Waikaremoana.... finally
Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 12:50 am
It's taken me 30 odd years to get around to getting to this remote piece of real estate.
I had 4 days up my sleeve and a brand new Givi V46 top box to try out. So with Pete in toe on his RT off we went in search of the great unknown.
The trip north from Wellington (that's the capital of NZ) was via the minor roads that run between the state highways and the coast from Masterton to Hastings, then on to Wairoa before turning west into the Te Urewera National Park....you should by now have Google maps up on the screen.
Leaving Wairoa, we had 40 km of sealed road then 25 km of gravel roads later we arrived at the lake motor camp, half an hour before the camp store closed, which was lucky because a self contained chalet with cooking facilities is useless without food.
At sunrise we hit the road, did I mention the sign that indicated 105km of unsealed road, well we averaged 37kmh for the first hour, before the road started to open out. Tame horses on the roadside were where ever ther were a few houses, sorta hillbilly style. After about 2 1/2 hours we hit the blacktop and headed for Tauranga via Galatea and the Bay of Plenty coastal route.
At Tauranga we visited the local BMW agent, free coffee (small things but). Then with another in toe on a CB1300 we headed for Coromandal .
One of the best days riding of the 4 days, was around the Coromanda, via Waihi, Tairua, Whitianga, Coromandal town and down to Thames for the night. Smooth blacktop winding, switch back for miles and miles and miles...
Day three was a meander southward through minor roads to Hamilton and straight down to the Para Para road, another winding valley road where we caught up with 3 other riders, and headed to Ohakune for a night of fine food and liquor before the trudge back home down the main highway.
All this is glorious sunshine...
Motorcamp chalet at Waikaremoana
Wairoa cabins
Lake Waikaremoana.
ditto
My photos don't do this landscape justice, the trouble is it's hard to stop and take photos when your having so much fun!!
I had 4 days up my sleeve and a brand new Givi V46 top box to try out. So with Pete in toe on his RT off we went in search of the great unknown.
The trip north from Wellington (that's the capital of NZ) was via the minor roads that run between the state highways and the coast from Masterton to Hastings, then on to Wairoa before turning west into the Te Urewera National Park....you should by now have Google maps up on the screen.
Leaving Wairoa, we had 40 km of sealed road then 25 km of gravel roads later we arrived at the lake motor camp, half an hour before the camp store closed, which was lucky because a self contained chalet with cooking facilities is useless without food.
At sunrise we hit the road, did I mention the sign that indicated 105km of unsealed road, well we averaged 37kmh for the first hour, before the road started to open out. Tame horses on the roadside were where ever ther were a few houses, sorta hillbilly style. After about 2 1/2 hours we hit the blacktop and headed for Tauranga via Galatea and the Bay of Plenty coastal route.
At Tauranga we visited the local BMW agent, free coffee (small things but). Then with another in toe on a CB1300 we headed for Coromandal .
One of the best days riding of the 4 days, was around the Coromanda, via Waihi, Tairua, Whitianga, Coromandal town and down to Thames for the night. Smooth blacktop winding, switch back for miles and miles and miles...
Day three was a meander southward through minor roads to Hamilton and straight down to the Para Para road, another winding valley road where we caught up with 3 other riders, and headed to Ohakune for a night of fine food and liquor before the trudge back home down the main highway.
All this is glorious sunshine...
Motorcamp chalet at Waikaremoana
Wairoa cabins
Lake Waikaremoana.
ditto
My photos don't do this landscape justice, the trouble is it's hard to stop and take photos when your having so much fun!!