Turakirae Head to Ocean Beach 4wd track - Orongorongo Station access!

[magicfairy]

if you promise to behave


how would mid Feb (14th/15th) sound for this?

is there anything else on that would conflict?

Only Valentines Day ,

So it's a ride for the single, and the brave (or the very good)

[OV Lander]

So it's a ride for the single, and the brave (or the very good)

Looks like Jim is out!

[Paladin]

Ha ha, looks like you've opened a can or worms here mate.

HAHA! YES!!!!! BUT, good that Orongorongo is now in play cos there's a few of us Welly/Hutt locals have been wanting to get on there!

Funny I was just typing my last post and thinking Marks may have inadvertently suggested a 2 day-er that is starting to sound suspiciously like the makings of the illusive Southern Coast ADV Ride!!!

THAT would be fine by me, but personally am fancying a day just playing about on Orongorongo too, and fairly soon!

[magicfairy]

Looks like Jim is out!

He has permission, he's a very good boy ........mostly.

Don't think I could stop him anyway, sounds like a most excellent adventure.

[Paladin]

He has permission, he's a very good boy ........mostly.

Don't think I could stop him anyway, sounds like a most excellent adventure.

Well down in the SI the gals are out ADVing so maybe you NI ladies should join us!!!

[Paladin]

Why not carry on further round the coast? Keys can equally be arranged for the White Rock station giving you:

Tk Hd - Ocean Bch - Lake Ferry - Ngawi - White Rock.

For a really full day Riversdale Station (well south of Riversdale!), can also be added on to the end to give you a loop back round to just outside of Martinborough.

Isn't there a Dutch guy that owns land between Ngawi & White Rock that isn't up for giving access across his land though???

[Eddieb]

Only Valentines Day ,

So it's a ride for the single, and the brave (or the very good)

He has permission, he's a very good boy ........mostly.

Jim, you owe your good lady a huge Valentines day present.

As it happens it's also my birthday that day. There's a fair chance I'll be on call that weekend and won't be able to make it but don't let that stop you (Not that I think it would).

[Howie]

Doesn't sound like the 2 day ride would allow time to just go exploring all day on Orongorongo, so if we DO go for mid-Feb or later for that 2 day-er, then I'm also up for a day ride out there prior to then as a bit of a recce ride!!! (OK so I'll admit I am chomping at the bit to get out there! )
I'd be up for something like Jan 24th for that - might have recovered enough financially from Christmas to afford getting the Kenda Trackmasters on the bike by then! They'd be helpful for an exploration of more than just the coast 4wd track i'd bet! (I've also got Jan 10th open at the mo.)

(On my rural roads map there is also shown a 4wd track running up the east side of the Orongorongo River on the same property which eventually joins up with other tracks on top of the hills and I'm sure there's probably other tracks all over the place as they must be all over the land rounding up livestock at various times!)

It might be after a recce out there we might know a tad more about the place and if it's worth the time exploring say the River 4wd track if time is potentially tight on a 2 day-er. Plus it seems none of us has been out there before and with no idea of conditions and time to do even just the straight coast 4wd track, we might learn alot on a full days recce! Or does everyone just wanna be full on Adventurers and just go for the unknown???

Any thoughts?

I haven't been right around the coast for about 20+ years, but back then the track was fairly good apart from at least one major shingle slide to cross where sometimes the track was good and other times it had fairly steep drop offs to a stream. There was also a few sandy sections towards the wairarapa end, and a few reasonable stream crossings.
The track up the side of the Orongorongo river was also reasonable condition back then, From memory the Access to the first bit of it is on Orongorongo Station and the rest of it is on DOC managed land, and DOC only allow access on certain weekends to Hut owners up the Orongorongo valley. Your contact at Orongorongo Station could probably full you in on the details, or contact DOC in wellington. Once the 4WD track finishes on the river bed it would probably be fairly slow going up the river as it is a braided river for several more miles, with fairly large stones, or small boulders depending on the way you want to look at it.

On the other hand I would probably be up for a bit of a recce ride on the 10th, couldn't make it the 24th as I have a friend over from Australia then.

Cheers

Paul

[Paladin]

I haven't been right around the coast for about 20+ years, but back then the track was fairly good apart from at least one major shingle slide to cross where sometimes the track was good and other times it had fairly steep drop offs to a stream. There was also a few sandy sections towards the wairarapa end, and a few reasonable stream crossings.
The track up the side of the Orongorongo river was also reasonable condition back then, From memory the Access to the first bit of it is on Orongorongo Station and the rest of it is on DOC managed land, and DOC only allow access on certain weekends to Hut owners up the Orongorongo valley. Your contact at Orongorongo Station could probably full you in on the details, or contact DOC in wellington. Once the 4WD track finishes on the river bed it would probably be fairly slow going up the river as it is a braided river for several more miles, with fairly large stones, or small boulders depending on the way you want to look at it.

On the other hand I would probably be up for a bit of a recce ride on the 10th, couldn't make it the 24th as I have a friend over from Australia then.

Cheers

Paul

Yep lookin at where those other tracks originate, I reckon your comments re the DOC are prob spot on!

Marks said he was available for an early Jan day ride, so 10th might be a go for him too! Would be nice to get a little day group going! Lets see who else fancies 10th and then I'll call and check on Orongorongo availability for the day pretty sharpish!

Is it just me, or is it starting to look like we need one thread for organising the 2 day-er ("Southern Coast ADV ride" or some other name Marks? ) and another thread for a day ride so it doesn't get confusing????

Great that there's lots of interest to get out there on both counts though!!!

[K slider]

I wiil be there ,I have a contact with keys for the gates at eastboure and terakeraie head who my be bribed.

the ride from Nahwi to white rock is easily done on tourences last month although the shingle was fun riding up.as you can see i ride bikes not teach spelling.

[Pedrostt500]

I'll be keen on this if it is in late Jan or Feb, will give me some time to sort out some bits for the DR.

[marks]

Marks said he was available for an early Jan day ride, so 10th might be a go for him too! Would be nice to get a little day group going! Lets see who else fancies 10th and then I'll call and check on Orongorongo availability for the day pretty sharpish!

Is it just me, or is it starting to look like we need one thread for organising the 2 day-er ("Southern Coast ADV ride" or some other name Marks? ) and another thread for a day ride so it doesn't get confusing????

Great that there's lots of interest to get out there on both counts though!!!

Hell - I'm ready for a late Dec recce - I'd like to spend a whole day exploring this area.

Dave - let me know what works for you date wise and we'll organize a 1 day inspection tour for any interested parties.

I'll also post a new thread for the 2 dayer

cheers


Mark

[Paladin]

I wiil be there ,I have a contact with keys for the gates at eastboure and terakeraie head who my be bribed.

Ooooh the Eastbourne gate is just round the corner from me.... we need to talk!!!!!

( sorry all - just being selfish!)

[reofix]

I tried this track from the lake ferry end on the sunday after capital coast ...never got to any locked gates but the sand became too much on a big bike , I was by by myself and I bailed.... but this might be a chance to utilise the adventure crew for pushing duties!!! they are all sand lovers

[Paladin]

Hell - I'm ready for a late Dec recce - I'd like to spend a whole day exploring this area.

Dave - let me know what works for you date wise and we'll organize a 1 day inspection tour for any interested parties.

I'll also post a new thread for the 2 dayer

cheers

Mark

Mark I do so like your "get straight on with it" attitude - wicked mate! Will look forward to meeting you finally!

Well, from a selfish standpoint I know Sat Jan 10th & Sat 24th are days when I don't have any kiddie commitments and Paul posted he was interested in the 10th and you had previously said first half of Jan was clear for you, so shall we shoot for Jan 10th? Can you stand to wait that long?!!!

Likely my bike will still be on D605's at that point as I'll be skint after Christmas(!), so they'll be tragic on wet mud/clay if/when we get away from the coast track if the weather has been wet, but if that's the case I'll suck it up and just get on with it mate!

Let me know and I'll contact the Station owners and at that time also check availability on the possible dates for the Southern Coast ADV with them too.