Ararua Road starts just before Matakohe. There is a very sharp (90 degree) left hander on SH12 and Ararua goes straight on from that. Ararua Road starts out as a nice sealed road passing an old defunct sawmill before rising to the Poyner Road intersection. The gravel starts at the intersection and carries on until just before Waiotira.
Its a lovely gravel back road but a little busier than others in the area so watch out for oncoming traffic. Views are mostly rural farmland but there are some really nice bush sections and a few decent streams crossed by two fairly big bridges, one old and one new.
Ararua Road leads to a number of other interesting pieces of gravel, such as Bull, Poyner/Birch, Hartnell and eventually up to Mititai, Pikiwahine, Omana Roads and points further north. A great days ride can be had by joining up these little roads.
Gas up at Paparoa or Dargaville or Maungatapere, depending on which way you come in.
Contributed by: @oldbeer
Track type: Gravel Road
Track composition: Smooth, Firm, Undulating
Slippery when wet?: No
Suitable for bikes <650cc? Beginner
Suitable for bikes >650cc? Beginner
River crossings? No
