlands by foot.
GSers

I thought CNUT was on the opposite side of the valley

[Box'a'bits]

I thought CNUT was on the opposite side of the valley

Nope, Cnut links Sutherlands to the Pinnacles. Chris, think of the Kudos if you could make it with luggage where all the Wellington guys have (mostly) failed.

Hells Gate is at Red Rocks, on the South Coast of Wellington. Can't ride it on a Sunday. Its a shortish there & back ride, a bit similar to Ocean Beach.

If you've time, you should get MarkS or Andy Mac to give you a guided tour of the Maungatooks. 'O' for awesome in there.

[.chris]

I didn't say it was good beer...

I just thought by then you might need to run a spanner over that high maintenance hussy of yours

Nah I am leaving her at home, just me and the 690 this time :P

[.chris]

Nope, Cnut links Sutherlands to the Pinnacles. Chris, think of the Kudos if you could make it with luggage where all the Wellington guys have (mostly) failed.

Hells Gate is at Red Rocks, on the South Coast of Wellington. Can't ride it on a Sunday. Its a shortish there & back ride, a bit similar to Ocean Beach.

If you've time, you should get MarkS or Andy Mac to give you a guided tour of the Maungatooks. 'O' for awesome in there.

I have already seen Cnut hill from the bottom, it seemed quite scary, I would hate to imagine an attempt with luggage. I do think I would prefer to go up it than down.

I guess the problem is I am tripping around the place mid-week, getting pepole to join me might be tough.
On that note I do enjoy riding solo. But with things like Cnut hill, I would be unlikely to have a crack at her if I was there solo.

[.chris]

My plan remains pretty much unchanged (other than the 23rd evening at Bart's luxury accommodation with free beer).

Now all I need to do is work every waking moment untill I go.
And find all the gear I need to take, then workout exactly which parts of that gear I need to take/can fit in.

[pomgolian]

Hey Chris still planning on catching up somewhere along the route, Bart you got room for one more ?

Paul

[pomgolian]

Anyone know if the road joining the Taupo road to Minganui has had the wash out repaired yet or is it down the river bed still ?

[bart]

Hey Chris still planning on catching up somewhere along the route, Bart you got room for one more ?

Paul

Nope, unless you want to top and tail with Chris....or take the couch.

Anyone know if the road joining the Taupo road to Minganui has had the wash out repaired yet or is it down the river bed still ?

River bed is pretty easy on a DR.