Last Updated: 9th Oct 2024
VKV challenge
Submitted by Mike Steel
Last Updated: 9th Oct 2024
Open
Grunt Factor: 16 ?
Gnarl Factor: 42 ?
10.0km
500m
500m
462m
Last Updated: 9th Oct 2024
Submitted by Mike Steel
Last Updated: 9th Oct 2024
Open
Grunt Factor: 16 ?
Gnarl Factor: 42 ?
10.0km
500m
500m
462m
Urban fringe
Loop
Undulating, small hills only
Dog Friendly
Native bush
Plantation/exotic forest
Open tussock/grasslands
Open ridges/tops
Gravel Road
Farm Road / 4WD Track
Easy Single Track
Moderate Single Track
Technical Single Track
Untracked / Route only
Average Uphill Gradient: +13.7%
Average Downhill Gradient: -13.3%
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1:50
Slow
1:25
Moderate
1:00
Fast
A short but pumping circuit that takes you over Mt Vernon, Sign of the Kiwi and Mt Victoria. Has a bit of everything (bush, panoramic views, steep ups and downs, and cruisy ridge running) -- the "challenge" part is to see if you can do this in one hour or less.
From the car park, follow the main track up the valley until you see the signposted Hidden Valley Track which veers off up the hill to the left. Take this trail up the stairs among new native plantings, joining the Bowenvale Bonus mtb track then heading up the Bowenvale Downhill zig-zag mtb track to the top of the hill. Join the upper Huntsbury 4WD track to the Summit Road and then one last direct shortcut up to the Mt Vernon summit.
Stop the watch, climb onto the rock and admire the views! Run back along the Crater Rim Walkway which takes you over three small bumps and some native bush on the Lyttelton side to Sign of the Kiwi, then run down the popular (Harry Ell) track beside Dyers Pass road; cross the road to Victoria park, and continue on the Harry Ell track until you meet some steep steps going down.
At this point sidle right and follow a track directly up to Mt Victoria, passing by the octagonal visitor centre, and round to the right to pick up the descent track. This heads down (north) for 10 metres then loops back to the south, heading down. After about a minute (by a short orange Walkway marker on the left of the track) leave this trail and dive left down through the trees on a faint trail and pick up steep, dusty mountainbike trails through the trees wherever possible - the valley floor is just a few minutes away with careful routefinding, mostly off the main trails (which will take longer). You will eventually come out on a 4WD road, which leads back to the end of the original gravel 4WD road and back to the car park.
This trail includes the peak Mount Vernon.
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.
Plenty of parking (safe) at end of Bowenvale - also for bikes too.
7 km
16 minutes
Yes
No
Moderate.
Mostly on well-marked tracks. On the way up, some shortcuts on faint trails up the side of the hill help (if they are not overgrown).
On the way down through Victoria Park routefinding is more of a mission (i.e. you won't get seriously lost, but if you want to do this in under an hour you'll probably need a few tries probably to find the right lines!).
Generally good.
Whistle, First aid kit, Cellphone, Map
Water at Sign of the Kiwi
Crater Rim Walkway section behind Sugarloaf can get pretty greasy in winter or after heavy rain.
Watch for mountainbikers on the 4wd section near the start/finish, especially on weekends.
Fava Cafe
236 Centaurus Rd
Excellent food and coffee
Trail Legend
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
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Yikes. That final decent was sketchy as - dry and bloody steep. Very thankful again for a Wildthings membership as the gpx was a lifesaver at the end as I got a bit lost.
I agree with others, this run is full of variety. I'm super impressed with those doing this in under an hour, im not sure I'll ever be able to pull that off, but now that I know the route, I'll keep working on it.
November 23
You’d be hard pressed to pack more into a 10k run, wow! It is a tour de force of the central Port Hills. Pretty grunty till the top of Mt Vernon; then it really opens up.
February 24, 2021
Grunty 3k to top of Mt Vernon before I could stretch me legs and get a running rhythm going. I ran past the final descent turnoff in Victoria Park but enjoyed the trail. But wiser now so hoping to score a better time next time, maybe 1.5hrs on a good day.
January 12, 2021
Do not use the .gpx track as it will take you on old trails that really no longer exist. Run Hunters has it correct - up Hidden Valley, not through a field. I will try it again now that I know this!
December 6, 2020
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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