Front country - easily accessible
Loop
Undulating, some big hills
Dog Friendly
Native bush
Plantation/exotic forest
Open ridges/tops
Gravel Road
Farm Road / 4WD Track
Easy Single Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +8.3%
Average Downhill Gradient: -9.3%
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3:30
Slow
2:30
Moderate
1:45
Fast
Go right at top of hill, you come to a spot with 4 tracks forking off - take the one on the left with the warning signs. If you take the single track to your right it will lead you up to trig.
Follow the forestry track until you see the single track on your right and head down this. Note: there are some open areas but the track is easily identified. You come out onto a open hill and get a magnificent view of the Tararuas before joining back onto forestry trail. Keep left as you drop down this forestry track, it becomes quiet a steep down hill so take care here.
This will bring you out to the road. Swing left and follow the road, which becomes gravel in less than a km. After 2.2kms you find a forestry road with a gate on your left, go through this and follow the track back up. You will come to a junction with the option to go straight or to the right - both lead to the main track, but the right is slightly longer and a bit steeper. Follow the trail all the way back to the T-junction and head back down the hill to the car park.
Good views of the Tararuas and Levin. Lots of bird life.
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 at the start of trail
4 km
6 minutes
Yes
No
Moderate.
Go right at the top of the hill. Take the track to the far left at the fork then hang right onto single track. Stay left heading down forestry road onto Gladstone
Patchy.
Long-sleeved thermal top, Windproof jacket, Gloves, Beanie/thermal headwear, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone, Map
None
A little muddy in winter. Gets cold when snow is on the ranges
Mountain bikes and horses use these trails
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
You and Muhunoa Loop Lung Buster
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This has become one of my favourite runs. I have discovered a nice variation. There is a single track that turns off at the beginning of the forest and comes out at the top of the jeep track up near the trig. I have run up and down. It's especially nice coming down as it doesn't hammer your legs as much as the jeep track. It adds 1km to the route one way.
May 30, 2021
I’m still the only person who likes this course! The key is to do it on the opposite direction then you get lovely sweeping downhills, including the road section.
October 21, 2020
I ran this clockwise (opposite to described) and found it a lot faster than I had anticipated, with lots of lovely sweeping downhill. The main part of this the track (up to the trig) is a busy and friendly trail but I didn't see anyone else for the rest of the run. Great views out to the sea and to the Tararuas.
August 19, 2019
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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