Trans_NZ_North Island...4B-EASTERN routes_Clevedon to Woodville (2 options + Extras)

[glitch]

Touring The Trans-NZ ADV Route _ North Island

Segment 1. CAPE REINGA / AHIPARA *** SPECIAL ***
Segment 2. AHIPARA TO WAIPU (3 options)
Segment 3. WAIPU TO CLEVEDON
Segment 4A-WESTERN Routes_Clevedon to Woodville (2 options + Extras)
Segment 4B-EASTERN Routes_Clevedon to Woodville (2 options + Extras)
Segment 5. WOODVILLE TO WELLINGTON (3 options plus south-eastern gems!)



Touring The Trans-NZ ADV Route _ South Island...5334km

Segment 1. PICTON-TO-HANMER/CULVERDEN
Segment 2. HANMER/ CULVERDEN TO FAIRLIE
Segment 3. FAIRLIE TO NASEBY
Segment 4. NASEBY TO CROMWELL
Segment 5. CROMWELL TO MANAPOURI
Segment 6. MANAPOURI TO THE CATLINS (SOUTH COAST)



Touring The Trans-NZ ADV Route...the WHAT, WHY, WHERE + HOW



General NZ info and links


While the Waikato and Taranaki down the Mid-WestCoast are an ADV-Route-Mecca, the eastern side doesn't offer anywhere near the fill-of-thrill.
Still....there are some sweet spots and stretches around, if dotted far more sparsely. Therefore it's rather a matter of knitting the highlights together by the least-busy backroads than trying to squash in as many gems as possible.
The Coromandel, Gentle Annie, East Cape etc. will fill an "Extras"-section further down these listings as they are too far off the main north-south line to be part of the main routes.

[glitch]

OPTION A


This is the longest single segment of the entire routing-project with just under 1100km from Clevedon to Woodville, NOT including the multitude of possible variations and optional Extras.
Minimum time requirement is about 3 days, with one day each covering the mostly sealed road stretches in the north and south. The center part around Putere, Tiniroto and Motu will easily consume one day...if in a rush!
Suggested time frame is 4 days, add more days for Extras like Coromandel, East Cape or branching via Gentle Annie and Taihape.



Pt 1: Clevedon -> Opotiki/ Tirohanga



CLEVEDON -> SEABIRD COAST -> OHINEWAI RD -> SKIRTING ROTORUA -> OPOTIKI FOR FUEL, SUPPLIES, ACCOM, DAY-LOOPS, ETC


MAP 1 OF 2 : https://goo.gl/r9g3aW





CLEVEDON-> KAWAKAWA -> WAITI BAY (Coromandel Peninsula across the water)









SEABIRD COAST





STOP AT THE OLD ROCK CRUSHER AT THE KAIMAI TRAIL





GREAT SPOT TO SPEND A NIGHT...THE TOWER ROAD MOTEL AT THE MATAMATA OUTSKIRTS...AND JUST UP FROM THE THERMAL POOLS! :-)


KAREN AND TERRY ARE GREAT HOSTS:





ROTORUA ACCOM, APPROX 10KM OUT OF TOWN AT BLUE LAKE https://goo.gl/bhkAwh

BACKROADS AROUND ROTORUA DISTRICT





OPOTIKI COAST

[glitch]

Pt 2: Opotiki -> Woodville




OPOTIKI -> MOTU RD -> MOTU FALLS -> WHAKARAU RD -> WHAREKOPAE -> PEHIRI -> DONNERAILLE FALLS -> RUAKITURI -> OHUKA -> PUTERE -> LAKE ROTONUIAHA -> SH2 AND SH50 TO WOODVILLE


MAP 2 OF 2 https://goo.gl/Sc7V8Y







FUEL AND PROVISIONS IN OPOTIKI
-> MOTU RD


















-> MOTU FALLS





-> WHAKARAU RD













RAKAUROA RD/ SH2 JUNCTION ....fuel is 8km away in Matawai



-> WHAREKOPAE -> PEHIRI






IF FUEL IS AN ISSUE @ PEHIRI RD/ TINIROTO RD JUNCTION ....GO TOWARDS GISBORNE/ FIRST ROUNDABOUT TOWARDS NAPIER, MANUTUKE, 50km return!!


-> DONNERAILLE FALLS -> RUAKITURI









-> OHUKA -> PUTERE











-> LAKE ROTONUIAHA





-> SH2 AND SH50 TO WOODVILLE

[glitch]

EXTRAS.......COROMANDEL PENINSULA....THAMES-TO-FLETCHER BAY

A 230km return ride (incl. 65km gravel) of outstanding scenery and lots of "wowww-moments", this coastal gem can still be added to by the racetrack-smooth twisties of the SH25A from Thames across the spine of the Coromandel to the eastern shores. Stay at Whitianga and throw in a dip at Hot Water Beach or the Black Jack "curlies" for even more coastal delights to Opito Bay.
The final 32km from Colville past Port Jachson to the road's end at Fletcher Bay are usually good gravel....with a small beach and Campsite at the end.




MAP: https://goo.gl/Y9YSjb

[glitch]

EXTRAS.......COROMANDEL PENINSULA....DRIVING CREEK


DRIVING CREEK RAILWAY isn't your little tourist gizmo railway thing!
Nor a Puffing Billy or other "historic" choof-choof...

Instead, it's an outstanding engineering exercise (and NOT built by an engineer, but by that well-known Kiwi-knack to make something incredible from NOTHING!), it's a landscaping bonanza, it's one hell of a quirky thing where ever one cares to look, it's arty-crafty at a headshakin' scale, it's funny, it's impossible, and it started with the search for a pot of clay.
Bloody brilliant stuff...and occasionally hair-raising in its dare-do.




MAP: https://goo.gl/c9BRwA







Just north of the town of Coromandel










Great vistas from the Eyefull-Tower