Front country - easily accessible
Loop
Undulating, some big hills
Native bush
Easy Single Track
Moderate Single Track
Technical Single Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +12.8%
Average Downhill Gradient: -12.2%
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1:15
Slow
0:45
Moderate
0:30
Fast
The track is a relatively short loop with good elevation leading to easy-to-access views. The track is very well marked and being a loop can tackle it whichever way suits. At the fork of tracks the left track attacks the summit from the south and is a more pleasant gradient as it steadily makes its way up towards the summit where there is a viewing platform in the tree tops making for an amazing view over the Hauraki Plains and even down to Ruapehu on a good day. The right track tackles the summit from the next ridge to the east, this is shorter and slightly steeper.
This trail includes the peak Maungakawa.
Great views from the top of Waikato and Hauraki Plains leading to a high amount of smiles per miles.
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Roadside carpark on a quiet back country road.
21 km
25 minutes
No
No
Easy.
From the carpark follow the track past the old faded sign, up the hill the track forks into the two directions of the loop, choosing how to tackle the hill is the most difficult part of the navigation. The track is very well formed and signposted by small orange triangles every 10-15 metres making it hard to lose the track.
Generally good.
Long-sleeved thermal top, Windproof jacket, Gloves, Beanie/thermal headwear, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Survival blanket, Cellphone, Map, Headtorch and spare batteries
There is no water available along the way.
Generally well drained tracks. After rainfall tree roots could become extremely slippery.
The track is riddled with tree roots so be careful with root placement especially when coming down.
Trail Legend
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
You and Maungakawa Ankle Breaker
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Good trail, nice bush, awesome technical but fast section on the way down made me feel like I was flying. The view from the top is awesome too.
January 16, 2023
Great run with some speedy action on the downhill. Add a bit extra on the suggested time to run.
April 16, 2022
Great short track with lots of elevation, my watch pegged it just under 6 km with 380 m elevation CW. I liked the rocky rooty track, good training ground for the Pirongia event in December.
I did both directions and found that CCW was a little harder to follow.
A few trees over the track this day.
The stream needs a bigger pool for cooling down.
September 18, 2021