Last Updated: 12th Aug 2024
Nikau Loop & Kaiwhaniwha Caves
Last Updated: 12th Aug 2024
Open
Grunt Factor: 8 ?
Gnarl Factor: 8 ?
7.0km
150m
150m
120m
Last Updated: 12th Aug 2024
Last Updated: 12th Aug 2024
Open
Grunt Factor: 8 ?
Gnarl Factor: 8 ?
7.0km
150m
150m
120m
Front country - easily accessible
Combo
Totally/mostly flat
With permit
Native bush
Riverside
Farm Road / 4WD Track
Easy Single Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +4.1%
Average Downhill Gradient: -4.1%
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1:00
Slow
0:45
Moderate
0:35
Fast
Very easy to navigate. Follow the 4WD track alongside the river for 2.5km. (This track can also be cycled). Green signs clearly mark the route. The Nikau loop is a pleasant single track through native bush, mostly flat and non-technical. The Nikau loop is approximately 1.5km, so complete as many loops as required before returning along the 4WD track beside the river.
A small detour to the dark and interesting Kaiwhaniwha caves takes only a few minutes, but is worth it to climb through the 20 meter cave, at least once.
Toilets can be found at the Kaiwhaniwha campsite at the end of the 4WD track, just before the native bush section, as well as at the start of the track.
Kaiwhaniwha caves are an interesting small detour. 20 meters to clamber through, quite dark and muddy, likely to get wet feet.
Long drops at Kaniwhaniwha Reserve (start point) and at the campsite at the other end too.
Off-road parking for 40+ cars on a remote rural road.
31 km
32 minutes
With Permit
No
Easy.
Very patchy.
Whistle, First aid kit, Cellphone
Take own water.
Can be muddy during winter. Runnable all year.
The Nest
765 Franklin Street, Pirongia
https://www.facebook.com/thenest765/
Good food, coffee and service
Punnet Cafe
337 Newell rd, Tamahere
https://www.punnet.co.nz/
Great range of food, including raw and gluten free. Cabinet and menu food. Nice ambience.
Trail Legend
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
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Easy loop, recovery session a day after thrashing the legs on some hills up above this trail.
April 18, 2022
RA
Fun place to run and explore. The cave is cool there is a camping area as well
June 3, 2018
A good trail for the summer to escape the sun...plenty of shade apart form the first and last 2km. A nice little adventure through the cave too! Possible without a torch if you are comfortable feeling your way in the dark but a phone torch is fine! Feet will almost certainly get wet whatever the weather. Easy to mix up the Nikau Loop, add in the short track to the campground and loop back to add kms. You can also add on by going up the tracks towards Pirongia but they are VERY gnarly - tree roots and mud even in hot dry summers.
February 6, 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.
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