Akatarawa forest tracks?

[Blair.DRZ]

Hey all, just wanting peoples opinions on the difficulty of the tracks in the Akatarawas, I head in from the Karapoti entrance. Do people rate them as beginners, expert etc. I'm fairly novice and I've been up there a few times now and am wanting to start venturing further in, but as I am quite happy going on my own ( hate having to organise others to wait until I get to ride, I'm always well prepared and ride within my limits, and my 90 year old nana can probably ride faster than me anyway!!) I don't want to get stuck in there and find myself in a situation I can't ride out of. So any places to avoid, devils staircase and rock garden i've heard about, so not going near them, any novice friendly areas. Cheers all !!

[secondfield]

Karapoti is a fairly user friendly place to ride but can be a bit disorientating the further you go in due to the huge number of tracks (120km+).
Generally, ive found the area can be divided into two parts. After the main run in there (from UH) you get to an open area that branches off to the right (rock garden is about 15k's) or straight ahead over a river crossing and up the hill to the main body of the area. At the far end there is a great section of pine forest, singletrack to hone your bush skills in. Its pretty greasy on all the main tracks and a few ruts can cause headaches. All in all an awsome ride though. Ive been up about 10 times now (the rock garden is a unique challenge) with a few mates. It always pays to ride with someone if you plan to go in deep. I try to get out most weekends but other commitments (mum just gave birth to our son) have precluded me from doing so for the past couple of weeks. Will be looking at going for a ride in the next couple of weeks for sure!. Theres a group of us 'hobby' riders that like to get together every now and then so PM me if you want to stay in touch. Will let you know our next outings etc.. always looking for new mates to ride with.

[Blair.DRZ]

Cheers secondfield !! So the track off to the right that heads to the rockgarden, whats that like, easy or difficult ( remember I'm still a bit of a learner ) ?? And is the rockgarden signposted, or is it pretty obvious when you get to it ( obviously lots of rocks )?

[quallman1234]

Cheers secondfield !! So the track off to the right that heads to the rockgarden, whats that like, easy or difficult ( remember I'm still a bit of a learner ) ?? And is the rockgarden signposted, or is it pretty obvious when you get to it ( obviously lots of rocks )?

Your be fine going up the main trial, its not particularly hard, but can catch you out.

Not sure about the rock garden tho? Never been that far to the right.

[Blair.DRZ]

The main trail, is that the Pram track ?? ( think thats what its called ), it basically goes up and over the hill and then down into that valley sort of thing. I've been that way and didn't find it to bad, got over slowly but safely ( just ), didn't enjoy that wet clay though, like riding on ice.

[kezzafish]

Heya dude, Karapoti is awesome and it's taken me a while but (i think) i've got it pretty well sussed. Your right about the pram track and if you found that sweet you'll be fine on the track off to the right before the river crossing. It's called deadwood valley and you get better grip up there (less clay) it's a decent ride before you get to the staircase and you'll love it. Coming from that direction you will come to the rock garden first this is sign posted, as a learner i wouldn't go down it because you may struggle to get back up and at the bottom is the bottom of the stair case (after crossing a river) YOU HAVE NO CHANCE IN HELL of getting UP this, it is only rideable downwards. To go down it you have to go over the pram track and around and once your at the bottom of the staircase you have to go up the rock garden, fukken good fun and a challenge but not a good idea by yourself. So ride up deadwood and have a look down the rock garden. There is heaps more riding over the pram track and if i were you i'd be exploring over there. You can get a map of Karapoti from the Hutt City Council or DOC give them a call and ask them to send you one. The council also sell the riding permits we're supposed to have (to ride in Karapoti) but no one does and no one checks up on you. Like secondfield i ride most weekends (when my bike isn't ceased!) and i'd like to organise a ride with him sometime so PM me too, i'd be happy to show ya round and i'm no expert wheelimaster.

P.S. The DRZ is the perfect bike up there, you liking it?

[gibben]

Stick to the main tracks and you will be fine, just remember to kept left as these are 2 way tracks. You have riders coming in from both ends, 3+ months in plaster gave me a good reminder of that

The Staircase and Rockgarden are not sections you should attempt if you are inexperienced and on your own .....

[FlangMasterJ]

The riding permits are free by the way.

Yep keep left. I've had a number of idiots on quads come flying towards me at break neck speeds.

[Blair.DRZ]

Thanks everyone, and the DRZ goes great up there, handles everything without to much hassle !! only wish i had got into this dirtbiking thing a long time ago, nevermind plenty more years ahead of me yet. I've already got myself a permit so all good with that, and as you say no one checks them anyway, but better safe than sorry I always reckon, last thing I want is to get kicked out of one of the only places in Wellington that you can ride. So if your up there sometime, mines the DRZ with black plastics and yellow fuel tank, be good to say hello.

[secondfield]

Just a quick point re the rockgarden.. at the mo a huge tree has fallen across the track going to the rock garden, theres no way around it so whatever you do dont go down the staircase and up the rock garden. You wont get out..... then youll have to turn around and ride back down the RG and UP the fucken staircase. Need three guys to pull that one off. Youll probably run out of gas anyway if you had to turn around, the tree is a fair way back form the start of the rock garden...
Not sure when itll get cleared, maybe the four wheel drive blokes can pull it off. Its a bloody monster.

[FlangMasterJ]

Just a quick point re the rockgarden.. at the mo a huge tree has fallen across the track going to the rock garden, theres no way around it so whatever you do dont go down the staircase and up the rock garden. You wont get out..... then youll have to turn around and ride back down the RG and UP the fucken staircase. Need three guys to pull that one off. Youll probably run out of gas anyway if you had to turn around, the tree is a fair way back form the start of the rock garden...
Not sure when itll get cleared, maybe the four wheel drive blokes can pull it off. Its a bloody monster.

Went up the Karapoti on Saturday and the tree is still there but you are able to lift/drag/weave your bike around it.

I've never been that far in and have to say it was bloody great!

My KTM 250SXF still impresses me.

[Ride it till the red]

As one of the "4wd blokes" aswell as a rider I'll be making an effort to get it cleared now I know it still hasn't been. Found it a few weeks back on the bike luckily going down the hill not up. Just a matter of getting a bunch of the guys in there with winches and saws to deal to it. But agreed, Karapoti rocks for sure!

[secondfield]

Sweet, Kezzafish and I went for a fang up there last wednesday arvo and you can just squezze a two wheeler around the base of the tree now. It seems to have slid a little bit down the bank.The Rock garden is on again!(dont think a quad would get around it though !)

[XP@]

Karapoti is a fairly user friendly place to ride but can be a bit disorientating the further you go in due to the huge number of tracks (120km+).

the second time i went in there it took me about 4 goes to get out again.... kept ending up in the same place, take a map!

[mazz1972]

Attached is a map (from GWR website). The main tracks are all on there, but not some of the smaller side tracks. The "official line" from Council is that any track not on the map is not supposed to be used. All the main tracks up there are signposted. So if you are new to the forest it might pay to take a copy of the map, just in case you get a bit disoriented.

Most of the main tracks have been designed (and are used) for 4WD vehicle access to the power pylons, forest areas, orange hut, etc etc, so are pretty easy. The ranger does go in there too.

There are locked gates on the map (shown as "bow ties") which are areas you shouldn't be in, such as Puketiro forest - actually I think Kapi-Mana club are holding a trail ride here sometime in the next few months - see www.silverbullet.co.nz.

As mentioned you gotta remember that there are usually always heaps of other people up there - not just motorbikers, but mountain bikers, trampers/walkers, hunters etc, so you really do have to watch out and definately keep left!

Keep an eye out for signs up at the entrances as occasionally part or all of the forest can be closed for particular events - such as Kapi-Mana club enduro & trail rides, Karipoti Classic mountain bike race, there's an annual running race up there too, etc etc.

You are "supposed" to get a permit from the Upper Hutt office (but I don't know anyone who does).

Council info http://www.gw.govt.nz/section397.cfm

It's an awesome place to ride - have fun!