Description

Described in clockwise direction as this gets the 3km of road section under your belt as a warm up.  Like most NZ trail this is best enjoyed in winter after lots of rain.

Follow the signs from Oneroa to the Mudbrick vineyard on Church Bay Road. Carry on past the Mudbrick for about 1km looking out for a trail head on your left, there is a toilet here so hard to miss. Enter the single track which will head downhill to a beach where you turn right and follow the track with the sea on your left. This is marked by DOC yellow/green posts. This will keep you in view of the sea or not far from it for another 3km.

The track then heads inland across a gravel road through a bush section, once again very well marked with posts. This brings you out to the water’s edge again and continues all the way to Matiatia Wharf which is about the 10km mark and a perfect aid station for caffeine, food and a water bottle top up. From the Wharf head along the waters edge again towards the red barn where you will pick up the track again as you hug the coastline, just follow the markers you can’t go wrong.

At about 14km you will come to Owhanake Beach, following the track and marker posts. This will pop you out at Island Bay, then up the hill from where the track turns inland via Fossil Bay vineyard. Follow the road down the hill once again marked with posts to the road and the turn left along the road for a short way until you get to an entrance to Oneroa Beach. Keep an eye out for the toilet block and this is your marker to head up the hill and finish where you started.

Features of interest

Coastal cliffs and Real Estate envy.

Make Up of Run

Moderate Single Track: 40%

Easy Single Track: 40%

Sealed Road: 20%

Route Data