The Coromandel Peninsula is not only home to the top rated roads that Max reviewed in a previous post, it’s also an adventure riders paradise.
This particular playground is the main reason I traded my MT-01 for the Tenere. It would of course have been sacrilege to expose the MT-01 to the gravel.
Owning a dual purpose bike in New Zealand means your playground instantly doubles in size, there’s an abundance of unsealed roads to explore in godzone.
One thing that has struck me about adventure riding is that you don’t have to rack up loads of miles to keep the fun coming.
Panoramic views from Castle Rock Road looking North West
The photos below are from a recent trip up the Eastern flanks of Northern Coromandel. Passing by Kennedy Bay through Port Charles to Stony Bay you eventually reach the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula. That is on the East Side, I will save the completely different scenery of the West coast to another chapter.
Kennedy Bay Road Summit – looking West toward Coromandel town
Kennedy Bay Road Summit – looking East toward Kennedy Bay
Waikawau Bay
Little Bay
Looking East across Port Charles
Looking West across Stony Bay
Approaching Stony Bay
Stony Bay
It really is a Stony Bay
I recently spent some time exploring the West Coast above Colville. The gravel roads North of Colville Bay are brilliant as the road hugs the coastline some 30km through to Port Jackson.
West Coast looking South toward Colville Bay & Coromandel
Classic West Coast Scenery
Tailpipes and Headlamps 
Loves the pics Jono. It’s just too bad we live so far away and David can’t join you on your boys’ trips…of course that would mean having to buy a bike too (minor issue)…
Hey Jono, great photos, the photo titled Approaching Stoney Bay looks awesome. I am very envious.
Paul I’ve got the bike but we don’t have official access to the dirt roads here in Scotland although I do sneak onto forestry tracks now and again.
Lovely photos – lovely country – thanks for sharing – Don