The 309 Road is one of the few roads that allows East-West access across the Coromandel Peninsula from just North of the Coromandel airport on the West side to Whitianga on the East side. Once upon a time the road wasn’t much more than 2 rutted wheel tracks with grass growing between them bumping and winding their way through thick bush barely wide enough to drive a vehicle through. Nowdays the road is very different as it graded smooth and is at least one full lane wide.
Contributed by: @eddieb
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
Submitted by: Adventure Riding NZ
The first 7 minutes of the video below is of The 309 Road, the last 3 minutes are of the southern end of Port Jackson Road.
On 20th Dec the middle of the road where you climb up to the high point and down the other side is being worked on. Lots of horrible deep gravel on the tight twisty right angles. I’m certainly not a skilled rider, not a complete muppet either, but I nearly lost the front end a dozen times trying to slow the bike and get it turned in on the sharp bends. That bit was terrifying! Rest of the road is in great shape though and lots of fun.
Rode this over the weekend, quite a popular route for cagers and they can come around the tight corners pretty quick. Overall awesome ride with some deep gravel in a couple of areas to be wary of but other than that very easy trail. Would recommend stopping at the Waiau falls it’s only a few minute walk from the road!
Did this road May 2020 , I went in on the Whitianga side , there was no metal only a clay base for the first half of the road , a bit slippery in the shaded wet areas , lots of on coming traffic who don’t seem to slow down , the rest of the road was a mix of metal and tar seal , look out for the water fall and the waterworks cafe is worth stopping
Just passed through the 309 road last weekend. Dry and dusty. Waiau falls was mint!