4WD track in the Northland region
Poutu Inland Route is a Northland dune drive from Pouto to Ripiro Beach with soft sand, steep hill climbs, and tricky navigation best done in convoy.
The alternate way from Pouto up to Ripiro Beach when you want to bypass the tides. It runs through dune country, with quick sand, soft sand, and some steep, satisfying hill climbs. Good fun for anyone who enjoys testing their navigation skills, and the scenery is well worth the trip.
The catch is the track is very easy to lose. Wind covers any wheel marks quickly, so it's not one to tackle solo. Far safer with a second vehicle along. Plan for it to take a while, keep your speed down as there may be others about, and carry recovery gear and know how to use it. Like any beach or dune route, this is logged as a best effort and things will change, so follow your eyes.
A beautiful spot, worth a look even just for an overnight in the dunes. Sadly some visitors have left a fair bit of rubbish behind, so do your part and leave it tidier than you found it.
This is just a small amount of the information available in Overland Navigator. By creating an account you get access to all the information you need to explore this track and many more.
Create a free account