Offroad-Express

got a roadie planned in my head so was stalking google earth and found a route from waipukurau to masterton, heading thru porongahau and wimbledon etc using a road listed as 'route 52'

anyone travelled these roads that can inform me of their condition or better still does anyone have a way south without using the highways

It is a back block road parts of it are gravel and some of the sealed roads get tight but its still good enough that Ive had logging trucks on it

You can take a bit more gravel by going round the coast turning back in at akatea (sp)

There is a gravel road that short cuts not far out of akatea northwards towards Wimbleton
There is also the Akatea station road to Herbitvile but you need permission from the station manager

De-Ranged wrote:It is a back block road parts of it are gravel and some of the sealed roads get tight but its still good enough that Ive had logging trucks on it

You can take a bit more gravel by going round the coast turning back in at akatea (sp)

There is a gravel road that short cuts not far out of akatea northwards towards Wimbleton
There is also the Akatea station road to Herbitvile but you need permission from the station manager

cheers dude

been thru from herbertville to castlepoint via stations, was 2wd but still epic views.
would love to do it again but need a HB club member to organise I think

on another note, a wee birdie told me somebody from the bay was leaving town

yep, the birdy is right we will be heading south... was planing on putting the call out to see if anybody wants a hand with a project down there (don't like sitting at home doing nothing)... happy to work for alcohol

From Dannevirke end go Off Route 52 onto Tahoukaretu Road, runs into Birch Rd East, a couple of forks on that road but stay on Birch Rd East, it come out onto Wimbleton Road

It was a nice scenic road, narrow in places, it was a wet day and a nice trip through that one. No need for 4WD but a good road/track. I have the Garmin GPX route here of it if you need it.