A backcountry connection out the western edge of the Waikato, this gives you an alternative to the sealed route when you're heading out to the Whakahoro campsite. It winds through rolling farmland and bush-clad hill country, so a more scenic run than sticking to the main road.

The drive gives a taste of the remote King Country, the kind of country that leads in towards Whanganui National Park and the Retaruke area. Like any rural road through here, expect a mix of conditions and a quiet, off-the-beaten-track feel.