Yellow Plus Cardiac

Starting in the mountain bike carpark you run past the flash new toilet block and over the bridge into the forest. Take the road that veers right and almost immediately look for steps on the right hand side. There should be a sign pointing to the Yellow trail. Climb the steps and follow the trail. Shortly you will go down some steps, once down head straight ahead and over the boardwalk. Follow this easy to run trail through until you head down a second set of steps onto a forest road. You should see a yellow Puhaturoa Trail arrow... follow the Yellow Trail signs back into the forest and until you come to a major forestry road (Nursery Road).

Turn right here and almost immediately take a lesser track/road on the left. Head up this trail about 200metres looking for a trail heading off to the right (200m, not the ones about 20m in).... follow this trail (called Goat Trail) to it's end on the road. This is a dual use trail so take care.

At the end of Goat turn left on the forestry road (The Wash) and proceed about 300m to the next left turn. Turn there and you will see a sign with Black Track and Purple Track arrows.... head up there and on to cardiac track (it's not as bad as the name).

Once you come out the top of Cardiac, head right on the road around the Drainage Ponds and follow that road to the major intersection with Nursery Road again... head straight over that road and follow the forestry road up and around the corner to the right, ignoring the mtb trails off both sides. Just around the right hand corner take the road to the left.... it is a long straight road for about 500m.

At the end there is a road to the left, ignore that and keep following the trail to the right. Shortly you will come to the lower lookout. Pause your Garmin and get your camera out. Then head up the hill behind you to the trig... watching out for the second and higher lookout on your right.

Once on top head straight over the other side and start heading down the hill, there is a slight detour left to another lookout if you wish... then back on that trail head down all the way, at the intersection head right and watch for a trail off to the right. Follow this short trail and it will spit you out next to the mtb carpark.

Note: There is a little side mission at 8.1-8.4km ( half demolished/half bike only trail). You have to stay on Mudpools Link to Pohaturoa Road.