Route Description
Located approximately 15 km from Whangarei, the Whanui Coach Road is on public land and is open to public access either via Mangahui Road, off Pataua North Road, or Waiparera Road via Taraunui Road on the Parua Bay side of the District.
The entrance to the coach road from Mangahui Road is approximately 50 meters back from the forestry gate on the left, just before the “Council Maintenance ends here” sign. From here it is approximately 4.5 km downhill through beautiful native bush.
At the bottom, you can either turn around and head back up the coach road (it is a very rideable gradient) or cycle out along the gravel Waiparera Road, turning right onto Taraunui Road and then left at Whangarei Heads Road to Parua Bay. You can make it a 45 km loop by continuing through Parua Bay village and heading to Pataua South, crossing the bridge to the north side and cycling back up Pataua North Road and then left again onto Mangahui Road. Alternatively, turn right at Whangarei Heads Road and ride a couple of kilometers along the sealed road to the Parua Bay Tavern for a well-earned drink or meal.
Both Mangahui and Waiparera roads are gravel, Pataua North and Whangarei Heads Road are tarseal.
The Whanui coach road is a benched single track, grade 3, with a couple of stream crossings. It is quite rutted in places and can be very slippery when wet. It is best ridden in the dry particularly if you are a novice or beginner rider.
Note: This is a two-way track and popular with walkers, so please be considerate and take care, especially when riding in a downhill direction.
