Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023

Experienced

Save Trail Save

I've done it Done

Anatoki-Waingaro-Kill Devil

Takaka, Tasman

Submitted by Will Hayward

Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023

Experienced

Save Trail Save

I've done it Done

Open

Grunt Factor: 104 ?

Gnarl Factor: 64 ?

57.0km

2385m

2345m

1103m

  

  

  

Login as a VIP to see driving directions, distance and time.

Trail Map

Type of Run

Back country - remote

Point to Point (one way)

Undulating, some big hills

Native bush

Riverside

Lakeside

Open ridges/tops

Run Makeup

20%
30%
30%
20%

Easy Single Track

Moderate Single Track

Technical Single Track

Untracked / Route only

Average Uphill Gradient: +11.8%

Average Downhill Gradient: -11.0%

Trailhead

Login as a VIP to see the trailhead information.

Estimated Times to Run

15:00

Slow

12:00

Moderate

8:00

Fast

The route is fairly easy to follow but fairly tough and very remote in the middle. It is usually tramped in about 4 days. The first section on the Anatoki Forks track is single track along a river valley with some nice views; the track is in fairly good condition but has lots of small slips to clamber over.

From the Anatoki Forks Hut to Lake Stanley is a route which is very technical and goes over a high saddle - expect to move slowly. This part goes through thick forest and is very remote so move carefully as it's not the place to sprain an ankle!

From Lake Stanley the going gets easier (but not easy) on rough single track to Waingaro Forks Hut. The last section from Waingaro Forks Hut to the trail-end at Ururwhenua is a historic pack track that is also used by mountain bikers so is relatively easy but climbs about 500m and has a million switchbacks on the way down.

Whio habitat. Lake Stanley was created in the 1929 Murchison Earthquake and the drowned beech forest looks very unearthly. The way out over Kill Devil Track is a historic mining pack track.

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.

Small area to leave a car but if you're doing this trail as suggested you'll end up in Uruwhenua so better to get someone to drop you if you can manage it. No public transport once you leave the State Highway.

9 km

13 minutes

Unknown

No

Moderate.

The trail is well marked so hard to get lost. However the portion from Anatoki Forks Hut to Lake Stanley is marked as a route with orange arrows only so you need to take some care.

Non-existent.

Waterproof leggings, Thermal leggings, Long-sleeved thermal top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone, Map, Headtorch and spare batteries

There are several rivers and huts so water is available but may not be safe to drink without treatment. I took a Life Straw which was very helpful.

I did the route in summer. In winter it would definitely be very muddy in places and the tops on the way out on the Kill Devil track would be very exposed.

No particular hazards except weather. However the middle of the route is very remote and self-extraction would take a long time, so you should be prepared to stay overnight no matter how fast you expect to be.

Wholemeal Cafe
Commercial Street, Takaka
https://wholemealcafe.co.nz
Good coffee, yummy food, and the best fresh fruit ice cream in the Bay

You and Anatoki-Waingaro-Kill Devil

As a VIP member you can record private notes for this trail, see all of your times and more.

Register Now

Already have an account? Login now

Trail Reviews

Having now completed in both directions, I can confirm that starting at killdevil is easier & faster (mainly because a long rocky ascent on fresh legs is significantly less painful than a long rocky descent on trashed legs:)

Rach Vell

March 20, 2022

What a great track (when dry anyway) and despite lots of tunneling through windfall on Anatoki section- way more runnable than I had feared. Clockwise seems best to avoid afternoon heat- after the Killdevil ascent the trail has good shade.

Mike McManaway

March 11, 2022

Nice day out. Longer than expected. Lots of windfall and a few slips along Anatoki which really slowed things down.

Ian Gilmour

October 31, 2021

Awesome part of the country. The middle 20km was 90% un-runable but worth it for the scenery thru the Lake Stanley area.

Dave Hall

May 28, 2018

Login to submit a review

Trail Running Community

Find people who are interested in or have completed this trail run.

You must register or login to view this feature.

Register Now

Overlapping Trails

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.

The Killdevil

The Killdevil

Length: 27.0km

Level: Intermediate - Experienced

Other trails nearby
Diamond in the Rough

Diamond in the Rough

Length: 22.0km

Level: Intermediate

Separation Point Loop

Separation Point Loop

Length: 26.5km

Level: Beginner - Intermediate

Pupu Hydro Run

Pupu Hydro Run

Length: 5.3km

Level: Beginner

Totaranui Big Loop

Totaranui Big Loop

Length: 30.0km

Level: Intermediate

Find more trails and peaks nearby