Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Kaituna Wetlands
Submitted by Anthony Sowerby
Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Open
Grunt Factor: 6 ?
Gnarl Factor: 9 ?
7.3km
20m
20m
30m
Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Submitted by Anthony Sowerby
Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Open
Grunt Factor: 6 ?
Gnarl Factor: 9 ?
7.3km
20m
20m
30m
Urban fringe
Combo
Totally/mostly flat
Riverside
Other
Farm Road / 4WD Track
Easy Single Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +0.1%
Average Downhill Gradient: -2.1%
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1:00
Slow
0:45
Moderate
0:30
Fast
Go over the stile from the carpark and take the left trail. Run for approx 990 metres and you'll have the option of veering left or turning right. Take the right option and continue for another 300m where you'll have another left/right option. Take the right option again which heads back towards the carpark.
At approximately 2km mark you should reach a doc sign pointing to right which is the short loop option. Take this until it spits you out at a T-junction. Head left here as the other direction is less than 5 mins back to the carpark. This is a straight 4WD type track and you'll run past a couple of options to see hunters' viewing platforms. These short detours are worth a look before returning to main route and continuing same way.
Eventually you'll reach a gate which you can go through and turn left to run alongside the Kaituna River. After about 1.5km running you should spot an unmarked turnover down a short steepish bank. Head down here and you'll eventually end up back at the straight stretch of trail you first started on. Continue down this trail to get back to the carpark.
The Kaituna wetlands are the biggest area of original wetlands that remain in the Bay of Plenty. There is plenty of birdlife including the fernbird/mātātā, spotless crake/pūweto and Australasian bittern/matuku as well as the more common pūkeko, ducks, shags and pied stilts/poaka.
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There is a carpark at the entrance with plenty of room.
13 km
14 minutes
Unknown
No
Moderate.
Even though this is a small area I find it easy to get disorientated. If you give yourself plenty of time it should never be a problem as you can always retrace your steps. Easiest thing to do is probably download the GPX.
Generally good.
Short-sleeved thermal top, Windproof jacket, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone, Map
Bring your own.
Duck hunting season brings out the hunters so avoid from first weekend in May to end of June. Beware the mozzies at dusk.
There is plenty of water around but if you stick to the tracks you should be fine.
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
You and Kaituna Wetlands
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Honestly not a run I would repeat - I enjoyed running along the Kaituna river, but that’s probably about all! Although the elevation may be flat, the ground is not! Mostly tough terrain to run on, and I also took the 1st turn away from the river down the dead-end instead of the 2nd. My advice is enjoy as a jog to explore the wildlife, but you probably won’t be making any ground-breaking FKTs here. Maybe a ankle-breaking FKT though!
June 17, 2021
Despite this being dead flat, it was hard work with the long grass. Did this as a walk as I’m still recovering from back injury (so no speedy FKT for me). Went early, but was still brutal in the summer sun as not a lot of shade. Very scenic though and lots of birds. I dropped down the steep bank about 20m too early and ended up at a dead end on the wrong side of the river lol. Worked it out in the end.
January 6, 2021
Beautiful trail but hard going today in the long wet grass. Went right first, then along the stop bank, wove back through the wetland then did an up and back to finish it off. Not on purpose but it worked out...
January 3, 2021
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