Auckland Veteran & Vintage Car Club (Inc.)
DRIVING OUR HISTORY
DRIVING OUR HISTORY
2025 National Motorcycle Rally
and After Rally Tour
24-30 January 2025
Our trip to Manawatu and the Long Way Home...
Many members of our Motorcycle Section enjoy the opportunity to attend the National Motorcycle Rally, which is held every two years, and this year was no exception.
Fortunately for us, Peter Alderdice again chose to be our Camp Mother and herd the cats to and from the rally.
With the Rally event starting on the Friday evening we took the opportunity to break the ride into a two day trip from Auckland, arriving just in the nick of time for the Friday evening Meet & Greet.
Thursday morning we all set off from Auckland early. Our destination for today was Ohakune.
We like to get off the main highways as quick as we can and amble down the island at reasonable vintage speeds. Our ride saw us leave Hwy 1 at Rangiriri, cross over and then follow the Waikato on the western side through Huntly and Ngaruawahia, then head south-west to Pirongia, and onto Te Kuiti where we stopped to take in the local Museum, have a moment at the "Pinetree" (Colin Meads) statue and have lunch. After lunch the ride kept to its southward trajectory on a great back road trek to Taumarunui. We then joined up with Hwy 4 through National Park and onto our destination of Ohakune. Thursday night was a casual meal in the ski lodge where we were staying. A great evening for everyone (22 of us) to catch up, tell some tall tales and then head off for a good nights sleep. It was going to be a big day on Friday.
Part of the group having a few bevvies and a chat pre dinner Thursday night in Ohakune.
David Broadhead was one of our group who rode the whole way on his trusted 1950 Panther. Each day David traced his rides with Relive. A fun app that you run on your phone as you are travelling and it traces your trip. You can also take photos along the way and they make up part of the video at the end. David has supplied me with the links to the rides he recorded and I have inserted the links into this review...
Relive Day One - Auckland to Ohakune
Friday morning it was up an'at 'em, we hit the road, firstly heading south-west out of Ohakune, cutting down to Raetihi and crossing over Hwy 4 to head for Pipiriki. WOW, what a fabulous road. Windy and quite steep in places, but the landscape and views were fabulous. Once hitting the small hamlet of Pipiriki we hung a left and traced the Whanganui River south. Like an out of body experience we passed through Jerusalem, London and Athens! Along the way, at Matahiwi we stopped at the most darling cafe for elevenses. In fact, we were served by a charming eleven year old, Patience, and her Mum. They served us the most delicious Morning Tea with smiles aplenty.
From Morning Tea we continued south enjoying this remote road until the inevitable join up with Hwy 4 just above Whanganui. Then as we came into Whanganui it was another left onto the road to Fordell. At Fordell we visited Bruce and his wife to view his parts shed (amazing - we left incredulous at the organisation ability of one man and no computer!)
Now, we were on the last leg of the ride into Palm'y via Hunterville, Vinegar Hill and finally to our accommodation for the next 10 nights, the Sports & Rugby Institute at Massey University. Fan-bloody-tastic it was! Just the perfect set-up for a group like ours.
Relive Day 2 - Ohakune to Palmerston North
Tip: You can click the picture then arrow to scroll through the full pictures in the slider.
Friday evening was the first event of the Rally, we were all bused across to the Manawatu Clubrooms for the Meet & Greet. It's always a fabulous reunion time with all our motorcycling buddies from across the country.
The Manawatu organising team supplied a great selection of finger food as we circulated the room chatting.
Whilst there we collected our Rally Packs and at the end of the evening we headed back "home" to prep ourselves for Saturday morning and the Rally.
There was lots of chatter in our common room, a few more bevvies consumed and a few more tales of life and past rally experiences. Then it was an early night after a long day. There are some amazing opportunities that we have had over the years and recalling them is good for the soul.
Saturday morning, we were all up and rearing to go. As there has been a full article published in Beaded Wheels about the Rally and After Rally Tour Days, I'm not going to repeat everything here.
The roads in the Manawatu and surrounding districts are beautiful and certainly don't suffer like the Auckland roads, so it was pleasant riding every day.
From our perspective as an attending group, Manawatu looked after us extremely well. We had courtesy buses to and from the clubrooms each evening for dinner. That meant a lot to the team. The runs were gorgeous, the destinations great and the best part was the extraordinary effort that Glyn, Cathy, Ken, Annette, Esther and the rest of the branch members went to, to make us feel like family!
Browsing the next few photos you will also see that we spent a bit of time on the side of the road. Yes, there were a few hiccups along the way, thankfully, most of the time we are capable of fixing mishaps on the side of the road. This set of photos are from the Rally day and finally the gathering of people at the prizegiving dinner, there's a pic of Cathy & Glyn (instrumental in putting on this brilliant event.) and the trophy that Paul and I won at the rally for the First American Bike - I do wonder it was a default win as we were pretty much the last American bike on the road at the end of rally day! :)
Relive Rally Day - The Rally
Remember to click on the picture then us the arrow to browse the selection of photos.
The After Rally Tour days were spent riding "Hub" runs out to a destination and back to Palm'y each day, then back to the clubrooms each evening for a meal provided by the organising crew.
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Monday 27th - we visited the Thomson's Private Motorcycle Collection, then we rode over to Feilding for lunch.
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Tuesday 28th - was a ride to the Central Hawke's Bay - we made it as far as Norsewood before turning around to take Peter's Chicagoan visitor, Noel, to the airport.
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Wednesday 29th - a ride to Whanganui via Fordell - a very picturesque ride and the second time to Fordell in seven days (by the end of the week I had visited Fordell three times - what the heck?).
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Thursday 30th - Tui Brewery Day! We were off to Mangatainoka via the Pahiatua Track and environs.
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Friday - some of the group rode to Taihape and others went to the test day for the Classic Motorcycle Racing at Manfield.
By Friday night the numbers going to the clubrooms for dinner had significantly diminished. With the few bods left and an "extra" BBQ dinner put on to end an epic week of riding, Manawatu had more than looked after us. It was great to see that the organisers take the chance to mingle a little more versus running around looking after us.
As we thanked the crew, said our good byes and headed "home", the guys were eagerly chatting about the next two days at the Manfield Classic Racing.
On Sunday night we all headed to a local restaurant for dinner together. Tomorrow was either home time or time to embark on our Long Way Home journey.
Relive the trip to Thomson's Motorcycle Collection
Relive the trip to Norsewood
Relive the trip to Mangatainoka (with a few side trips)
Relive the Classic Motorcycle Racing at Manfield
The Long Way Home
(or the After After Rally Tour)
This trip involved 6 more days of riding - yippee!!!
Itenerary:
Monday 3rd Feb - To Napier
Tuesday 4th Feb - To Gisborne
Wednesday 5th Feb - To Lottin Point (Hick's Bay)
Thursday 6th Feb - To Whakatane
Friday 7th Feb - To Te Aroha
Saturday 8th Feb - HOME!
Monday - Well, there is really only one way to get from Palm'y to Napier to begin with - Hwy 2. We departed the Sports Institute and rode over the Saddle Road, through Dannevirke and onto our first stop at Norsewood. It's a great little town. The cafe was brilliant. From there we set off to Napier, arriving mid-afternoon. After a bit of relax time we found a great Italian Restaurant for dinner. There was also excitement in the camp as there was the potential of seeing a rocket launch by Rocket Lab, from Mahia Peninsula the next morning. This would mean an EARLY start in the morning, to make it to Mahia in time - as in a 6:30am set off! So early night it was...
Relive - To Napier
Tuesday - 6 am and it's all quiet? Turns out the launch was postponed, so no need to leave with the sparrows. We all left Napier at the reasonable hour of 8:30 am. There were a LOT of roadworks on the Napier - Wairoa road. Our brunch stop was at Wairoa at Osler's Bakery. From there straight on to Gizzy. Most chose to have pizza and a beer at a bar close to the holiday park we were in.
Relive - To Gisborne
Wednesday - On the road again - leaving Gisborne heading east for Hick's Bay on Hwy 35. Along the way, as we followed the coast, we stopped off at Tologa Bay and visited the 660m long Tologa Bay Wharf. A couple of people (names withheld) then had to seek out a pie in Tologa Bay. Back on the road and not much further up the road at Tokomaru Bay we happened upon the coolest cafe, Cafe 35. We can confirm that the pies served there were delicious. After lunch we continued to wind our way to Lottin Point. It's certainly 'off the beaten track' but is a little gem when you get there. Thankfully the motel offers meals in their restaurant. Not sure what we would have been eating if they hadn't offered this service. It was a great nights stay.
Relive - To Lottin Point
Thursday - now on the North side of the East Cape, it a beautiful coastal drive through to Whakatane. Passing by or through Cape Runaway, Waihou Bay (very pretty little bay), made a stop at Raukokore Anglican Church - it's an elegant edifice out on the small peninsula. It's also very well maintained.
As we continued west, we passed through Macadamia country at Whanarua Bay, finally completing the East Cape road at Opotiki. From there it is a relatively short jaunt into Whakatane. We arrived at Awa Motel on the Strand - I was ecstatic to find they had a cafe at the front of the motel. Latte time!
Relive - To Whakatane
Friday - Cafe open - Eggs Bene for breaky! Today Paul chose to put the Harley on the trailer for the faster, busier journey up Hwy 2. A good move! We journeyed up the coast through Matata and on to Te Puke. Then it was on to the grind up and down the Kaimai Ranges with all the traffic that road carries these days - you know you are back into the north of the North Island when you hit traffic like that.
Fortunately, once off the Kaimai Ranges we took the Old Te Aroha Rd. A gorgeous road that brings you into the south side of Te Aroha. Just along the way was our motel. We settled in, then we all took a walk down to the Adrian Worsley Gallery. Fortunately Peter knows Adrian, so we were able to take a go where you want tour of the workshop and his stash of metal. Wow! Seriously, the stash of metal is so well sorted that it is a visual journey in itself. Then once in the workshop we got to see a project in the making, some other works of his suspended on the walls. The music room, the kitchenette and bathroom are all a feast for the eyes. Spectacular!
Adrian also has a number of artworks dotted along the main street of Te Aroha. See some of these are in the pictures below.
Relive - To Te Aroha
The FINAL DINNER - Friday evening we went to the "Duck and Cover" Gastropub. The drinks were fab (several cocktails consumed by moi.) The food was outstanding and was the perfect way to end our trek from Palm'y to AKL - The Long Way Home! There were speeches, jokes and much laughter. Epic night, epic adventure, another National Motorcycle Rally done and dusted.
We now look forward to 2027 in Timaru. Look out South Canterbury Branch, we plan on being there!!!
Jodi
P.S. Special thanks to David Broadhead for all the Relive vids! There he is (below left), readying the Panther for the Long Way Home.
