Last Updated: 7th Jul 2024
Karangahake Gold
Last Updated: 7th Jul 2024
Grunt Factor: 23 ?
Gnarl Factor: 35 ?
17.0km
575m
575m
553m
Last Updated: 7th Jul 2024
Last Updated: 7th Jul 2024
Grunt Factor: 23 ?
Gnarl Factor: 35 ?
17.0km
575m
575m
553m
Front country - easily accessible
Loop
Undulating, some big hills
Native bush
Riverside
Open ridges/tops
Farm Road / 4WD Track
Easy Single Track
Moderate Single Track
Technical Single Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +12.6%
Average Downhill Gradient: -13.7%
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3:30
Slow
2:45
Moderate
2:00
Fast
From the car park cross the bridge and follow the Crown Track. A torch would be useful as there is a tunnel roughly 100m long. After 3.5km turn right onto the Dubbo 96 track follow this for about 7km until you get to the Karangahake summit turn off. Take this and follow the single track for 1km to the summit for amazing views over the Coromandel and Waikato. Retrace your steps for 1 km and tun right onto the Karangahake Mountain Track for 5km downhill back to the carpark.
This trail includes the peak Karangahake.
Gold mine workings information can be found at http://www.doc.govt.nz/Documents/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/waikato/karangahake-gorge-brochure.pdf
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.
Karangahake is about 130 km drive from Auckland, or 60 km from Hamilton. Toilets, rubbish bins and basic visitor information are available in the car park.
7 km
6 minutes
No
No
Moderate.
Patchy.
Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone, Map
Bring enough water to complete the whole route
Slippery / muddy after rain as some of the tracks are clay based
Tunnel on the Crown Track so bring a torch.
Talisman Cafe
Opposite carpark
Coffee and cake
Trail Legend
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
You and Karangahake Gold
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Awesome track, loads to look at. Plenty runnable and the views from the trig are amazing! Blue sky day up there and you’re onto a winner!
October 10, 2021
The track is open again! Stunning run along the gorge and then up into the mountain. The last 1km track to the summit is not marked with any official trail markers. Good mix of flat and hills. Beautiful views. This is a favorite.
June 12, 2021
Really enjoyable run. Great run along the river before a steady uphill for the majority of the climb. Love the wee tunnel that the trail just suddenly disappears into before the climbing starts. Awesome easy run on the way back down. But if wet is really slippery! Amazing views from the summit! Make sure you park in the “Karangahake reserve” car park otherwise you’ll be running an extra km or two to get to the start of the track 🤪
September 28, 2020
Great run. I started at Waitawheta Pipleline Walk & Dubbo 96 Track intersection close to Dickey Flat Campsite and it was all uphill to the summit for some nice views. Blew a shoe on the way down so had to make some running repairs and toes are a bit smashed up as a result! The Windows Walk and Tunnel were nice rewards at the end (for the route I ran). Thanks for sharing Mark.
August 23, 2020
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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