Teal Bay, Te Araroa Trail Loop

Start at the row of letterboxes on the short road leading into Teal Bay (Helena Rd). Head away from the beach and immediately turn right onto Webb Rd and run 700m up the sealed road to the top of the hill between Helena Bay and Teal Bay. At the 'High Chaparral' sign, turn left onto the Te Araroa Trail, (using the Kauri Dieback cleaning facilities).

Follow the orange trail markers along the trail, climbing steeply in places. Enjoy the kauri groves and native bush. After 5.5km, you will reach the high point, and enter 1km of open farmland, passing by the end of Hay Rd and following gravel farm roads. Pass through several stiles. Keep going and re-enter the bush for some more singletrack running.

At about the 7.7km mark, you will emerge onto a farm road which heads downhill and soon leads out to the gravel Kaiikanui Rd (turn left here, still following the Te Araroa Trail). The remainder of the run is flat or downhill on gravel. Stay on Kaiikanui Rd as you head northeast, passing the turnoff on the right where Te Araroa continues (Morepork trail). Pass the turnoff to Mimiwhangata on the right (where the road name changes to Webb Rd), and the turnoff to Ngahau on the right. Run all the way down Webb Rd and back to Teal Bay.

Have a swim to cool off!