Suggested roads and sights in Northland?

**shafty** · 15th September 2006, 22:19

I've got a week off in October, so Her Indoors and I are planning on a week touring on the bikes North of Auckland. Can anyone suggest any "must see's" or good places to visit? We'll be both camping/motelling it, with country pubs with accomodation being an attraction also. Cheers in advance.

**Maha** · 15th September 2006, 22:36

Well there are plenty great roads up this way and beyond. Out through Dargaville/Waipoua Forest/Opononi etc (SH 12) is a must....how far North are you planning on going? Ruakaka camp has cabins and is a beautiful camp to stop off at, its about 30 mins south of Whangarei...( Mrs Maha and myself will be at that camp labour weekend) Mangawhai/Waipu?.... stunning views and twisties....

**Big Dave** · 15th September 2006, 22:39

Originally Posted by shafty

I've got a week off in October, so Her Indoors and I are planning on a week touring on the bikes North of Auckland. Can anyone suggest any "must see's" or good places to visit? We'll be both camping/motelling it, with country pubs with accomodation being an attraction also. Cheers in advance.

Waipoua Forest.
One of the best bike roads on the planet.

**crusa** · 16th September 2006, 00:16

do the waipoua forest onto omapere,opononi,rawene,ferry across harbour,turn right to kohukohu,mangamuka,kaitia.There are some great views and roads on this route with places to eat ,you can get gas at opononi,rawene and mangamuka

**Lord Derosso** · 16th September 2006, 09:25

Do the Mangamuka gorge, head up to Pukenui and Houhora Harbour, where I grew up, spend a night or two there and enjoy the view and fishing off the Pukenui wharf. Come back to Awanui and turn left and travel around the Bays route which takes you all the way back down to Kerikeri via the Bay of island.
Stop for fish and chips at the Mangonui Wharf. Stay a night in Whangarei and ride up to Mount Parihaki lookout (name since changed??), visit the falls and do the bush walk. Have dinner down on the new basin/harbour area. Head out to Ruakaka. Lots of places to go and enjoy the beachs etc. Enjoy, I am an Northlander born and do miss being up there but I also like to work and earn reasonable money at the some time. Cheers

**Lord Derosso** · 16th September 2006, 09:26

One thing about doing the Dargaville side and the Kauri forest..
Watch out for thiefs. Big problem on this coast.

**TLDV8** · 16th September 2006, 10:47

The http://www.kauri-museum.com/ is worth a stop.

**WINJA** · 16th September 2006, 11:07

Go Thru Dargaville And The Kauri Forest , Then Put Your Bike On The Ferry At Rawene

**Lou Girardin** · 16th September 2006, 16:44

Anywhere but SH1, go up one side and down the other. You'll love it.

**shafty** · 16th September 2006, 23:58

Cheers Guys - thats great. I'll be at Houhora the follwong weekend on the 4 Points Rally, but will prob go to Reinga as my Lady hasn't been there before.Thanks again!

**Lord Derosso** · 17th September 2006, 10:14

Its been a few years since I have been to the Cape on a bike but the last few miles was the worse road I had ever seen. The gravel was not only huge but deep. They need to dump a lot because of the numerous tourist buses. And whats worse is the road is slanted real steep in places. I was with a German rider about years ago and we kept ending up in the curbside because the bikes were 'floating' on top of the gravel. What a hassle trying to get moving again in the loose gravel but we finally got there. Now it may be that we came at the wrong time as gravel does dispense with traffic and you get lanes to ride in, and its possible that they have finally tarsealed it as well. Knowing how big Houhora and north of there has got, it wouldn't surprise me. I can remember when all of the Far North road was gravel roads pass Awanui when we use to travel up to Pukenui as little kids. Living in Pukenui and travelling to Kaitaia College by bus and detouring down dusty roads to pick up kids in the middle of summer. Yuck. Cheers and enjoy the trip though do get an update from a member whom has been up there recently.