Taichung -> Taroko Gorge?

[golf]

As far as I know, the central cross-island freeway has been seriously damagaed and only provided with temporary passage since 88 Flood in 2009. So no buses go across the freeway.

[golf]

And only one airline flies to Hualian airport, which is TransAsia Airline.

[Abacus]

The OP seems to be asking about going all the way to Taroko, sightseeing and then all the way back as a day trip. Not worth it imo. You'll spend at least 10 hours traveling to/from Hualian and that doesn't include time getting to Taroko. Go the night before and stay the night in Hualian. Rent a scooter (near the train station) or take the bus in the morning. This way you have all day to check out Taroko before taking the train home at night. For me (Kaohsiung) it's the most inconvenient place on the island to get to. Between mass transit and my car/motorcycle I can get pretty much anywhere for a two day weekend.

[Bibliophile]

Seems like this might be the best option. Just trying to juggle a few things :-)

Thanks all for the advice.

The OP seems to be asking about going all the way to Taroko, sightseeing and then all the way back as a day trip. Not worth it imo. You'll spend at least 10 hours traveling to/from Hualian and that doesn't include time getting to Taroko. Go the night before and stay the night in Hualian. Rent a scooter (near the train station) or take the bus in the morning. This way you have all day to check out Taroko before taking the train home at night. For me (Kaohsiung) it's the most inconvenient place on the island to get to. Between mass transit and my car/motorcycle I can get pretty much anywhere for a two day weekend.

[stare]

Does anyone know if this route is open now?

From what I understand the road gets washed out in the summer due to typhoons, as a result some parts are essentially dead ends.

This is of course what I heard from friends nothing first hand.

I am thinking of driving across this winter during the next 2-3 weeks. Can anyone tell me if there is a website or anyway of finding out if the roads are open to cross the island?

Thanks

[shiadoa]

Does anyone know if this route is open now?

From what I understand the road gets washed out in the summer due to typhoons, as a result some parts are essentially dead ends.

This is of course what I heard from friends nothing first hand.

I am thinking of driving across this winter during the next 2-3 weeks. Can anyone tell me if there is a website or anyway of finding out if the roads are open to cross the island?

Thanks

I drove it about 3 or 4 weeks ago. Some landslides are being repaired and there is one place where the road is closed for 40 minutes every hour at least,but it was passable.
It is without doubt one of the most spectacular roads you could ever drive and the engineering feat is incredible IMO
You really have to allow at least 6 hours (allowing time for a few stops to view the scenery) even driving briskly ! so I think ,as mentioned, a return trip in the day would be too much. A bus journey on this road would make me sick in 5 minutes

[Novaspes]

Does anyone know if this route is open now?

From what I understand the road gets washed out in the summer due to typhoons, as a result some parts are essentially dead ends.

This is of course what I heard from friends nothing first hand.

I am thinking of driving across this winter during the next 2-3 weeks. Can anyone tell me if there is a website or anyway of finding out if the roads are open to cross the island?

Thanks

I drove it about 3 or 4 weeks ago. Some landslides are being repaired and there is one place where the road is closed for 40 minutes every hour at least,but it was passable.
It is without doubt one of the most spectacular roads you could ever drive and the engineering feat is incredible IMO
You really have to allow at least 6 hours (allowing time for a few stops to view the scenery) even driving briskly ! so I think ,as mentioned, a return trip in the day would be too much. A bus journey on this road would make me sick in 5 minutes

Are you guys talking about the Central Cross Island HW or the road that starts in Puli, passes through Ren'ai and then through the Gorge?

Are these roads doable with a regular car or I'd better get myself a 4x4?

Thanks.

[stare]

Good question indeed. I drive a Ford Mondeo, will I be able to get across in this. The entire road is paved, correct. I am not going to off roading in parts, am I?

Here's a link to travel across the island:
http://tour-hualien.hl.gov.tw/en/Transportation/Transport.aspx

Here is the route I am thinking of taking:
http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=%E5%8F%B0%E4%B8%AD%E7%81%AB%E8%BB%8A%E7%AB%99&daddr=%E6%B0%B4%E6%B2%99%E9%80%A3%E9%AB%98%E9%80%9F%E5%85%AC%E8%B7%AF%2F%E5%9C%8B%E9%81%936%E8%99%9F+to:%E6%B0%B4%E6%B2%99%E9%80%A3%E9%AB%98%E9%80%9F%E5%85%AC%E8%B7%AF%2F%E5%9C%8B%E9%81%936%E8%99%9F+to:%E5%A4%A7%E7%A6%B9%E5%B6%BA+to:%E4%B8%AD%E6%A9%AB%E5%85%AC%E8%B7%AF+to:%E5%A4%AA%E9%AD%AF%E9%96%A3%E5%9C%8B%E5%AE%B6%E5%85%AC%E5%9C%92%E7%AE%A1%E7%90%86%E8%99%95+to:%E5%8F%B09%E7%B7%9A+to:%E8%8A%B1%E8%93%AE%E5%B8%82&hl=zh-TW&ie=UTF8&ll=23.997544,120.964794&spn=0.134241,0.154324&sll=23.99629,120.98299&sspn=0.134242,0.154324&geocode=FY1McAEd0YExByn_c1A_FD1pNDHFzjQ4u8-LzQ%3BFSlPbgEdsv0xBw%3BFQgFbgEdiOo1Bw%3BFdP6cAEdhSc7ByGunCqUW08PHg%3BFdP6cAEdhSc7ByGunCqUW08PHg%3BFYafcAEdudE_ByHQZOc2IFefdCmNtEcThIJoNDGh61DyAtPEAw%3BFdjRZAEdCVk7BymFnqzdi0BvNDFYzO99sJX6Rg%3BFX7JbQEd9ZA_ByldtK5NtJ9oNDE52h_LjNTZEg&t=h&mra=dme&mrsp=2&sz=13&z=13

[Novaspes]

Is that a real road? Looks like at some point it becomes more of a trail than anything else...
Be aware that Google Maps lists many of the old Japanese forest road that have become long since impassable (e.g. the fabled mountain road connecting Wulai to Yilan, which Google will happily include in its routes, even though it is actually difficult to even hike there). Afaik the only route from Taichung to Hualian is the road I mentioned before, going thorugh Puli and Ren'ai and then through the Taroko Gorge, passing by the east entrance of the Central Cross Island HW.

[Abacus]

Aren't you talking about the same route (Hwy 14 to Hwy 14A to Hwy 8)?