The ride starts on Mangakino and the first town you reach is
Bennydale which is a small town 18 kilometres away. Bennydale used to have a
coal mine many years ago and is one of the few towns in the King Country that
has an English name.
An option at this point is head to Blackfern Lodge which is
located 78 kilometres away. It is situated at the top of a steep hill in an
isolated forest valley area on the Ongarue Stream Road alongside the Ongarue
river.
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| Quiet Roads |
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| Blackfern Lodge |
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| Ongarue |
This part of the ride can be left out as you have to retrace
your steps from the Lodge but it is well worth a visit to experience the
isolation and splendour of the King Country.
You then travel on the Ongarue back road to Taumarunui onto National Park through Hikumutu which is
a further 96 Kilometres. Ongarue is a small rural settlement on the west bank
of the Onagarue and is 24 kilometres north of Tauramanui. Tauramanui
(population 6,000) is where the Whanganui and Onagarue rivers meet.
It is then 47
kilometres from Tauramanui to National Park starting on Hikumutu Road rather
than using the main state highway. On the main highway there is a short steep
climb as you ride towards National Park town and Tongario National Park which
includes Mount Ruapehu. (2,797m).
