East Cape. Anybody rode it? Why not as popular as Coro?

**Tonka** · 26th November 2007, 22:28

Originally Posted by Blackbird

One of the Auckland contingent called it "Coromandel on Steroids". An apt description

Yep...thats the Cape in a nutshell!!

**Timber020** · 16th December 2007, 00:28

Im looking at picking up a new bike in Whakatane and heading back to wellington via the cape. Sounds like a fun trip, I guess just dont hit a cow, man.

my only concern is its a bike I dont know and i wont be able to carry much kit with me, and I will to the trip based on what the weathers doing, (gotten over riding unknown roads in the wet for days at a time) so booking accom will be tricky.

**McDuck** · 16th December 2007, 07:05

What bike?

**Timber020** · 16th December 2007, 19:21

Gsxr thou.

**McDuck** · 16th December 2007, 21:54

Would you like me to tag along? I will give you the lern in the uba 250 of doom

**Timber020** · 19th December 2007, 10:29

yeah could do, nothings 100% decided yet! You done the trip a few times?

**McDuck** · 19th December 2007, 14:28

Originally Posted by Timber020

yeah could do, nothings 100% decided yet! You done the trip a few times?

Na

......

**Taz** · 19th December 2007, 14:49

I love the east cape. It is a bit far for a day trip but then an overnight trip is better. Just try not to stop at ruatoria - That is the pimple on the arsehole of the cape and is populated by arseholes too. Luckily the main road by passes this ethnic village and you only need to stop there if you want to pay 50c a litre more for gas while feeling threatened by 10 year olds.

**Matt Bleck** · 19th December 2007, 17:16

Originally Posted by Anthrax

I love the east cape. It is a bit far for a day trip but then an overnight trip is better. Just try not to stop at ruatoria - That is the pimple on the arsehole of the cape and is populated by arseholes too. Luckily the main road by passes this ethnic village and you only need to stop there if you want to pay 50c a litre more for gas while feeling threatened by 10 year olds.

LMAO, I've worked at the Pub there a couple of times, Scribbleface's every where, riding their horse's, burning down the police and fire stations among other place's. Some dude had his head chopped off there too once from what i remember.... ahhhh good ole ruatoria.... don't stop there if ya can help it!

**Blackbird** · 19th December 2007, 19:14

For anyone who hasn't been round yet, have a look at these photos posted by Freebird: http://picasaweb.google.com/daveyup/EastCape. Freebird, Hammer, JimmyB, Bykey Cop and I went round 3 weekends ago in perfect conditions. The coast road is magic but the Waioeka gorge was a bit of a mess from about 30 km south of Opotiki and you needed to take a bit of care what with pea gravel and shiny tar.

**robertydog** · 19th December 2007, 20:03

Originally Posted by Blackbird

For anyone who hasn't been round yet, have a look at these photos posted by Freebird: http://picasaweb.google.com/daveyup/EastCape. Freebird, Hammer, JimmyB, Bykey Cop and I went round 3 weekends ago in perfect conditions. The coast road is magic but the Waieka gorge was a bit of a mess from about 30 km south of Opotiki and you needed to take a bit of care what with pea gravel and shiny tar.

Carnalee and myself went round last week. Napier, Gisborne, Opotiki, East Cape, Gisborne. Napier. 972km

At that time the gorge was clear of any loose pea metal. But there was some pea metal in some places coming down from Te Puis springs area. Beaps of signs out warning off bumpy roads.

**Matt Bleck** · 19th December 2007, 20:13

Originally Posted by Blackbird

For anyone who hasn't been round yet, have a look at these photos posted by Freebird: http://picasaweb.google.com/daveyup/EastCape. Freebird, Hammer, JimmyB, Bykey Cop and I went round 3 weekends ago in perfect conditions. The coast road is magic but the Waieka gorge was a bit of a mess from about 30 km south of Opotiki and you needed to take a bit of care what with pea gravel and shiny tar.

Some great photo's there, was the Tologa Bay wharf open?

I see you guys stayed at the Waikanae Beachfront Campgrounds, love it there and not to expensive either.

**Blackbird** · 19th December 2007, 20:46

Originally Posted by Matt Bleck

Some great photo's there, was the Tologa Bay wharf open?

I see you guys stayed at the Waikanae Beachfront Campgrounds, love it there and not to expensive either.

Cheers, it was a simply awesome weekend. Freebird from Wellington stayed with me in Tokoroa on the Friday night and we met our Auckland riding partners in Rotorua. I took them via Murapara and Matahina Dam for a nice diversion and we stayed in the Ohope Top 10 the first night. On day 2, round to Gisborne and yes, the jetty was open as people were walking on it, but it was too hot to contemplate in riding gear! Have stayed at Waikanae motor camp several times and it's great. You can book on line now. We just had a leisurely ride home through the Gorge on Monday morning whilst Freebird went back to Wellington. We could have shortened the whole trip but none of the others had ridden round that way before so it was a good opportunity for sightseeing too.

**clint640** · 20th December 2007, 09:45

Rosie & I are heading out around the cape from Whakatane on Saturday, we'll probably camp at Te Araroa Sat night, so if anybody else is out there & ya see a big orange KTM & a lil' black Sherpa, do say hi

Clint