RTRC Natives Loop

Starting from the carpark head out on the trail towards Blue Lake with Tarawera Road on your left. You will pass a couple of mountain bike trails off to your right and at about 450m you will see another trail to your right... look in and you should see pink ribbons to guide you. Follow the pink ribbons as this new trail winds its way up and eventually you will pop out of the bush next to Eagle vs Shark MTB trail. Cross over onto the walking trail and follow it to the clearing with the picnic table. Stop and take it the vista!

Head out the other side on the 4wd forestry track ignoring all the MTB trails until you merge with and then come to the intersection at the top of Hill Road. At this point you take a right onto the forestry road down the hill (Direct Road). Follow this to where the road splits and take the right track (Indirect Road) ignoring all side trails.

Follow this lovely tree-lined trail for about a kilometre until you come to a clearing with multiple trails coming and going, look on your right for Apumoana Exit - you will see that walkers and runners are allowed down this trail. Being an uphill MTB trail this is fantastic downhill running, just be aware of the upcoming bikes and you will have a blast.

About 2.5km later the trail splits (ignore any side trails before that) take the right hand split and you will come onto a forestry road shortly after... head left to the next intersection and on the corner look for another shared trail called Te Pou-Koropu. Follow this lovely winding and runnable trail all the way back to the carpark - you will cross one forestry road, just look for the trail continuation on the other side.