Whangamata
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| Starting point |
Papakura Autobahn |
| Distance |
259 km |
| Gravel |
None |
| Petrol |
Available at Kopu, Whangamata, Waihi, Paeroa, Ngatea |
| Toilets |
Available at Waitakaruru, Whangamata, Waihi, Paeroa, Ngatea |
| Lunch |
Whangamata |
This route is sometimes called the Southern Coromandel Loop. It crosses the main Coromandel Range on State Highway 25A and a south-eastern spur on SH 25, and also goes through the Karangahake Gorge on SH 2. There are a lot of steep, winding roads, and generally there's not much traffic on them. This route was once one of the more dangerous for motorcyclists, but an initiative by the New Zealand Transport Agency and Motorcycle Safety Advisory Council has reduced the accident rate significantly.
Suggested route
| Notes | Directions | Alternatives |
|---|
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Papakura BP at the Motorway Service Centre |
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↓1.5 km |
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Drury motorway exit. Turn right onto State Highway 22. |
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↕750 metres |
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Turn left onto Great South Road. |
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↕4.0 km |
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Turn left onto Ararimu Road |
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↕8.0 km |
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Continue straight on onto Dunn Road. |
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↕0.3 km |
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Turn right onto Totara Road. |
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↕3.2 km |
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Turn left onto Paparimu Road. |
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↕4.3 km |
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Turn right onto Lyons Road. |
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↕2.6 km |
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Turn left onto Mangatawhiri Road. |
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↕4.9 km |
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Veer left onto Mangatangi Road. This becomes Miranda Road. |
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↕12.1 km |
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Turn right at the T-junction to stay on Miranda Road. This becomes Front Miranda Road. |
See the Kaiua loop and Coromandel coast for alternative ways of getting to this junction |
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↕7.2 km |
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| There are public toilets at this junction. |
Turn left at Waitakaruru onto State Highway 25. |
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↕18.1 km |
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Turn right at the roundabout onto State Highway 26. |
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↕0.4 km |
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Turn left onto State Highway 25A. |
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↕28.2 km |
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Turn right onto State Highway 25 (signposted to Whangamata). |
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↕19.6 km |
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Continue straight on onto Harry Watt Drive, which becomes Hetherington Road. |
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↕2.0 km |
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| There are public toilets at about 620 Port Road. There's a petrol station at 524 Port Road. There are numerous cafes along this road. |
Turn right at the second roundabout onto Port Road, which is the main street of Whangamata. After lunch, continue on Port Road, which becomes SH 25 to Waihi |
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↕29.7 km |
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In Waihi, turn left onto State Highway 2 (signs for Paeroa and Auckland) |
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↕97.0 km |
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Follow SH2 and then SH1 towards Auckland. This ends at the Bombay off-ramp. |
Alternatively, cut across to SH25 at Paeroa or Ngatea, and return via Miranda and Kawakawa or Mangatawhiri and Lyons Road. |
Photos
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| Whangamata's main street. Unusually quiet on this occasion because the power was out. Photo by Chris Henderson. |
Karangahake Gorge |
