Discovery riding

[dpex]

I got back, today, after spending nearly in month away. Lobbed in Taupo for a few days but then spent most of the rest of the time in and around Tongariro National park; hiking up some unbelievably beautiful rivers, fishing same, and fishing various lakes.

The process started with me heading off to Turangi one morning on my bike. Like so many bikers I was roaring along the main road, not wanting to stop, thus missing more than I could ever imagine. When that dawned on me I decided to turn down the very next side road, just to see what was down it.

That was the start of arguably the most amazing process of discovery I have ever experienced. Having done one side-raod, I wanted to do more and more.

People, allow me to assert that the stuff you will find off almost any side-road off SH1 south of Turangi, then off the National Park Road, is beyond awe-inspiring.

Before proceeding it's worth noting I got back from the junction of Rangipo Rd and the Nat Park road, to West Auckland, via Taumaranui, etc, in just under 4.5 hours; most of the time at 110/115 Kph. In other words, you too could leave Aucks at 6am on Saturday morning and be at that junction by 10:30 (including a couple of stops for coffee).

When you get there, check in to the Tongariro Holiday Park, run by Donna and Greg Hooper. Damned nice folk. You get a two bunk cabin inc bedding, access to a kitchen inc all stuff need to cook, drink, eat off and with, for $55 a night per two. You need to take coffee/tea, milk and sugar. That's about all.

The place is really clean and well run. Plus you will get meet heaps of international tourist, each with a story to tell.

Get your gear settled then nip over the hill to Turangi and drop into the fishing shop and buy yourself a collapsable rod and four trout spinners. The owner will give you the good oil on what's what. Keep this gear for later in the evening....I'm coming to that part soon.

Then I recommend you head off toward the Desert Road BUT! Don't forget to turn into the paking area for the Red-Hut pool (about 4 clicks past the trout centre, and clearly marked)

About 20 clicks past the Rangipo Rd (that will take you back to the lodge, later) turn left onto your first side-road; Kaimanawa Rd. What you'll get to see is pretty damned good....I'll leave you to discover on your own.

Then, back on the highway, heading South. Now turn off into Tree Trunk Gorge Rd. What you will see gets better.

Next, turn onto the road leading to the Rangipo intake. It gets better again.

Then comes the kicker. You get to do the North end of the Desert road. Now there's a ride! Then the road straightens up. At the the top of the first really long straight you'll see a sign. On the right you'll see majesty.

Turn left into Waipakihi Rd. I recommend you take some good tramping boots, a towel and some munchies. Believe me, when you get to the Waipakihi river you're just gonna want to walk up it...for a while at least.

If there is but one pristine paradise in New Zealand, then you will find it at the end of this road.

At this time of year try to be back at the holiday park by about 5pm. Get your fishing gear sorted, turn right out of the park, pass the Rangipo Rd intersection by 500M then turn left to Lake Otamangakau. Cross a bridge, continue half a click till you see the boat-ramp sign. Stand on the boat ramp, lob out your spinner, and you WILL catch one the biggest trout in New Zealand. Way bigger than can be found in Taupo of the Tongariro River.

Gut, head, and lop off the tail and return with 1/2/3 major trout to the camp. Next door you'll find a cafe run by a real pair of characters, Di and Tony.

Di has a very dry, quite acid wit, and she can give as good as she can take. But the place they run has a number of amazing attributes. 1. They sell large glasses of seriously cold beer at 5 bucks a throw. 2. Ask them for a Dave Burger. You will not be disappointed. It's an everything burger, including a large lump of beutifully cooked sirloin steak, with chips. I asked them to make me a large burger with everything (off menu). They named it the Dave Burger.

Then tell Tony you have 1/2/3 trout needing smoking. They'll be done in an hour, and the way he smokes means you'll be in oral heaven.

Next day, the return journey, start taking more side-roads. Spend the day taking side-roads as you head north up through the same path as you came down. You will not be disappointed.

Cost for the weekend in heaven? $100 in gas, (absolute worst case) $27-50 per each for accommodation. Maybe 30 bucks with Tony and Di, $24 on sundries. For less than $150 you will have had the weekend in heaven.

Believe me, I've just spent nearly two weeks there. There's no point in me describing what you'll see and experience, you need to do it for yourself. But I promise, you'll want to do the same trip many more times after the first.

It sure beats doing the main roads weekend after weekend.

If you want more detail, just PM me.

Contact details for the Holiday park are:- infor@thp.co.nz. Tel:- 07 3860862.

BTW: The security is good at the park, so you can park outside your cabin without fear someone will interfer with your bike.

[jrandom]

Sounds absolutely gorgeous.

Did I see you exiting the motorway and riding home from that trip along Te Atatu Road about 1:40pm today?

[dpex]

Sounds absolutely gorgeous.

Did I see you exiting the motorway and riding home from that trip along Te Atatu Road about 1:40pm today?

Yup, that was probably me. Was there a silver car broken down on the bridge? If yes, then that was me.

I tell you Dan, you and the missus need to get a bit of what I've described. Maybe we can go as a two-bike, or more if some other troops want to join.

I've spent two weeks ferreting and learning, and meeting some seriously good folk.

Now there's a thought. I could act as guide for a troop of bikers. But you just need to experience some of the stuff I have over the last two weeks. OMG. Heaven!.

Tonight I will be tucking into yet another delicious, smoked trout....if there's any left after I stop licking at it. :--))

[hayd3n]

yamis go every where i will be riding to rotavegas in march! staying the week

[dpex]

What I was trying to get across was, there's a hell of a lot to see in our beautiful land. And that one can see it from a bike. And, that planned well, it's cheap to find.

One of our contributers, whose name escapes me, asserts, 'It's not the destination, it's the trip which counts,' or words to that affect. And sure, the tripping is great; but you CAN stop now and again to discover a new space in your library of experiences.

I had a hell of a good time on many of the deserted roads, giving it a bit of death. And that felt good. But so did sitting, by myself, in a complete wilderness, watching a deer watch me till she decided I wasn't a threat....which wasn't...left my damned gun at home.

Or watched Swallows in the evening, complete an aerial ballet, as they plucked food from a mirror flat lake, and the blackback seagull which had clearly morphed away from being a garbage collector, and which refused to eat th bread I tossed it. Instead it swam with the swans and clacked its mighty beaky at the pesky swallows as they flew near. His/it's intentions were simply a warning, but the sight of it happening, and the sound of his beak, clacking away...I could almost hear him saying tothem, 'Will ya fuck off! This is my space to catch nymphs.' Ordinary seagulls don't catch nymphs. I realised this bird had morphed.

I called DOC about it, but as always,they weren't even vaguely interested because there was nobody breaking one of 'their' laws.

But, of course, none of you will ever see any of this till you go look for it and slow down long enough to see it.

Believe me. Follow the plan posted in my earlier post in this thread, and all will be revealed. Heaven on earth, with a shit load of good riding in between. :--))

But hey! Don't take my word fo it. Go have a look fo yourselves.

[spookytooth]

welcome to my world of biking Unless i am actually going some place,i just wander every and any road i come across.One trip to Hailiton took over 8 hours haha and we never got there

[pete376403]

IMHO this is the real definition of "adventure riding" - taking the roads less travelled.
An adventure bike doesn't need to be a hard-core trail bike, just something that is at home on roads and tracks other than main roads. In this case high power, narrow power bands and razor sharp handling becomes a liability. This is why I'm really happy with my KLR - it's perfect for this sort of thing.

[DarkLord]

That's awesome. We do miss so much stuff by just riding past it when there are amazing things we could be seeing and are missing out on.

Put up some pictures!