Thanks for the kind words guys.Garry, if you know the terain, can you please send me a PM of some roads to try ... I'm very much a "new kid on the block".  After our trip I tried a the run down Oromahoe Road and convinced myself that the airhead needs TKC's  😀Alex, Wayne (of the F 650) told me that he spotted "an emaculate Basic" in Cycletreads when he had the bike re-shod recently ... there can't be too many Basics in this neck of the woods, was it yours.  As for the spirit of adventure and arranging a ride out, it sounds like a fine idea ... however, I do have one miniscule problem that can be solved as soon as I can find a potential benefactor whos numbers came up on the Big Wednesday draw ... anybody ... please ... 😀We'll keep in touch.Youngjim, ... gan on then bonny lad, but takin' 'bout Shields y' must be a sand dancer ... or woors yet a Mackum (translations availible by request) 😀Ride safe guys

I recall good riding through the Puketi Forest west of Kerikeri, was much gravel around when I lived up there in the mid 90s. You can follow the Kerikeri River along to Puketi township then head north to Mangapa and back down to Mangamuka Bridge. A short stint on SH 1 up to Mangamuka is about the only main road stuff you need to do before you loop back up through Fern Flat, some great riding around Honeymoon Valley before heading north to Cable Bay and back along SH10 home. Not a bad loop to do if you have a day spare, if you have time and inclination the road around the South side of the Whangaroa Harbour through Tuaranga Valley is pretty stunning as well. Watch for camper vans though!! North of Kaitaia you're pretty limited in choice really, either the beach or the main road. There's also some great 4-wheel drive tracks and paper roads just North of Dargaville, the one I remember best is the old Opouteke Road that follows the northern edge of the Kaihu forest - stunning!! You end up somewhere down by Aranga Beach. Pretty sure there is still access to Ripiroa Beach from there and, tide permitting you can get all the way down to Poutu at the entrance of the Kaipara Harbour if you're careful. Mike Britton has run a couple of good adventure rides in this area before and is planning to run a five-day event for bigger bikes in the Far North at some stage, although it's been postponed a couple of times now I'm ever hopefull it will happen eventually. Either way, I do intend getting back up your way sooner rather than later. Might see you around. Enjoy!!