Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Spooners Tunnel Loop
Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Open
Grunt Factor: 19 ?
Gnarl Factor: 6 ?
22.4km
540m
540m
487m
Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Open
Grunt Factor: 19 ?
Gnarl Factor: 6 ?
22.4km
540m
540m
487m
Front country - easily accessible
Combo
Undulating, small hills only
Plantation/exotic forest
Open ridges/tops
Gravel Road
Farm Road / 4WD Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +5.9%
Average Downhill Gradient: -5.7%
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3:30
Slow
2:30
Moderate
1:45
Fast
From the Carpark follow the Great Taste Trail south along a smooth gravel road to the Spooners tunnel. Run through the tunnel (you need a head torch as its pitch black.) The tunnel climbs then levels at the end so you don't see the end till the last minute.
Once through the tunnel you come to the west portal carpark - turn left onto the forestry road Spooners Bush Road & follow this for 1 km. Take road on left (Spooners Camp Road) which climbs for 3 km to a ridge top. Turn left onto the large gravel road ,Spooners Top Road, and follow this north for a 1 km till a road drops off to your right. This is Tunnel Road which takes you back down to the east portal of the tunnel and the Great Taste trail. Retrace your steps east back to your car.
Following old Nelson Kawatiri rail line through 1.4km long Spooners Tunnel. Forestry roads and neat views.
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.
No public transport to start. Carpark is medium sized can fit about 14 cars. Lock your vehicle - carpark is right alongside Hiway.
11 km
9 minutes
Unknown
No
Moderate.
Take a topo map of run - the forestry can be confusing and signage is limited
Patchy.
Windproof jacket, Whistle, First aid kit, Cellphone, Map, Headtorch and spare batteries
Take your own water. Don't drink from the streams in this forestry block.
Can be exposed on Spooners Ridge - take wind breaker as a minimum.
This is a popular forestry block for pig hunters and their dogs and their 4x4s, although since the opening of the tunnels more runners have been accessing this block. If it's an extreme fire risk or the block is being logged they will close it. DO NOT enter if it is closed !!
Belgrove Tavern
Belgrove
Nice country pub large beautiful beer garden popular with cyclists.
Wakefield Bakery
Wakefield
Best Pies in Tasman !!!!
Trail Legend
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
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Interesting loop track on nice easy terrain. Highlight is the tunnel which definitely requires a headtorch (forgot mine so made do with phone torch and sticking close to the walls!). Elevation was sneaky, couldn't always tell that you were climbing as it looked fairly flat. Signs saying roads are private property but encountered no problems.
January 31, 2024
a really nice loop, there were quite a few trees (with multiple branches) down across the back forestry rd (spooners camp rd) which required climbing over, under, through etc but otherwise a great loop, with nice views, forest and very runnable at pace if you wanted to (other than the climbing through tree branches bit)
April 1, 2019
Great run. Nice gentle uphill all the way to the tunnel, making it a fun downhill on the way home. Good to get the history of the tunnel and be able to run through something like this. Was a warm day when I ran it and didn't bother with a jacket or anything in tunnel. Was definitely a lot cooler but manageable. I walked most of the tunnel as was busy looking at the tunnel as I went.
January 5, 2018
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