Kuataika Half Marathon

Start on Anawhata Road at the Cutty Grass Track end. Run down Anawhata Rd a few kms to the Kuataika Track entrance. Jump the fence and head across farmland to the Kuataika Track and make your way along this track down, up, down up across a couple of valleys on a wide track that's got good climbs and a great view from the trig (a short detour on the last section of climb on Kuataika). You'll reach a junction with Wainamu Bush Tk, Houghtons Tk and Smyth Ridge Track (you take the Smyth Ridge Track) basically running on and then upwards towards Long Road and Ridge Road track.

At the end of Smythe Ridge Tk you turn right onto Long Road/Ridge Road and follow this along many undulations past a junction with Upper Kauri Tk and Simla and basically follow the Ridge Road track all the way to its end (there is a short detour off to the right to a cool University Tramping Club hut full of old road signs and a couple of pianos (worth a look, unlocked hut).

At the end of Ridge Road Tk you are at a T junction - turn right and head down this track back towards your car (again a short while down this track there is a discreet entrance on your right to a short track and another hut where Hunt for the Wilderpeople was filmed - it's a locked hut). Run past your car and across the road you'll see a track to a lookout - take it and add a short climb and another couple of km to get your half and a great view over Piha.