Front country - easily accessible
Loop
Very hilly
Native bush
Plantation/exotic forest
Riverside
Sealed Road
Gravel Road
Farm Road / 4WD Track
Easy Single Track
Moderate Single Track
Technical Single Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +6.5%
Average Downhill Gradient: -7.3%
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6:00
Slow
4:15
Moderate
2:45
Fast
Run starts at the car park, the first 9 km is on the Hakarimata Road so be visible and attentive, there is ample berm on which to run but it is not sealed. It is a drain!
At 9 km turn left onto Parker Road, the last 1km on gravel to the start of the Southern trail. There is a toilet about 30 m up the track. After the boot station the track starts straight up. The track is well used at this point and easy to follow. Take the fork to the Kauri Grove, soon after the track becomes a little hard to distinguish but there are DOC orange markers to follow. The track is rooty and technical and has a number of potential mud holes. Once you pass the grove the track winds up to join the main track at the sign, take the route up to the summit. Technical with lots of roots, hard gradients and definitely mud holes after rain.
The track stays like this for the next 11 km while you follow the markers up to the summit. From the summit follow the track but carry on straight back onto the trail, you will come to a sign indicating you are heading to Waingaro Road. The remaining trail is mostly in descent knick but remains rooty and technical mixed with steps. There are a couple of hard short climbs. The very last 2 km of forest trail is on the steps before flattening at the bottom where you veer left and get onto a dirt road to then over a couple of wooden bridges. The dirt road meets the main road where you follow it on the gravel track, this gives way to footpath until it meets back up to Hakarimata Road where you started.
This trail includes the peak Hakarimata.
There are a number of viewing platforms from the Parker Road end, where you get great views across the Waikato in all directions, and the summit lookout which is fantastic. Kauri Grove where the trees are magnificent, please beware of concern of the dieback and use the spray points when you see them. There are a couple of streams and falls as well, dip your feet is a must.
Toilet block at the carpark where you start and a long drop at the bottom of the Waingaro section near the picnic tables (Western track).
There is a carpark with a really nice toilet block and fresh water on Brownlee Ave. There are usually people there doing the walking sections before light and after night falls.
1 km
2 minutes
Unknown
No
Hard.
There are a number of points you may divert, the trail is marked with Doc orange tabs, keep these in sight.
It is possible if you miss the turns at Kauri Grove, Summit and Waingaro Road signs to still end up at Brownlee car park.
Head East to get to the road!
Unknown.
Long-sleeved thermal top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Windproof jacket, Beanie/thermal headwear, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone, Compass, Map, Gaiters
Water at the car park, a couple of streams on the trail (unknown condition).
After rain, some great mud holes and stretches where you will struggle to keep feet clean and dry.
Plenty of tree roots, hanging vines, rocks and slippery clay sections. No shade on the first 10 km. Other track users (trampers) and very narrow steps in places. Fallen trees, steep inclines and declines.
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Trail Legend
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
You and Hakarimata N-S Full Trail Loop
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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.