Owawenga Road is a short distance from Otorohanga in the Waikato. Immediately South of the bridge over the Wairoa River on SH3 head East on Otewa road. After about 20km the road splits and you’ll see Owawenga Road signposted to the right via Waimahora road, follow that another 2.3km and Owawenga Road starts on the right.
Starting as well groomed but loose gravel Owawenga Road winds it’s way into the hills for about 13km until it appears to head straight through a numbered gate into private property. A smaller 2 rut 4wd track heading off to the left is actually Owawenga Road, going straight ahead does go into private property.
From here the track gets a little rougher with larger stones, pot holes and small water ruts, and in places a lot of sheep, but nothing particularly technical. As you continue there are 3 gates to open and close again and the track deteriorates further, becoming more rutted in places, with Toitoi growing right across the track and occasional mud puddles the further in you get.
There are a number of tracks disappearing off each side of Owawenga Road, one beside one of the gates I didn’t attempt as it was very muddy, a second at ~16km marked by a large tractor tyre on the side of the road and recorded in the GPS track I went down about 1km until it became very narrow, lumpy and slippery so I turned back.
At about 18km a back country hut is signposted off to the right. The track to the hut is only 50 metres long but it does involve several tight turns down to a stream crossing which may catch some riders out.
At about the 24km mark the track ends at a locked gate preventing access onto private land.
This area is popular with hunters and there was evidence of 4×4’s using it as well so there may be other traffic at any time.
Tie Owawenga Road in with Tauraroa Valley Road – Hoddle Road for a bigger ride.
Contributed by: @whacko1701
Track type: Dirt track
Track composition: Bumpy, Muddy, Undulating
Slippery when wet?: Yes
Suitable for bikes <650cc? Intermediate
Suitable for bikes >650cc? Intermediate
River crossings? Yes
This looks awesome, I think this will be our next Waikato ride.
could you let me know if you do go that way as i would like to go out that way again and try a few of the side tracks and i would be happy to try them with someone else along.
‘@Aaron Robertson, want to try this again today? I’m planning on leaving Hamilton at 10, be in Otothanga about 11.
Anyone else want to join in?
So I headed out here today to GPS track Owawenga Road and wow, @Aaron Robertson has found a minter here. A full page with GPS track download will be up soon but here’s a few pics from my ride today.
Off the the smooth stuff
This was down a side track, I stopped here as it was getting lumpy, wet, and narrow and I was on my own
Looking back up to where I stopped
I didn’t even try to go down this side track, there’s still more to explore
I did Owawenga Road yesterday and it’s in good condition.
@Hadrian Haine @Mark Claasen etc this would be a good small bike explore ride, there are at least 3 or 4 tracks that disappear off into the bush used by quads.