Fern Flat to Tipatipa Circuit

This is a big day out, but the beauty is you stay off the traffic and stick to local rural roads the whole way. It’s almost entirely gravel, with plenty of up-and-down riding through bush and beautiful farmland.

Start and finish at the Fairy Dairy car park in Peria. Roll out along Fern Flat Road: it begins with a gentle rise that turns into a longer, more sustained climb as you head inland through shaded bush and open country.

Join Otangaroa Road where the gravel gets coarser but the gradient eases off. This section runs mostly flat with wide-open views, including great angles of Taratara maunga.

Turn left onto Tipatipa Road for another solid, steeper climb followed by a rewarding downhill. Continue via Kenana, then left onto Kohumaru Road. One more shorter climb here (smaller than the previous two) and then a fast descent brings you back towards the coast and the Fairy Dairy.

Bring enough water and snacks—there are no services on route—and ride within your limits on the loose gravel descents.

Route map & stats