Last Updated: 24th Oct 2024
Te Aroha -Waiorongomai Loop
Last Updated: 24th Oct 2024
Grunt Factor: 30 ?
Gnarl Factor: 43 ?
18.0km
1050m
1050m
945m
Last Updated: 24th Oct 2024
Last Updated: 24th Oct 2024
Grunt Factor: 30 ?
Gnarl Factor: 43 ?
18.0km
1050m
1050m
945m
Front country - easily accessible
Loop
Undulating, some big hills
Native bush
Open ridges/tops
Sealed Road
Easy Single Track
Moderate Single Track
Technical Single Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +14.9%
Average Downhill Gradient: -13.0%
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4:00
Slow
3:00
Moderate
2:00
Fast
Start at the track for the Te Aroha Summit from Te Aroha domain. This is an easy to follow track with some decent climbing involved. The track is well marked with orange markers. Once on top you can visit the trig before heading down the Dog Kennel flats trail, this sign is slightly overgrown but is to your right before you reach the summit track. Proceed down the Dog Kennel flats track until you reach a junction with a sign, you need to go right at this junction.
Follow this track, do not turn off at the following two junctions or you will end up heading towards Waihi. Keep on the Waiorongomai saddle track and eventually you reach another junction for the High level Pack track, go right and view Hardy’s hit before continuing along the track. You will come out at the top of Butler’s incline. Again go right onto the Cadmans Track. This is an easy running track and takes you all the way down until you again join the High level pack track. Follow this track down until you reach the car park. Head straight out the tarsealed road and turn right onto Old Te Aroha road. This takes you right back into town and then turn right onto Boundary Street to reach the carpark. Alternatively you can have someone pick you up at the Waiorongomai carpark and this cuts about 5kms off the run
This trail includes the peak Te Aroha.
At the top of Te Aroha there is a trig, on a good day you can see right to the coast as well as getting views of the mountains and wider Waikato area. There is a tunnel and swing bridge on the Waiorongomai side. Also some lovely waterfall/stream crosses as you come down through the valley. There’s also the remains of Hardy’s Hut and numerous mining tunnels and Butler’s Incline to explore
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.
Parking available outside domain. Safe parking spot
1 km
2 minutes
No
No
Moderate.
There are a couple of junctions but these are well sign posted. Track is generally well marked
Patchy.
Lightweight fleece top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Windproof jacket, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone, Map
None available
Waterfall/creek crossings can become fast flowing and difficult to crops after heavy or consistent rains. Some of the track can get rather muddy
Trail Legend
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
You and Te Aroha -Waiorongomai Loop
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The best trail running training trails in the Hamilton area. The climbing slope is just right. It climbs 100 meters every 10 minutes. It's a bit tiring, but it's suitable for training. The route downhill after reaching the top is very friendly and you can run the entire way. There is a downhill section where you can run very fast. My Garmin watch shows there fastest 1KM pace is 430. I cannot run at this pace when running on the road. The asphalt road after going down the mountain is a bit monotonous. If it is a sunny day and the sun is very hot, you must take protective measures. I finished it in 2：57. Due to my poor road running pace, I probably won’t be able to improve no matter how hard I train. sigh.
April 17, 2024
The best trail running training trails in the Hamilton area. The climbing slope is just right. It climbs 100 meters every 10 minutes. It's a bit tiring, but it's suitable for training. The route downhill after reaching the top is very friendly and you can run the entire way. There is a downhill section where you can run very fast. My Garmin watch shows that the 1KM pace is 430. I cannot run at this pace when running on the road. The asphalt road after going down the mountain is a bit monotonous. If it is a sunny day and the sun is very hot, you must take protective measures. I finished it in 2：57. Due to my poor road running pace, I probably won’t be able to improve no matter how hard I train. sigh.
April 17, 2024
Great loop, just the road is a bit of a drag at the end! Always a good climb up Te Aroha. Dog kennel track can be a bit slow going, especially in winter. Then great running down wairongomai. My gps 17.2 km with 1023 elevation.
September 19, 2021
Really enjoyed this one! A real grunt going up Te Aroha. Well for me anyway. You can go either way. If you like your downhill technical go up Waiorongomai and down Te Aroha otherwise do it the other way around. Regardless of which way you choose, I recommend doing the road section first if you are doing this in warmer weather. There is no shade at all and it's super hot in the summer. Not much fun at the end of a longer run. On the whole it is just spectacular. The view from Te Aroha is amazing on a clear day and the history and things to see in the Wairongomai Valley is very, very cool. One of my favourite places!
December 29, 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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