Coromandel - Colville up and around - Jan 2

**Eddieb** · 1st January 2009, 18:56

Does anyone know the state of the roads from Colville to Port Jackson and down the other side via Port Charles?

Can you even get from Port Jackson to Port Charles?

How long would a loop take if it's possible? one day, an overnighter?

Is it doable on your own or not advised, i.e how technical is it?

I'm thinking of going tomorrow or sometime in the next few days from Hamilton if it looks like the rain isn't going to come down, it would need to be fine to do an overnighter as I'd be staying in a tent somewhere.

If north of Colville isn't a goer due to time/weather I may just do a day loop up to Colville and around Little Bay, Kennedy Bay etc.

Oh yeah, could be up for company of course, if you can put up with me.

**Chooky** · 1st January 2009, 19:28

Yer...went Thames to Colville or just past it 2 days ago in the Nissan ute.....The road is good,but when your past Colville its metal...
If you go up the left side {Pt Jackson} the road only goes to Fletcher Bay,and the right side {Pt Charles} the road goes as far as Stoney Bay.
The road does not go right round.There a gap of 5 or 10 kms.The cliffs are too steep to build a road,but there is a walking track and I think you can take a mountain bike on it.But I aint done that...Heaps of traffic this time of year and my opinion they just drive too fast on those narrow winding roads.
Make time to stop and look at the beautiful old Puhutakawa trees that must be hundreds of years old.They probabably looked the same when Captain Cook arrived in 1860 something.
And also..Great Barrier Island is right there lookin at ya.
Chooky.....

**scracha** · 1st January 2009, 19:58

Seconded mate...I'm always terrified some dip$hit will come around one of these blind bends and push me over the cliff.

Easy going gravel roads. The DOC staff are friendly too but best avoided around New Year as it's uber busy.

**kevfromcoro** · 1st January 2009, 20:19

road is excellent...3 weeks mate at least. if you are coming down here

**Aslan** · 1st January 2009, 20:44

have a good one Eddie - see you back in Wellywood after the break - cheers Aslan

**MaxB** · 1st January 2009, 20:46

Pt Jackson is the busier side because of the DOC campsites. V. busy at this time of year.

Stock up on goodies at the Colville store 'cos theres not much past there.

The metal roads are straightforward enough if you take it easy and watch out for tourists. I have done the Port Charles run on a road bike many times.
The GS will have no worries.

Hamilton to Thames is about 110kms, Coromandel is about 60 up from there. You could easily do it in a day but if there is space at a campsite you won't regret staying there, it is a pretty spectacular place.

BTW. If you are on the GS I have heard tales of a pylon service type road that links the two sides and that is barred by gates. There may be a way of getting past the gates. Remember it is mostly DOC land and they don't take to kindly to bikes using walkways etc. Someone else would have to confirm the existence of this route.

**Eddieb** · 1st January 2009, 22:02

Well due to being generally unorganised and last minute and the weather forecast for saturday looking not so great I think I'll do a one dayer.

Hamilton to Colville, at Colville I'll try establish how long is involved in getting to Port Jackson and back and whether thats viable to include.

The route back with involve the loop from Colville round Little Bay and Kennedy Bay etc back to Coromandel town, from there I'll reassess again and may head over Whitianga way and either the 309 or the Coroglen to Tapu road may or may not be included.

If I am making way better time that expected I may go down to Tairua and call in on friends.

**Eddieb** · 2nd January 2009, 07:34

As Metservice have got it wrong again and the weather gods have arrived 12 hours early I've postponed this until tomorrow.

If this has blown over by tomorrow I may change it back to a multi day ride as it's supposed to be fine for a few days.

**Crisis management** · 2nd January 2009, 19:20

If you're leaving from Hamilton you can explore every road on the coromandel in one day. Don't forget the Coroglen - Tapu road, the 309 and it's associated roads, up to Colville, Port Jackson, Kennedy bay etc.
All the roads are in good condition but the other road users are complete dipshits and you have to ride defensively.

Great riding, you'll have a ball!

**Eddieb** · 4th January 2009, 21:32

I did a trip up Cormandel Jan 3rd.

While up that way I ran into a couple of Auckland road riders and sometime KB members and took a couple of pics of their bikes as they were in the scenery. If it's you and you want a copy PM me your email address and I will send them through.

Otherwise I will add some pics later, from hot sun to freezing rain and riding in the clouds in one day.

Eddie

**marks** · 5th January 2009, 07:06

Originally Posted by Eddieb

I will add some pics later

'later' had better be today.....

**Eddieb** · 6th January 2009, 20:15

Originally Posted by marks

'later' had better be today.....

Patience young Skywalker.

As I forgot to bring the cable for one of my cameras you'll have to do with a few sunny shots in Stony Bay. The rest will have to wait untill I get home again.

1) One of the Ak guys bikes I was talking to, PM me if you want a full size copy
2, 3, 4 & 5) The G/S at Stony Bay while the sun was still out

**Eddieb** · 6th January 2009, 20:19

I also had an attempt at Thompsons track the next day but a flat battery on the XT600 with me defeated us.

Pictures are also on the other camera but imagine bogholes deep enough to put the G/S cylinders well underwater, and we only got about 1km in.

By the time we got out I had mud up to my knees and the GS was covered almost to the seat, and it hadn't had a lie down.

**The Joka** · 9th January 2009, 18:21

Hey mate,

I was one of the Aucks riders, I was on the ZX10 the one that kept catching up and dropping back... Nothing like a bit of bike tiggie!

Nice to have a chat with you at the look out!

Jeepers talk about all four Seasons in one day huh!

We got sunburnt in near perfect conditions in Whitianga, and the whole ride down was beauti!

Then on the way home.. Gail force winds, the heavens absolutely opened and we got soaked!

I loved every minute of it... thats what riding is all about not just heading out on the sunny days!

I am sure that we will catch up another time... ohh you have a PM will flick that photo through to my mate!

Cheers for that!

**Eddieb** · 12th January 2009, 12:50

Originally Posted by The Joka

Jeepers talk about all four Seasons in one day huh!

We got sunburnt in near perfect conditions in Whitianga, and the whole ride down was beauti!

Then on the way home.. Gail force winds, the heavens absolutely opened and we got soaked!

As The Joka said, not long after I left Stony Bay the heavens opened and the clouds came down, visibility went from unlimited to about 20 meters or less in some cases were I was.

My return trip involved the roads through Little Bay, Kennedy Bay etc and the range of hills along that road.

1) 20 seconds before and 20 seconds after this photo was taken you couldn't see those hills.

2) Stunning scenery though, when you could see it.

3) Every so often the cloud would lift to reveal some stunning Vista.