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Moerangi Road is a gravel road that turns into a dirt track heading up Mt Pirongia from Oparau near Kawhia. There are great views out to Kawhia harbour from the road.
It is very close to the end of Pirongia West Rd, and the gravel section is similar in style.
The gravel section of the road is 11km long and after that the paper road continues for another few km as a formed dirt track. The dirt track is a mix of topsoil and clay, with patches of rotten rock and gets very slippery if wet.
I rode up Moerangi road today and at the end of the gravel was confronted with the sign saying “Moerangi road ends here NO ENTRY” and a high gate. The gate wasn’t locked but there was a chain beside it that made me think it is sometimes locked. Is the paper road closed or is the farmer over stepping the mark?
Storm has caused some damage to moerangi rd gravel section. I didn’t go up the paper road part but apparently it’s also a bit of a mess according to locals.
Accessible still.
Pirongia west says closed …fallen tree and slips but motor bike can get through.
We rode up there on Sunday 15th, got to the end of the gravel road, where the paper road starts, only for a local to turn up in her ute and get very angry at us, saying that we were trespassing as the road was closed, and the council didn’t want anyone using it (weird since we saw a number of other cars on the road – including her!) Apparently other motorbikes had been up earlier in the week and made a big mess?
Then 2km later, heading back along the gravel road, another local turned up and blocked the road, then proceeded to tell us he had called the cops, and they were waiting for us back at the main road – to which we explained we were more than happy to speak to the cops about riding on a public road. That stopped him in his tracks, we rode back to the main road but unfortunately no police to be found.
So the PUBLIC GRAVEL ROAD is a great ride, but beware the crazy local’s who really do think they own the road 🙂
I have to honest and say that when I went up on Thurs evening last week and took photos all the locals were very friendly and non territorial. They did all however say that the paper road was not public and to ask farmer first….as I did not intend going that far I didn’t query it.
Maybe if a lot of riders have since been using it they have lost their patience as they wait for repairs. ?
However as mentioned all locals were good with me.
I went up Moerangi yesterday, came across the attached sign at the little bridge around: S37 59.107 E174 57.464
Has anyone done the work to see where the road legally ends etc? (wasn’t there when I explored it ~5 years ago)
One thing for locals to take it upon themselves to illegally say a road is closed/ends, another if its private land beyond…
I rode up Moerangi road today and at the end of the gravel was confronted with the sign saying “Moerangi road ends here NO ENTRY” and a high gate. The gate wasn’t locked but there was a chain beside it that made me think it is sometimes locked. Is the paper road closed or is the farmer over stepping the mark?
Thanks
Chris
High Gate.
Storm has caused some damage to moerangi rd gravel section. I didn’t go up the paper road part but apparently it’s also a bit of a mess according to locals.
Accessible still.
Pirongia west says closed …fallen tree and slips but motor bike can get through.
More photos of damage to road
Next to bulldozed bit you can see where it came from
We rode up there on Sunday 15th, got to the end of the gravel road, where the paper road starts, only for a local to turn up in her ute and get very angry at us, saying that we were trespassing as the road was closed, and the council didn’t want anyone using it (weird since we saw a number of other cars on the road – including her!) Apparently other motorbikes had been up earlier in the week and made a big mess?
Then 2km later, heading back along the gravel road, another local turned up and blocked the road, then proceeded to tell us he had called the cops, and they were waiting for us back at the main road – to which we explained we were more than happy to speak to the cops about riding on a public road. That stopped him in his tracks, we rode back to the main road but unfortunately no police to be found.
So the PUBLIC GRAVEL ROAD is a great ride, but beware the crazy local’s who really do think they own the road 🙂
Otorohanga DC are saying that Moerangi Road is closed to the public until further notice on their website.
http://www.otodc.govt.nz/news-and-events/road-status/
Might explain why the locals were getting a bit toey?
I have to honest and say that when I went up on Thurs evening last week and took photos all the locals were very friendly and non territorial. They did all however say that the paper road was not public and to ask farmer first….as I did not intend going that far I didn’t query it.
Maybe if a lot of riders have since been using it they have lost their patience as they wait for repairs. ?
However as mentioned all locals were good with me.
I went up Moerangi yesterday, came across the attached sign at the little bridge around: S37 59.107 E174 57.464
Has anyone done the work to see where the road legally ends etc? (wasn’t there when I explored it ~5 years ago)
One thing for locals to take it upon themselves to illegally say a road is closed/ends, another if its private land beyond…