Dannevirke - Masterton
Login or Join Adventure Guide for full access to the Adventure Map, plus information including detailed route notes, fuel stops, food supplies/dining, accommodation, preparation and safety, downloadable GPX files plus a printable booklet.
Route Overview
General Overview
This Adventure was created and personally logged by Ross Bowden. Ross is a keen adventure rider with an extensive knowledge of the remote North Island track network.
This is a day trip that makes up the section from Dannevirke to Masterton and includes some of the best public gravel roads in the area.
These include Oporae, Waihi Valley, Rimu, Castle Hill, and Kaiwhata Roads.
This Adventure is best traveled in good weather as the views on a clear day are superb.
Start/Finish Point
This is an A to B route. Starting at Dannevirke and ending at Masterton. The GPX files are in this direction but it can be traveled in either direction.
Terrain includes
Awesome windy tarmac roads, great metal roads, fantastic scenery. All the gravel roads included in this route are Grade 1 in dry conditions.
Distance
257 km.
Max Fuel Leg
70 km into the route you will reach Pongaroa where fuel is available.
Travel Time
Average seat time is 5.0 hours at a steady pace allowing plenty of time to have a good look around some of the interesting places.
Along the route you pass:
Waihi Falls Road to Waihi Falls 34km from start.
Pongaroa. (Food and drink.)
Accommodation
We normally stay at this motel which provides basic and convenient accommodation at reasonable prices:
Acorn Estate Motel.
https://www.acornestate.co.nz/
Access Permission
All roads within this Adventure are publicly accessible so access permission is not required.
Access Limitations
This Adventure is recommended for fine weather. While it is possible to travel this route all year round, if there has been recent heavy rain there can be slippery, muddy sections.
Safety
While this is not considered a technical route it does include a few semi-remote areas so it is recommended to travel as a group with typical equipment including tools, spares and a PLB or emergency beacon.
