Ride Around the Top Paddock (New Zealand)

Version No. 1.1 – DRAFT
Date last revised: January 13, 2021

© 2021, Iron Butt Association, Chicago, Illinois
Please respect our intellectual property rights.  Do not distribute this document or portions therein, without the written permission of the Iron Butt Association.

Background

This is a New Zealand based ride. 

The Ride Around the Top Paddock is roughly 3,350 kilometres.  

You must ride your motorcycle in a path that traces the outline of the North Island of New Zealand, using the State Highway network of roads.

This ride is one of a pair of rides:

• Ride Around the Top Paddock (NZ) and 
• Ride Around the Bottom Paddock (NZ).

Both are ‘Ride-Around’ rides, and 3000+km / 48 hour rides (SS3000K). 

These rides have special certificates with a custom design.

An IBA Award certificate ‘Checking the Boundary Fences (NZ)’ is available for those who successfully complete both rides.

    

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Read the rules for the iconic SaddleSore 1000 on the Ironbutt Association site.  The rules for this ride are similar and you will get valuable background information.

Documentation:  See here.

Definitions

DBR – Dated Business Receipt

A DBR is a machine generated receipt with the date, time and LOCATION on it.  Check it – do not assume it is correct.  A receipt with an incorrect time/date/location is worthless.  Check and re-check.

Fees

US$45 – Paypal (send to friends and family) to: paypal@ironbutt.com

Rules

• This ride is open to existing IBA members only, except where a new member is travelling with an existing member, and where the existing member is submitting a verification request on behalf of both riders.
• SpotWalla IS REQUIRED for this ride.
• You can ride the route in either direction, clockwise or anti-clockwise.
• This ride can be started anywhere along the loop-route around the Island, you must start and end the ride at the same location, i.e. same DBR.
• You must visit each of the numbered checkpoints, and obtain a photograph of your bike at each point.
  • There are some standard IBA approaches taken when you cannot reach a required checkpoint which include:
    • Getting as close to the checkpoint as possible, and documenting (with evidence) why you could not reach the checkpoint (e.g. a photo of your bike next to the Road Closed sign).
    • Checking for other means of accessing the checkpoint (using an alternative route or detour) and exhausting all reasonable options – documenting each.
    • If you are exhaustively forced to miss a checkpoint, and if missing that would reduce your ride’s overall distance below 3,000km, then you must make up that lost distance by adding your own additional detour into the route at some point within the permitted timeframe.
    • Include your documentation within your ride submission.
    • Missing up to a single checkpoint with satisfactory, extenuating evidence will be considered, but no more than one.
• A minimum of 3,000 kilometres is required for this certificate, it is more likely that your route will be approximately 3,250km – 3,300km, you must complete your ride within 48 hours.

General:

• Ride-start and ride-end receipts should be annotated with your bike’s odometer reading and should be photographed, clearing showing all details on the receipt, along with a clear view of your bike’s odometer, these need to be submitted as part of your ride verification request.
• DBRs should be kept for all fuel stops, numbered and annotated with your bike’s odometer reading for each stop – these may be called upon during ride verification.
• Photographs of checkpoints can be accumulated on your SpotWalla track (preferred), or provided separately to your ride verifier.

Checkpoints:

Downloadable files / references

• • Waypoints – GPX file of waypoint locations contained in this document.
  • Track of suggested Route – (note that some of the above allowances may not be reflected in this Track, this is the route which was used to prove that it could be done).
  • Reference – Spotwalla trip for the first of these rides: https://spotwalla.com/tripViewer.php?id=2558f5ff25ee73c4d8&hoursPast=0&showAll=yes

Overview map

Checkpoint details

Name #1 – Cape Reinga

Coordinates: -34.430033, 172.681992

Description: Bike at, or near entry to walk to the lighthouse, attendants are OK with bikes being parked carefully, on the footpath near to the signs on the right hand side of the entrance

Sample Photo

Map

 

Name #2 – Opononi Hotel

Coordinates: -35.504555, 173.391678

Description: Park just inside of the hotel / pub car-park, photograph your bike next to the pub.

Sample Photo

Map

 

Name #3 – Waimauku RSA

Coordinates: -36.768925, 174.493028

Description: Park carefully on the pavement and take a photo in-front of the RSA.

Sample Photo

Map

 

Name #4 – Raglan

Coordinates: -37.799338, 174.867325

Description: Stop by the water’s edge and photo your bike near the path to the water, it is possible to do this safely despite the yellow lines.

Sample Photo

Map

 

Name #5 – Kawhia

Coordinates: -38.062144, 174.826478

Description: By the Kawhia town sign

Sample Photo

Map

 

Name #6 – Huhu Cafe – Waitomo

Coordinates: -38.260405, 175.110581

Description: Park safely near the entrance to the Huhu Cafe

Sample Photo

Map

 

Name #7 – Opunake Library

Coordinates: -39.454803, 173.860262

Description: Park near the Opunake Library building

Sample Photo

Map

 

Name #8 – Wellington Sign

Coordinates: -41.314863, 174.810638

Description: Your bike in front of the Windy Wellington Sign

Sample Photo

Map

 

Name #9 – Martinborough

Coordinates: -41.218150, 175.459458

Description: Park across the road from the Martinborough Hotel in the central square and photo your bike in front of the hotel.

Sample Photo

Map

 

Name #10 – Napier – Containers

Coordinates: -39.482442, 176.920700

Description: Park across the road from the containers and the Seafarers Centre

Sample Photo

Map

 

Name #11 – Waihau Bay sign

Coordinates: -37.618850, 177.911942

Description: Pull safely off the main road to take a photo of your bike and the Waihau Bay sign.

Sample Photo

Map

 

Name #12 – Kuaotunu Bay Lodge (sign)

Coordinates: -36.727100, 175.709258

Description: Park safely in the driveway for the lodge and photograph your bike and their sign

Sample Photo

Map

 

Name #13 – Marsden Point (North Port gates)

Coordinates: -35.838978, 174.486375

Description: End of the highway, you’ll arrive at North Port, find a safe place to park next to their main sign and photo your bike with it.

Sample Photo

Map

 

Name #14 – Paihia – Wee toilet

Coordinates: -35.282183, 174.092728

Description: This little toilet on the waterfront in Paihia might be a little tricky to park right next to, it’s safe, but if it’s busy you might get moved on, see what you can do.

Sample Photo

Map

 

Notes on Routing

While the intention of the ride is to explore this specific type of ‘Ride-Around’ route, one which finds the closest path to the periphery of the island using the State Highway network, the following specific allowances are offered in order to make this extreme ride, more enjoyable:

• Between CP3 (Waimauku RSA) and CP4 (Raglan):
  • When passing through Auckland airport area, do NOT take SH20A or SH20B, this will add nothing to your ride.
  • When South of Auckland, shifting from SH1 to SH22, avoid joining SH22 at the Drury exit, avoid Drury, Pukekohe and Tuakau. Instead use either Ridge Road just north of Pokeno, or join SH22 from Mercer
• Between CP9 (Martinborough) and CP10 (Napier):
  • Do not feel that you have to return back through Featherston on SH53 to rejoin SH2 – instead you can cut through to Greytown.
  • I chose to follow SH51 through Hastings, and into the South of Napier, through Clive – this was to be a purest in terms of the ‘Ride Around’ intent, but it added nothing to the ride other than slow, urban roads and congestion. You will not be penalised if you continue on SH2 up to Napier, avoiding SH51. (This is similar to riding at the moment of the Equinox / Solstice on a Four Seasons ride, in my view, do it if you want to, but you don’t have to).

Tips – Plan your ride timing to avoid:

• • Tourist traffic going to Cape Reinga.
  • Auckland, Wellington, Napier, Gisborne and Tauranga rush-hours.

Nesting other rides

This ride is treated as a SaddleSore 3000K, you may nest other rides within this, or nest this within others that would normally be permitted with SS3000K rides.