Fishers used to be one of the most fun tracks in the central North Island, unfortunately a few years ago it was turned into part of the National Cycle Trail, graded and generally had the best of it’s appeal of being a rough bumpy back country track removed. Local cyclists spoken to have shared this sentiment.
There is still a few hundred metres of mostly unformed grass track at the western end of the track but otherwise it’s now pretty much a graded road.
Fishers track can be joined up with Hikumutu Road via mostly gravel backroads to make a nice diversion to get from National Park to Taumaranui without taking SH4.
As Fishers Track is now part of the National Cycle Trail you may come across cyclists at any time heading in either direction, however the track is still a legal road.
Most of the track would likely be suitable for a novice gravel rider however the unformed section at the west end can be rutty and slippery which bumps this up to an Intermediate.
Contributed by: @eddieb
Track type: Dirt Track / Gravel Road
Track composition: Bumpy, Loose, Undulating
Slippery when wet? Yes
Suitable for bikes <650cc? Intermediate
Suitable for bikes >650cc? Intermediate
River crossings? No
Fishers Track as it used to be. R.I.P
https://youtube.com/watch?v=jjSnv4JrouY
https://youtube.com/watch?v=VIwWYiwHyR4
https://youtube.com/watch?v=zuaYGDrSmhc
east west naming on the endpoints on the download are round the wrong way
cheers
D’oh! Fixed now. Thanks for letting me know.
This is a great little track – only 17km on the paper road, plus the 10 or so km of gravel to get back up to Raurimu, but well worth it. as of Christmas time 2015 track was in great condition – easily rideable on a loaded up 650> adventure bike. Caution will be needed in autumn/winter though due to grass and clay becoming slippery when wet, and some big drops down into the gully. But as a short summers day ride or a nice way to spend an extra hour when in the Nat Park area it is well worth a look. start from Nat Park railway station and head West to enjoy the views over the valley
Rode Fishers Track last week (mid Dec) and it was still very wet and boggy at the bottom end near the big house. My lack of skill didn’t help but I found it very tricky to find traction. Middle and upper sections are drying out nicely so a couple more warm days and it will be sweet!
Loved Part 2 video. Got all excited then saw it had been ‘improved’. Damn. Can anyone suggest what else would be comparable to Fisher’s Track, as it used to be?
Even tho I havent riden fishers Track the next best thing is going to be the 42 Traverse.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoyqhIYMMeA
Well I rode the track that has my name in it 😀 As far as farm tracks go (what if felt like to me) was in good condition, and although it may have been ‘dumbed’ down in recent years I found the gravel section towards Nat Park great fun as was uniform gravel with no center like you find on a normal gravel road traveled by cars. Bonus is some nice views to be had also.
Four crazy tenere riders went out to fishers track but it was to slippery and wet
Fishers Track currently has tress down across it near the western end.