5 thoughts on “The Geographic Center of the North Island”

1. I did this one 3 days ago. The weather was wet but it did not deter me from having some fun. The ride is twisty gravel and occasional sand and mud in the wash-out areas. There was some 4wd traffic and some trampers so watch out for them. I did the whole track and detoured to the centre of NI as well, there is a YMCA hut there as well as amazingly managed to get a phone signal there to check  my maps.

   There are a lot of minor tracks that come off the main one and they look as if they could be fun if you have time and the skill, as invariably they look narrower and more rutted.  They are also a few off road zones near the track about this size of couple of tennis courts where you can try your hand at mud and sand and off-roading skills.

   I stayed at the camp site  Kakaho Campsite. in Pureora Forest Park. DOC and cheap at 10$ night. Long drop toilets but no water that I could find.  A nice site though with plenty of room.

2. Cool write up, was this a mountain bike/walking track only or ok for adventure bikes??

3. i went out for a ride a week ago to go to the geographic center of the north island again and discovered something interesting as a result. unfortunately i don’t have a gps and didn’t take my gopro either so no gps to follow.
   anyway, if you go to the center of the country and then continue to follow the road around to the south for another few Km you will reach the end of the road at a gate and sign post for a YMCA lodge. at this point i looked around and spotted a mountain bike track heading off to one side. the track looks like it was fairly well paved at one point so away i went. the track is almost completely covered over by trees and is a nice ride to start with, i meet a mountain bike rider pushing his bike coming the other way(it was uphill for him and fairly rough going) so if you go this way be aware that other users are around.the track gets fairly rough fairly quickly but was still passable on the 1150GS with a little bit of caution and modicum of skill. i managed to get 5km in before the track branched to go across the mangakino stream on a cable bridge for pushbikes and continued on through a cutting that i was not willing to try on the big bike but a smaller machine would probably get through with a bit of luck.i turned around at this point as i didn’t think i could get any further and rode back out. the track in was bare rock in a few places and bare clay in others with a few loose rock and dirt spots and one mud patch that was the result of a seepage but wouldn’t pose a problem to anyone. if it had been wet the track would be a challenge to most riders due to the clay and rocks, otherwise i would put it at a medium skill level track. looking at the satellite picture the track continues another few km until it swings around to the mangakineo stream again and i presume a crossing of some sort but i don’t know for sure.

4. The obelisk has been upgraded (although signage still the same so downloading this gpx is recommended) and the main forestry roads are in good nick. Was really cool to ride along and have the mist rising out of the forest. There is plenty to explore if you have the time, the side tracks being what they are, are rougher.

   
   
   Shortcut back to link road
   

5. rode this for the second time the other day – it’s a really nice little side trip if you are on SH30 or in the Whakamaru area. Forest roads are in great condition and a great place for beginers to ride. Can be done on road tyres too. It’s not well sign posted but it easy enough to find. I started from the north end (SH30 Bennydale) end both times. Get off SH30 where’s it’s signposted for PA HEREKEKE, go past the Pa and round to the right, follow the road along past some concrete buildings (Pureora forest accomodation/visitor centre). Go past the start of the Timber Trail cycle route, and veer right when the road splits. This is link road. Just keep following Link Rd, and stay on Link road at any point where the road splits. Eventually you’ll come accross a sign on your right, pointing LEFT for Centre of NI – go down here, take another signposted left turn, and you’ll be at the parking area. It’s only a 200m walk to the marker post. Some people will be tempted to ride their bikes into the bush to the marker for a photo, be beware there are two very narrow wooden platforms with decent drops underneath to be negotiated. Cool place to go. Not many people know it’s even there.