The Whangaehu Valley is a great alternative for heading up or down the country while trying to avoid main roads. At it’s northern end the gravel section starts right on the junction where Whangaehu Valley road turns into Fields Track, the road is actually constructed to take you along that route, and you turn off the road on the outside of a 90 degree corner to continue on Whangaehu Valley Road. The southern end is off the main road between Wanganui and Hunterville.
Only about 1/3 of this distance is actually now unsealed as various work has reduced the gravel section over the past 5 years, however it’s still a pleasant ride and much more interesting than SH1. The unsealed portion of the road is generally well maintained and relatively smooth though it is common to find oncoming traffic and/or beef stock, turkeys or goats when you least expect them.
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
As of April 24th Whangaehu Valley is closed near Mangamahu due to slips from recent heavy rain.
Hi guys, This road is now pretty much open, there were lots of new slips over the weekend and I got about half way through this yesterday before a roadworker working on clearing a slip told me I wouldn’t be able to make it the whole way through, I accepted his challenge and made it, would probably be quite tricky on a big bike with there being some quite steep loose bits but no problems on a DR650 or smaller. Pics coming.
pics
HI there, was anybody here recently? I am heading up in early March and thought of taking this little road up. THanks
Yes, we came thru there yesterday. There is a couple of sections where there is heavy machinery doing work to remediate past damage. Because it runs next to a river, & is in steep clay hill country, I suspect that it’s an on going maintenance program.
Hi. Rode through here on Sunday and must have had my eyes open for once and noticed this big ole hole in the rock. Anyone know anything about it? Did a brief google search and didn’t come up with anything. I’m guessing it’s natural as it’s in the middle of nowhere but it is pretty perfectly formed.
Rode this on Saturday. No slips on the track and didn’t come across any traffic at all. Great ride and coming down Fields Track to Hiway 4 was enjoyable too. Rode it on a DR650.
hi,black dr650?did we see you at the bottom of the Burma Hill?we were on ktm 1290,yamaha t7,and a klr650
Yes it,s a great ride around that loop
Road this last Sunday. Got some rain up the top and it got a little cooler. The gravel was great and sat down almost all the way up. Bit deeper in places on the way down. Great day out. Some photos for ya.
Rode this road Auckland anniversary weekend, North bound. Road was in good nick with thick metal in places. No slips to negotiate! But, the Burma Hill was a hold on and make it to the top – no time to take pictures of that! One day we’ll get a GoPro maybe.
This road is now mostly sealed with very little gravel. Near the top Oruakukuru Rd heads North to SH4 (The Parapara’s) which is a nice metal road if you’re looking to spice it up. IMO the Whangaehu is a nice road but definitely the poor cousin to the Turakina Valley Rd.