A weekend of Central Plateau tracks including the famous 42nd Traverse,
Fishers Track and Hikumutu Road, with other tracks to be confirmed possibly including Old Whangamomona Road.
Accomodation will be at the Taumaranui Holiday Park where 4 and 5 berth cabins are available, these usually work out at about $25 per person if all 4 beds are filled, there are also twin and double cabins. Book your own cabin/bunk amongst yourselves.
The holiday park is 6-8km out of Taumaranui which has a supermarket and takeaways etc are available, and the campground has all the basic kitchen amenities.
Meet at the Taumaranui Holiday Park Friday night for an 8:30am start Saturday morning at the BP 2GO on the main road.
RSVP on the event listing so we know who’s coming: https://www.adventureridingnz.co.nz/events/207/taumaranui-42nd-traverse-fishers-track-etc-weekend/
The tracks we will be covering include gravel,river crossings, sand, dirt, possibly mud, grass and clay so proper knobbly tyres are required! no road tyres with wide grooves or else you’ll be pushing yourself. Each track linked to above contains a description and pictures and/or video of the terrain, it is your responsibility to be prepared!
Saturday Route – download a Routesheet or Garmin GPS Trackfile below
Using Google Maps to do the route sheets I can only map up to the start of the 42nd Traverse. At the end of the 42nd Traverse in Owhango rides can head back to Taumaranui either via SH4, or by gravel via Kawatahi Road opposite the Owhango pub then first right into Hikumutu Road and riding that in the reverse direction to the morning.
Sunday Route – download a Routesheet or Garmin GPS Trackfile below.
Google has hiccuped here, the ride ends at the junction of SH43 and Kohuratahi Road and riders can make their way home from there. If you clikc on the link for a larger map the correct route is shown.
For those heading North I may have some interesting roads to try out on the way.
GPS and Routesheet files attached below!
Lunch on Saturday will be at the cafe beside the Service Station at National Park, on Sunday it may pay to pack something for on the road, just in case.
With recent weather it is possible several sections of the ride may be impassable, or too risky to safely ride. I reserve the right for us to skip those sections if I deem it too unsafe. In that event anyone who continues through the unsafe section does so at their own risk.
The most likely sections to be reviewed would be the 42nd traverse and the Old Whangamomona Road.
When?
Updated with dates @mark-wareham.
I have a cabin booked with myself & Jake Maryniak and 1 bed temporarily reserved for @Jennifer Brodie.
Yup, put me down as a starter. Probably tent it though.
Actually, scrub that. I can’t make it mid week. Bugger..
In like flint, yeehaa lets ride!
It’s friday night/sat/sun? or get up early saturday and meet us then
‘@facebook-michael-eastwood1
Come on don’t be shy, shirly we can get down on the Friday night. Brrrapp!
7 signed up so far and indications are there could be another half dozen yet.
Just had a 5 day tour down there and rode all them trails on a CT110. If you go up the Whangamomona rd go over the bridge to somewhere and to the station 1km further. Ask them if you can do the other road back to Whangamomona. Great Fun.
The “Other Rd.” being this?
http://goo.gl/maps/PUuHy
yep, that looks like it. No idea exactly as it wasn’t on my map. We did a load of tracks n back roads but my gps crapped out and I missed logging the rides. Centre of NZ, piropiro, Ongarue to Tamauranui, Hikumutu, 42nd (south to north), Oio, Raurimu-Kaikiete, Fishers, Kurua, Upper Retaruke, Kawautahi, Makokomiko, Kururau, Old Whangomomoma, Tangarakau (according to your track), Junction, Tarata, Otarao, Okoki, Kaiwaru, Kaka, Uruti, Moki, Kiwi, Okau, Waitaanga, Waitewhena, Aria Rds. All fantastic rides, no problems on any of these so well recommended. If they weren’t technically challenging they were swoopy and great fun to ride. If you want any other info on these roads just ask.
A few of those will get added to the site in the next few weeks as I rode and tracked them over Christmas.
Is there any way of getting pre-authorisation to do that or is the only way to just rock up?
I’ve looked at it on the map and thought it would be a great track to do on this ride.
I don’t know, See if you can contact Aotuhia Station 06 7625545 or maybe ask the landlord at Whangamomona Hotel 06 7625823, he rides and had some good suggestions for rides in the area.
We stopped at the shearers quarters on the station, only $15 per person, nothing flash but everything you need except food n bedding.
Thanks 🙂
One more reason I stick to old school (paper maps).
Found the loop on the old AA ‘naki map (plus a few other interesting dead-ends).
Negotiated with the boss and she said I am “allowed” to go now 🙂 probably take my tent.
OK, a bunch of us are coming for sure:
Mike Breen
Kel Rood
Rob Searle
Jef Murupara Iken
Grant Vinten
Paul O’Connor
Mike Beuker
Barry Hall
and possibly Michael Wright but I’m waiting for his reply.
This team represents Whangerei, Auckland and Wellington riders, almost all of whom visit yr Facebook site regularly.
We’ll add this in between Fishers Track and the 42nd also to have a quick look
Pokaka Mill Campsite
Those coming in from as far away as Murupara, Whangerei etc might struggle unless they take time off on Friday.
To give them planning room, what time do you reckon we leave Taumaranui Edward?
Some of the Northland guys might want to ride all the way and some may stay with me in Auckland and head down early Sat morning.
Taumaranui is about 2.5 hrs drive/ride from Sth Auckland.
Michael Wright is confirmed and will probably head down Sat morning in a group of 8-9 riders
Edward,
What time are you planning on starting Sat morning? We will be coming down en masse from Auckland (9-12 bikes) on trailers so we don’t stuff the knobblies too much.
Need to know so we can plan when to leave Auckland. In vans with trailers it may be a three hour drive.
I would be keen on coming along to this.
I’ve got Friday off, all of that week and the previous week actually.
I’ll probably tent it.
Due to the nubmers confirmed already and it still being 6 weeks out it’s looking like we’ll need to be leaving Taumaranui by about 8:30am to get through everything for that day.
Any idea on ks and fuel stops? that will depend on what bike I take
umm, not exactly. I allow up to 300km’s between refills when planning rides, this is less than that so I haven’t specifically planned any fuel stops.
Saturday should only be about 200km’s unless we find some interesting diversions, there is fuel at National Park which is about half way.
Sunday I haven’t finalised yet but I think at this stage is going to be less than 200km before everyone splits for home.
We have a spare bed in our cabin if someone needs one.
You counted me in?
Yep, and there’s still one more bed.
Okay. Based on whether I finish work in good time and get home, I could be there by 2100 or a tad later.
BUT, count me in boys, I will be there at some stage so might be knocking on the door if I am a bit later.
What’s it gonna sting me?
I can ride the Saturday and Sunday but will peel off earlyish pm on the Sunday for the jaunt home.
As I don’t know where I am working or when Monday after the event, I might have to miss Sunday, but fingers crossed all will be good.
Hi Guys,
I’m keen to join in, question though, how do you recon this would be for a 1200 GS?
Too ambitious?
Cheers
I will be leaving Hams about 5pm, so probably there 7:30 ish to 8pm on Friday night
I will be leaving Hams about 5pm, so probably there 7:30 ish to 8pm on Friday night
I am gonna tent it…
I will be leaving approx the same time, maybe earlier dependent on work.
I plan to take the long way down….
Similar time for me.
Will be tenting it in my very cozy single man tent.
Ed, I’ll buy you a coffee if I can store a bag in your room!
Maybe we should meet up somewhere and travel together if we are leaving around the same time?
Yep, sounds like a cunning plan @Jake Maryniak
I think this could suit @facebook-michael-eastwood1 lets see what he has to say.
‘@Joao I don’t know a whole lot about it but I’d say you’re going to be fine as long as you have knobbly tires.
There is a Honda Dominator on towing duty 😉
I only have the set that came with the bike when it came new. Only 700kms old, so scrubbed in. Hopefully they will be ok for the 42nd
Hi Jake,
I do use a set of TKC80’s…
I have done it easily on a R100GS PD and have seen it done on 1150’s and 1200’s, but I’ve also seen 1200 riders struggle through it and have multiple off’s when the 42 was just a little damp.
How experienced and confident are you on rough terrain that may be muddy and slippery, and are you comfortable with the thought of dropping and potentially damaging the 1200?
The 42nd Traverse, Fishers Track, and the Old Whangamomona Road are not easy gravel rides, they are proper off road not just an unsealed road, and this isn’t an organised $300 tour with a support vehicle. If a vehicle is rendered inoperable it’s a long push out and a longer push home.
As long as you are comfortable with all that go for it!
Good, on something like a 1200 GS they are required for the 42nd Traverse, Fishers Track and the Old Whangamomona Road.
Here’s some video
Old Whangamomona Road
More
Fishers Track
42nd Traverse
So
The thing is, I’m looking at tracks like this precisely to bring my experience level up with the 1200. I do have some experience with smaller bikes.
About dropping the 1200 I have no problems with that.
I think that I’m probably mostly concerned about damaging my pride. 😉
that’s enough to put anyone off, whether a big bike, small bike….
come along, pride might get dented but no more than the dents already out there…
It is summer afterall, so it will be dry as……right?
TUI…..
Famous last words, I know, but ” You will be right” 🙂
Well that finally made get cracking and order a bash plate for the WR!
She’s being treated to a new MT21 on the rear for the trip to. Bloody spoilt.
I am wondering if it is worth freedom camping somewhere remote? I think this would be a great opportunity to camp out somewhere on a remote road, no showers, no toilets, just the peace and quiet, windy ridge type of thing….
Might be the go…..24 noisy riders in a campground…lol and not to mention , the big frikkin queue the next morning for the bogs/showers and petrol…:)
2 weeks to go!
My bike has shit itself and developed a bloody oil leak from the cylinder base gasket. I won’t have the time to get it sorted in time and so I have to bail out. Sorry.
F****ing work is getting in the way. Yes, no….and yes again…
With all 24 riders (or there abouts) and not all of them familiar with the roads, will we be running the point man/woman system at the intersections etc?
For those of you that have Garmin GPS or a compatible device, here the GPS track for Saturday in a 50 point track file.
The file contains 2 tracks of 50 points each with several waypoints.
Track 1:
Starts at Taumaranui and takes us down Hikumutu Road and several other backroads to Fishers Track and on to National Park Village. We’ll stop for gas and depending on time possibly a quick nibble at National Park village before heading down SH47 to Pokaka Mill campsite to check it out.
Track 2:
After Pokaka Mill campsite we backtrack along SH47 about 1500 metres to the entrance of the 42nd Traverse and into the good stuff. The 42nd Traverse comes out at Owhango where there is the option to head back to Taumaranui via SH4 or via Hikumutu Road again in the reverse direction by taking the road directly opposite Owhango pub, from where Hikumutu Road is the first on the right.
Compulsory run mate… Ed’s gonna be cracking skulls…
Sure you just don’t have brunch with John and Bronagh on Sat?