Front country - easily accessible
Loop
Undulating, some big hills
Native bush
Open farmlands
Open ridges/tops
Sealed Road
Farm Road / 4WD Track
Easy Single Track
Moderate Single Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +8.0%
Average Downhill Gradient: -8.0%
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3:00
Slow
2:00
Moderate
1:00
Fast
Park alongside Seddon Park beside the Waimate District Council building and begin running south-west along Highway 82 and straight onto Queen Street past the Criterion pub and Victoria park. Turn left onto Hodges road then right again on Highway 82 which you follow to a small car park on your right for the start of the Ngaio track. Now you are on a nice grass single track that climbs steeply up onto the ridge of the Whitehorse Hill. The climb zig-zags through native bush until the open exposed ridge. At the junction on the ridge turn right (north) and follow the ridge along to the Whitehorse Monument here you will find awesome views of the Hunter Hills and the coastline from Timaru in the north to Oamaru in the south as well as Waimate town below. From the Whitehorse carry on north onto the Whitehorse walkway and this drops you down to Point Bush road. Follow this down to its junction with Mill Road, turn right and follow Mill road back to the main street and your car.
Harvey Moore was a much loved Waimate identity who sadly passed away in 2017, this fabulous run takes in some highlights of his much loved community.
This trail includes the peak Mount Ellen.
Historic white horse monument on hillside above Waimate, a tribute to the Clydesdale horses used to open the land to farming in the 18th century - also a pine tree grown from a seed taken from the Gallipoli Peninsula. Stunning views of Waimate town and the South Canterbury foothills and coastal downs.
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Plenty of parking beside the park on the street.
0 km
1 minutes
Unknown
No
Moderate.
Take the map provided but this trail is relatively easy to find.
Perfect throughout.
Long-sleeved thermal top, Windproof jacket, Beanie/thermal headwear, Survival blanket, Cellphone, Map
Take water with you there are some small streams, but I probably wouldn't drink from them.
The ridge is very exposed, I was there during a windy cold southerly and wind-chill was around -10C. Track can be bit muddy after rain.
Low cloud can make navigation difficult up on the ridge, use gps on phone if whiteout to stay on track as there are mtb trails and old forestry roads that you want to avoid.
The Vines
top of point bush road
awesome views over Waimate
Butler berry farm and cafe
State Highway 1 north of Waimate
Place to go apparently
Cafe on Queen
Waimate Queen street
Recommended by Natalie and believe me she knows !!
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
You and Harvey Moore Whitehorse Loop
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Update on track
There is now a lot less sealed road to run on as gravel paths have been created alongside all roads on out skirts of the town
December 31, 2022
PB
A nice run to break up the trip from Christchurch to Dunedin. A good grind going up and fun coming down!
Must have been some work done since the description, heaps of mtb trails to get lost on (which I certainly did, and gladly, they were lots of fun!).
October 5, 2020
Fantastic run up the big easy to the top to Whitehorse. A couple of extra loops can be included if you have extra time up your sleeve. Unfortunately I didn't get to experience the views, with the low cloud but got to see some wallaby, woodpigeons and the fantails were great company along the way. Easy to find with good directions to the Whitehorse trail when you drive down Queen Street
January 15, 2018
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.