Last Updated: 14th Jun 2024
The Gorsetrack Strikes Back
Submitted by Martin Lukes
Last Updated: 14th Jun 2024
Open
Grunt Factor: 16 ?
Gnarl Factor: 24 ?
14.0km
490m
490m
500m
Last Updated: 14th Jun 2024
Submitted by Martin Lukes
Last Updated: 14th Jun 2024
Open
Grunt Factor: 16 ?
Gnarl Factor: 24 ?
14.0km
490m
490m
500m
Urban fringe
Loop
Undulating, some big hills
Dog Friendly
Plantation/exotic forest
Open ridges/tops
Volcanic
Other
Sealed Road
Farm Road / 4WD Track
Easy Single Track
Moderate Single Track
Technical Single Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +7.9%
Average Downhill Gradient: -8.2%
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2:15
Slow
1:35
Moderate
1:15
Fast
Easy warm up on the tarseal before a steep incline takes you to the Gorse Track. This fun and rugged 4WD Track takes you up to the Summit Road. Discover the precipitous delights of the Body Bag and the new Mountain Bike Adventure Park. Turn left at the Summit Road and zip back down the Harry Ell and Hackthorne Roads.
A classic course dating back to the Hey Day of New Zealand Adventure running. This is the route Keith Murray used to get fit for Coast to Coast and Adventure Racing. A regular training group still meets on Wednesdays before work.
If you know of any public toilets near the trail start or on the route, please login and then let us know so we can update this section.
Heaps of parking next to the river and on side streets
5 km
13 minutes
Yes
No
Moderate.
Check out the route on map prior to the trip. Take map if unsure.
Perfect throughout.
Long-sleeved thermal top, Windproof jacket, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone, Map
Sign of the Kiwi
Harry Ell Track
Sign of the Takahe
Track can be slippy in winter
Some road crossings
Under-runners
Watch out for mountain bikers
Zeroes Cafe
Corner Cashemere / Hackthorne
Great coffee at the start and finish
Trail Legend
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
You and The Gorsetrack Strikes Back
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Really enjoyed this route. Nice slog up the hill and a really fun decent. I quite enjoy non technical downhill running on road and trail so this was quite fun to let the legs spin underneath you on the long decent down back to the car. Was a bit muddy on the final quarter of the uphill so recommend doing it as the guide suggests by going up Worsleys, unless you love skiing on mud. Will definitely add this one to the repertiore.
July 22
Once we actually got started in the right direction we were fine for most of it. Tried going backwards! Like others before me have said, it's a good climb up to Summit Road & the views are wonderful. We had a clear sunny day. Ran back partly on the road & tracks.
Like another lady mentioned about the pedestrian track from Dyers Pass to Valley Road. We actually couldn't find it, in all fairness we didn't look too hard, but it wasn't obvious. So we just ran down Dyers Pass, left at the round about & back to the Cafe. Would do this loop again. Great strength training course.
January 8, 2023
The Gorse is definitely starting to make a comeback! I forgot how much of a grind Worsley's is, but nice and cruisy once you're up. I took the Crater Rim sections along the top instead of the road. It took me a while to follow the gpx file at the end - it ducks down a very low key pedestrian walkway at the lower corner of Dyers Pass Road just before Heaton Rhodes Place and then exits out on Valley Road.
July 21, 2021
What a great loop, any trail that starts at finishes at a cafe gets an extra star. Worsleys hill is a slog but once you reach the top its all gravy till you reach Zeroes, will try running it in reverse one day.
June 6, 2021
These overlap with this trail to some degree. You may wish to combine them but please note that to qualify for FKTs on these runs you should record a separate activity for each.
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