Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023

Beginner - Intermediate

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I've done it Done

Northcote Trails

Auckland, Auckland

Submitted by Andrew Harvey

Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023

Beginner - Intermediate

Save Trail Save

I've done it Done

Open

Grunt Factor: 16 ?

Gnarl Factor: 12 ?

18.5km

285m

285m

50m

  

  

  

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Trail Map

Type of Run

Urban

Out and Back

Undulating, small hills only

Native bush

Coastal

Riverside

Other

Run Makeup

10%
90%

Sealed Road

Easy Single Track

Average Uphill Gradient: +3.6%

Average Downhill Gradient: -3.6%

Trailhead

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Estimated Times to Run

2:30

Slow

1:50

Moderate

1:20

Fast

This is an out and back course from Takapuna through to Birkenhead that links together 5 different reserves with minimal road crossings.

Starting out in Como St carpark head down the track to the left just in front of the hall at the end of the street. Follow this track down beside the mangroves coming out at the end of Barry's Pt Rd. Head across Barry Pt Rd and Fred Thomas drive following Esmonde Rd over the motorway. Continue onto Akoranga Dr until you hit the lights at Warehouse Way. Cross the road at the lights and head down Warehouse way for a few hundred metres then take a trail on the right hand side before Haydn & Rollett Construction then a quick left heading down the grass behind all the businesses until you hit the bottom and the start of Tuff Crater.

Follow the track and boardwalk around Tuff Crater until you get to Exmouth Park at the end. Follow the path across the cul-de-sac and head towards the little building and then veer right up a grass path next to a house. It seems like private property but it's actually a public walkway. The walkway takes you to Heath Ave, head up the hill and cross the road at the top, 30m down on your left is a walkway down to Onepoto domain.

Follow the forrest track around to the right, keeping to the right until you hit the boardwalk. Don't take the boardwalk - instead turn right again and up the short hill and around to the grass track around the edge of the reserve. Once you hit the Puawai Place entrance follow the path around the lakes and back to Tarahanga St. Cross the road and head down the trail directly opposite with signs to Lake Rd.

Follow this track until you come out at the Tennis Club on Lake Rd. Then turn right and head 200m up the road, cross the road and head back into the trails after you've past the Daycare center. Now you are in Kauri Glen Reserve. Use the clean stations and then just follow you nose through here, a lot of tracks are closed so there is really only one way to go - keep following signs to Tui Glen Rd where you turn around.

Then retrace your steps back to Como St

Signs around Tuff Crater explaining the history. Amazing lush vegetation through Kauri Glen with a few large Kauri.

There is limited parking in Como St, that gets busy on weekdays but fine on the weekend. Additional parking is available in Shore City Shopping Centre.

10 km

16 minutes

Unknown

No

Moderate.

Keeping right at Onepoto through the forrest and off the boardwalk is important.
Kauri Glen is the only portion with multiple trails, but most side tracks are closed. Just take the main tracks, don't follow any offshoot tracks heading to roads. You are looking for the last road on the track - Tui Glen Rd.
Coming back the only turn to watch is remembering to turn left at the giant tree you passed coming up.

Perfect throughout.

Windproof jacket, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone, Map.

There are good facilities and water in the center of Onepoto Domain if you get stuck.

All seasons. Tracks are well kept.

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Trail Reviews

Much of this trail is currently closed. Both the start section to Barry’s Point Road, plus most of the crater. This makes it mostly a road run, which just wasn’t fun.

Joe Benbow

February 3, 2022

I just ran this trail in the pouring rain and it’s in excellent condition. From the Como Street entrance it is now fenced off so you can no longer start from there. The fence was open this morning so we ran through but on the way back it was locked and we were caged in! You now have to start this run from the bottom of Barry’s Point Rd. There was no sign saying how long the trail upgrade would take.

Tracy Elley

June 14, 2021

Best to start at Como St carpark. The entrance at the Tui Glen Rd end is closed off.

Matt Rowbotham

May 30, 2021

A total surprise this one, a great selection of urban trails nicely linked up to make a decent length run that is reasonably flat. and runnable. Kauri Glen is simply amazing and has lots of Kauri and native bush, its incredible this is so close to the city. I never knew any of this was even here. The only low point on the run is the road section over the motorway.

Ryan Cooke

April 5, 2021

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