Leslie Road Mamaku to Putaruru

[john m]

Can any one give me the current status of Leslie Rd for a weekend day drive in a Nissan Safari.I hear conflicting tales, It's closed by forestry co,pits gates etc.It's open but rough with a big mud hole 1m deep,Gates are open and it can be driven,It's a public road [confirmed by WAMS],It's a private forrestry road.HELP some local knowledge is wanted.

[Munks1]

You can ring Handcock forestry management in Tokoroa to find out.
I used to have permits for that area of the forest to take motorcycle tours through the forest 5 years ago.
Back then leslie Rd was a Transit NZ rd which is used as a emergency bypass for the Rotorua Hamilton state highway and was maintained by Transit. But even then, it had forestry gates and ditches dug in (fkn illegal). Mamaku end was usually locked but Putaruru end was always open.
They may not be forthcoming with that info so you could try Transit NZ instead.

[john m]

Thanks I went up to the Mamaku end today in the work van just for a look. The gate was open and did not appear to be in use. 100m past the gate it was way too rough for me to go any further I think its worth a go as WAMS show it is a public road.

9-12-12

Drove Leslie Rd today from the Mamaku end through to the Blue Spring apart from the rough patch 100m past the old gate its just a 2wd forestry
road.The Spring was worth the look.