Coro loop NZ

[treedoc_imp]

I met up with a mate and ran the coro loop today, those of you that have been to NZ may have ridden it.

The Coromandel Loop is pretty famous here in NZ, iconic coastal and mountain roads blessed with twisty tarmac and spectacular scenery.

We left Tauranga at about 7am, over the Kaimai Ranges, up through the Old Te Aroha Rd to Thames. These are really nice bush and farm roads but the fun was just beginning.

From there its up the west coast to Coromandel Town, narrow winding roads through some of the most beautiful scenery, with the Hauraki Gulf on one side and the Coromandel Ranges on the other.

From Coro town we blasted over the ranges to Kuaotunu, this epic stretch of road is very winding with excellent views from the summit across both coasts.

After a few kms along the surf beach, we headed down the east coast to Whangamata, once again the ride is rail to rail with spectacular ocean and mountain views.

We stopped for lunch with another mate at the Smashed Pipi at Whanga, before heading 130km down the east coast home again.

All up it was about 500km of mostly carving, and with a few stops along the way took us about 8hrs.

I had big plans of taking heaps of photos, but only took one in the end... next time maybe :blush:

 

[max]

Aaaahhh lemme guess; the wharf at Coro township?
Yup, nice place to have lunch, can get really hectic real fast when the tide is in, think i was there last week.
Remember doing the top part from Auckland, over 500k all up, nice day but glad i was home again, you're right about the roads, just endless curves and not a lot of traffic if you pick the right day, my favorite would be from Whangamata to waihi, i got bits of it on video for the cold indoor days.
Thanks for posting doc and best wishes.

 

[Cormanus]

Looks fantastic, treedoc. More photos next time, please.

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

Thanks for sharing the story treedoc. Although still far from ideal, sometimes letting an HD camera roll for parts of the ride can capture things missed or wished to stop for and take a snap (or a nap).

 

[the Ferret]

sounds like a great ride. I love the names you guys have to deal with lol

 

[pdedse]

I met up with a mate and ran the coro loop today, those of you that have been to NZ may have ridden it.

The Coromandel Loop is pretty famous here in NZ, iconic coastal and mountain roads blessed with twisty tarmac and spectacular scenery.

We left Tauranga at about 7am, over the Kaimai Ranges, up through the Old Te Aroha Rd to Thames. These are really nice bush and farm roads but the fun was just beginning.

From there its up the west coast to Coromandel Town, narrow winding roads through some of the most beautiful scenery, with the Hauraki Gulf on one side and the Coromandel Ranges on the other.

From Coro town we blasted over the ranges to Kuaotunu, this epic stretch of road is very winding with excellent views from the summit across both coasts.

After a few kms along the surf beach, we headed down the east coast to Whangamata, once again the ride is rail to rail with spectacular ocean and mountain views.

We stopped for lunch with another mate at the Smashed Pipi at Whanga, before heading 130km down the east coast home again.

All up it was about 500km of mostly carving, and with a few stops along the way took us about 8hrs.

I had big plans of taking heaps of photos, but only took one in the end... next time maybe :blush:

I read these first few lines, stopped, poured another cup of coffee, nestled in to my covid-19 zoom chair, ready to continue....

I met up with a mate and ran the coro loop today, those of you that have been to NZ may have ridden it.

The Coromandel Loop is pretty famous here in NZ, iconic coastal and mountain roads blessed with twisty tarmac and spectacular scenery.

We left Tauranga at about 7am, over the Kaimai Ranges, up through the Old Te Aroha Rd to Thames. These are really nice bush and farm roads but the fun was just beginning.

From there its up the west coast to Coromandel Town, narrow winding roads through some of the most beautiful scenery, with the Hauraki Gulf on one side and the Coromandel Ranges on the other.

From Coro town we blasted over the ranges to Kuaotunu, this epic stretch of road is very winding with excellent views from the summit across both coasts.

After a few kms along the surf beach, we headed down the east coast to Whangamata, once again the ride is rail to rail with spectacular ocean and mountain views.

We stopped for lunch with another mate at the Smashed Pipi at Whanga, before heading 130km down the east coast home again.

All up it was about 500km of mostly carving, and with a few stops along the way took us about 8hrs.

I had big plans of taking heaps of photos, but only took one in the end... next time maybe :blush:

Yes! Here come the photos, gleefully rubbing my hands together.

I met up with a mate and ran the coro loop today, those of you that have been to NZ may have ridden it.

The Coromandel Loop is pretty famous here in NZ, iconic coastal and mountain roads blessed with twisty tarmac and spectacular scenery.

We left Tauranga at about 7am, over the Kaimai Ranges, up through the Old Te Aroha Rd to Thames. These are really nice bush and farm roads but the fun was just beginning.

From there its up the west coast to Coromandel Town, narrow winding roads through some of the most beautiful scenery, with the Hauraki Gulf on one side and the Coromandel Ranges on the other.

From Coro town we blasted over the ranges to Kuaotunu, this epic stretch of road is very winding with excellent views from the summit across both coasts.

After a few kms along the surf beach, we headed down the east coast to Whangamata, once again the ride is rail to rail with spectacular ocean and mountain views.

We stopped for lunch with another mate at the Smashed Pipi at Whanga, before heading 130km down the east coast home again.

All up it was about 500km of mostly carving, and with a few stops along the way took us about 8hrs.

I had big plans of taking heaps of photos, but only took one in the end... next time maybe :blush:

Ok, ok... epic stretches, excellent views, spectacular ocean AND mountain views, stop already! Bring on the...

I met up with a mate and ran the coro loop today, those of you that have been to NZ may have ridden it.

The Coromandel Loop is pretty famous here in NZ, iconic coastal and mountain roads blessed with twisty tarmac and spectacular scenery.

We left Tauranga at about 7am, over the Kaimai Ranges, up through the Old Te Aroha Rd to Thames. These are really nice bush and farm roads but the fun was just beginning.

From there its up the west coast to Coromandel Town, narrow winding roads through some of the most beautiful scenery, with the Hauraki Gulf on one side and the Coromandel Ranges on the other.

From Coro town we blasted over the ranges to Kuaotunu, this epic stretch of road is very winding with excellent views from the summit across both coasts.

After a few kms along the surf beach, we headed down the east coast to Whangamata, once again the ride is rail to rail with spectacular ocean and mountain views.

We stopped for lunch with another mate at the Smashed Pipi at Whanga, before heading 130km down the east coast home again.

All up it was about 500km of mostly carving, and with a few stops along the way took us about 8hrs.

I had big plans of taking heaps of photos, but only took one in the end... next time maybe :blush:

Now get back out there and do that rout again! Photos, please.

 

[treedoc_imp]

Yeah sorry about the lack of photos fellas.
I had every intention, I clicked over 20,000km and meant to take a pic for the milestones thread, I dunno what happened lol. It really is beautiful there.

Max your spot on, the coro wharf. I havent been up there for ages and was amazed how many people were about... the cafe staff were saying visitor numbers are above pre-covid levels with kiwis travelling local.

The development at Whitianga is crazy with the waterways and new subdivisions going in.
Traffic was fine until back at Katikati where there is roadworks everywhere.

I might take the boat up to Te Kouma to fish the mussel farms later this week, if so I will add some pics I promise!

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

Yeah sorry about the lack of photos fellas.
I had every intention, I clicked over 20,000km and meant to take a pic for the milestones thread, I dunno what happened lol. It really is beautiful there.

Max your spot on, the coro wharf. I havent been up there for ages and was amazed how many people were about... the cafe staff were saying visitor numbers are above pre-covid levels with kiwis travelling local.

The development at Whitianga is crazy with the waterways and new subdivisions going in.
Traffic was fine until back at Katikati where there is roadworks everywhere.

I might take the boat up to Te Kouma to fish the mussel farms later this week, if so I will add some pics I promise!

So-kay treedoc, nuttin' wrong doing it all over again on the CB1100.

 

[Cormanus]

pdedse, ask your sister what 'We're all rooting for you' is likely to mean in the antipodes.

 

[max]

For those who are wondering what this route looks like here are some highlights from the lower part of the loop including the local funny place names;

cheers.

 

[pdedse]

pdedse, ask your sister what 'We're all rooting for you' is likely to mean in the antipodes.

Oh...Google says that it means... :blush: ... If I had asked my sister she'd probably have thrown a fit, wondering what I was up to.

For those who are wondering what this route looks like here are some highlights from the lower part of the loop including the local funny place names;

cheers.

Thanks for the video! That was cool. The first car that came at me on the right side through me for a loop! I need to ride there some day just to mess with my brain if nothing else.

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:biker:
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[Henrik_imp]

Back in 2007 I did a drive around the North Island with a camper van (RV), and was just stunned by the beauty of your country. There were many memorable moments on that trip, and certainly driving around Coromandel was one of the better ones. I remember vividly how I kept thinking that I must come back one day to do the same tour on a motorcycle, because your roads just beg to be ridden!!

Just to save the thread a little bit, here are some pictures from that trip around Coromandel. I don't precisely remember the names where each picture was taken, but I am sure the locals may recognize them:

A funny story after the Coromandel was that we headed to Taupo. First of all, I wanted to do a bungee jump there, which was amazing, but we also have a very good friend who is much involved in motorsports in NZ after a long career in F1. He told us to go to the Taupo track as he had a friend working there that would be able to let us have a go around the race track.

When we arrived, there were some race cars out on track, and the friend told me that when they were do we would be able to get out on track. At that point I thought that I would be able to go with one of the simpler race cars he had there, and was getting all excited. After a while sitting at our camper van sipping coffer, he comes over and tells me we can now go out on the track. So I ask him what car I can take, and he looks at our camper van and goes "Well you came with that, so go out on track with that"...

I was a bit bummed, as a camper is about as far from a track car you can get! Oh well, we got in the van and off we went on the track. I did get some nice photos of the van on the track though, and a great memory.

 

[max]

Kiwis have a special sense of humor Henrik as you've found out and knowing someone who knows someone else speeds things up no end given the right approach, the second picture looks like lake Taupo, the rock is possibly Castle rock on the road south of Coromandel township, the picknic table could be Whangamata, the lower two are just north of Castle rock as you come down off the hill returning from Coromandel by the looks.

Some of the trees are pre-historic and look very primitive and unique as you no doubt have seen, very nz.

The south island has actually better scenery and some alpine landscape but not like Switzerland, more like lord of the rings i have driven there and it is impressive but can be a bit desolate in places.

Yes, the left hand drive thing, i had considered mirror imaging the video to make it less intimidating but oh well.
Glad you enjoyed it here, thanks for the response and the pictures.

 

[Henrik_imp]

I have heard that the South Island is a bit more like Switzerland. Maybe one day I will visit there too, but I just loved it on the North Island. My friends now live in Mangonui full time. We stayed a night with them up there back in 2007, and that whole area is just incredible. I still remember having some of the best fish ever at the Mangonui fish shop, with fresh fish going straight from the boat to the kitchen.

As for the second picture, I thought it was around Tairua somewhere. Even if we went to Taupo, I don't really recall visiting the lake Taupo. After Taupo track, we went and stayed the night in Rotorua.

 

[treedoc_imp]

Great vid thanks Max, looks like there was not much traffic. When we were coming over from Coromandel we thought we were going at a decent pace, when a sportbike with a girl on the back blasted past us.
She was perched up on a tiny seat holding on, she might have been having a great time, or terrified, I dont know.
I see you use 91, my mate gave me a sideways look putting 91 in mine, he was using premium in his hornet.
I love the camper on the racetrack Henrik, I bet there aren't many people who can claim that, yours might be the only camper to have ever raced at Broadlands!!!