Urban
Out and Back
Undulating, small hills only
Dog Friendly
Native bush
Coastal
Riverside
Other
Sealed Road
Easy Single Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +3.6%
Average Downhill Gradient: -3.6%
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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.
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.
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
Yes
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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Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
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Easily accessible and runnable trail, all paths are currently open and it's very easy to navigate. Good for beginners or those days where you just want to escape the hills. Nice to have suburban trails that are mostly away from the road, the second half from Onepoto to Kauri Glen has some stunning bush.
December 1, 2024
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.
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.
June 14, 2021
Best to start at Como St carpark. The entrance at the Tui Glen Rd end is closed off.
May 30, 2021
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.