3000km in 5 days?

[Jem Thompson]

I have weeks break coming up and am going on trip around the North Island. The plan is to head off from Auckland, to Wellington and back via the coasts, including up and down Corromandel. I hope to avoid SH1 if possible. I hope to rack up over 3000km over the week, and was wondering if this is feasible or not (600-700km per day), as I have not done a trip like this before. The car by the way, is a rented Daihatsu Sirion

[Kiwi XTR2]

That kind of mileage is very do-able but particularly at this time of year (with the shorter days) you won't get to see much other than from the drivers seat.

If you're on a driving mission that's fine but if you want to see and do things then than much milage EVERY day is too much.

Edited by Kiwi XTR2 on Wednesday 10th June 10:21

[Jem Thompson]

Thanks. I am not out to see anything in particular, I have lived here all my life, so not really interested in touristy stuff. The only thing I want to visit is the car museum in Paraparumu if it is open, the last time I went there I was about 10, so did not appreciate the metal in there. There is a 320km road loop around the Hunuas I like to go on when I want a good blast, and on a good day it takes just under four hours, so I guess 600-700km per day could be bearable.

[GravelBen]

In January I did a road trip from Cromwell to Taupo for the A1GP, total of 2686km - drove up thursday night/friday morning and back sunday night/monday. That was no trouble at all, 2 of us sharing the driving made it easier but had time for a few stops on the way.


ETA: The car was a bit more enjoyable than a Daihatsu though I must say

Edited by GravelBen on Wednesday 10th June 11:21

[Bull1t]

Does it have to be a Sirion? If it was me its probably only going to add something like $10 a day (or less) to upgrade to a Corolla...still hardly exciting but abit more competent.

[Jem Thompson]

It does have to be a Sirion unfortunately. I only turned 18 last week, and there is only one rental company that rents to 18+ y/olds. They have Corollas over the summer, but not in winter. The alternative was a Nissan Sunny. But I guess I cant argue with $17 per day.

[Kylie]

Go for it am real jealous, oh and to be 18 again you can hack it!! I think if I did that distance each day in a small car I would feel really tired. As already said though you will be pushing it to cram in sight seeing stops etc, but do able. Take heaps of pics to share when you get back - enjoy

[Jem Thompson]

Thanks alot, I will try and get my hands on a camera. Does anyone know some good roads around Wellington. On the way there I am doing SH43 through Whangamoaona or whatever its called, and on the way back the Napier-Gisborne highway (it was called the most dangerous road in the country . I am spending a night in Wellington, then plan to head off early ( ) for a bit of a blat, then to the Southward car museum, then Napier for the night. I have not been to Welly for years, but hear the Rimutakas are quite nice.

[Fraster]

Driving Creek Road from Coromandel north through Kennedy bay and Tuateawa, then on to port Charles and Sandy bay/ Stony Bay (northernmost point accessible by road on the East -most dramatic-side of the Coromandel) is rough! loose-metal switchbacks and some big drop-offs! You're a student and don't want to get stung so check that insurance is valid for these roads-I think some companies still refuse to insure on ultra-rough stuff and it sometimes happens that people only find out about the small print after a loose-metal off- and resultant damage. Better option may be Kopu-Hikuai (lovely road) to Tairua, then Whitianga-Kuaotunu-Whangapoua-Coromandel Town, then south down West side of peninsula to Thames (or vice-versa) This is still beautiful and the roads are all sealed. Road is also sealed from Coro town to Colville and a little way towards Waikawau (south) or Port Charles (north) but then seal disappears and roads are as above -not something you want in a rented Sirion when you're tired and it's dark -or maybe you do? either way, it's as well that you know the score. Here endeth the epistle.

[Jem Thompson]

Fraster, you seem to know Corromandel well, a bit of a test track for you is it? I actually work for the company I am renting the car from, so I know that anywhere past Colville= invalid insurance (and probably a right bking from my boss too). I have ridden my bike around the end of the Coro' a couple of times, and the roads are stunning. I was just thinking, SH26 up to Tairua, then across the middle, and back down the other side. Is the road across the middle sealed? I don't mind gravel, but it slows you down a bit, which isn't good for your average speed.

Edited by Jem Thompson on Wednesday 10th June 23:28

[Omerta]

Jem Thompson said:

Does anyone know some good roads around Wellington. On the way there I am doing SH43 through Whangamoaona or whatever its called, and on the way back the Napier-Gisborne highway (it was called the most dangerous road in the country . I am spending a night in Wellington, then plan to head off early ( ) for a bit of a blat, then to the Southward car museum, then Napier for the night. I have not been to Welly for years, but hear the Rimutakas are quite nice.

Whangamomona is an awesome road, especially when done without speed limits or caravans

Southwards is on the west coast route in to Welly so would make more sense to see it on your way in, but if you really want to go the long way from Welly to Napier via Southwards taking in some narrow and twisty roads you could go:

Wellington - Pauatahanui - Paekakariki Hill (Targa stage) - Paraparaumu (Southwards) - Waikanae - Akatarawas (Targa stage) - Upper Hutt - Rimutakas - then through the Wairarapa up to Napier.
That's a long day's driving though...

Another great little road that was a Targa stage last year is Moonshine Valley - goes between Pauatahanui and comes out south of Upper Hutt. If you left Welly on SH2 you could do that and pick up the earlier route from Pauatahanui. That's a REAL long day though!

Edited by Omerta on Thursday 11th June 00:46

[Fraster]

Jem Thompson said:

Fraster, you seem to know Corromandel well, a bit of a test track for you is it? I actually work for the company I am renting the car from, so I know that anywhere past Colville= invalid insurance (and probably a right bking from my boss too). I have ridden my bike around the end of the Coro' a couple of times, and the roads are stunning. I was just thinking, SH26 up to Tairua, then across the middle, and back down the other side. Is the road across the middle sealed? I don't mind gravel, but it slows you down a bit, which isn't good for your average speed.

Edited by Jem Thompson on Wednesday 10th June 23:28

Sure-It's all sealed through there. Only temptation for you might be the 309 road, which runs over the hills from near Whitianga to near Coro town: it's actually pretty civilised for a loose-metal road-specially c.f. roads like Driving Creek through Kennedy's. I use it as a quick way from Coro to points South-East on the Peninsula as the road past Matarangi/Whangapoua/Kuaotunu is pretty, but a long way around. If you were to find you were running short on time, you've got the option of the Tapu-Coroglen Road to return you to the west side, too. Have fun!

Edited by Fraster on Thursday 11th June 02:42

Edited by Fraster on Thursday 11th June 02:43

[Fraster]

...also worth mentioning, assuming for the moment, that this is news to you, is that the road from Waitakaruru, through Kaiaua and over the hill to Kawakawa Bay, then to Clevedon and then either via Twilight Road (watch for cyclists) or over the other hill just the Papakura side of Clevedon to Brookby,then on to Motorway via Manurewa is a good deal more entertaining than the tedious haul along SH2 from Thames to the Bombays!

[mark387mw]

Whilst your in Hawke's Bay, there is another museum you could visit. It's the other end of the spectrum to Southwards. I liken it to the saviour of all rejected classics from Trade Me! clicky and the gallery

---

Are you staying in backpackers or looking for a motel to say in

[Jem Thompson]

Fraster said:

...also worth mentioning, assuming for the moment, that this is news to you, is that the road from Waitakaruru, through Kaiaua and over the hill to Kawakawa Bay, then to Clevedon and then either via Twilight Road (watch for cyclists) or over the other hill just the Papakura side of Clevedon to Brookby,then on to Motorway via Manurewa is a good deal more entertaining than the tedious haul along SH2 from Thames to the Bombays!

That is one of my favourite local roads, actually. Whenever I get my hands on something vaguely interesting, I try to take it there. I usually take the motorway to Huntly, then head up Hetherington Rd/Highway 22 to Mercer, then over the bridge towards Miranda. Fish and chips in Kaiaua, then around the bays through to Clevedon. In my experience there are few idiots that can ruin it though, like the Subaru wagon I followed at a pretty decent pace in my hired Corolla, before he turned right at a badly sighted (ie left facing intersection), at about 70, or the motorhome driver who tried to run me off the road as I overtook him.

[alex.tvr]

Am on a roadtrip to Queenstown at present (I live in New Plymouth). Averaging 400km a day, am knackered after only 2 days - must be getting old

[GravelBen]

Plenty of nice roads for you! Which way are you going?

[alex.tvr]

Am in Methven, tomorrow to Queenstown - whichever way the Satnav says !?
Next week QT to Nelson via the West Coast.
Great scenery so far, wife in passenger seat of SUV, so can't enjoy the roads too much

Dumb (townie North Islander) question, but do I need snowchains for any of the main roads?

Cheers

Alex

[GravelBen]

I wouldn't think so at the moment, there is a bit of snow forecast for Sunday/Monday but doesn't look like much and with 4wd you only really need chains once it gets packed hard anyway. Only roads on your route high enough that snow could be an issue (with current weather forecast) are the Lindis Pass (900m altitude, you'll go over that tomorrow), Crown Range (1100m, Queenstown-Wanaka, you can go via Cromwell if it gets snowed in up there) and Haast Pass (600m, Wanaka-West Coast).

Fantastic roads all the way, by about halfway through tomorrow you'll probably be wishing you weren't in a SUV Nice time of year for the scenery though, good bit of snow on the hills now.

PS well worth the side trip to Mt Cook on the way through if you haven't been there - half an hour or so off the main drag between Tekapo-Twizel so a bit more driving but it really is a spectacular place.

Edited by GravelBen on Thursday 11th June 09:15

[Kylie]

Ben whats the situ with the ski fields down there at the moment do you know? Might be skooting down there real soon to meet some Poms that are fresh off the boat