Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023

Beginner - Intermediate

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I've done it Done

Hunua Heaven

Clevedon, Auckland

Submitted by Steve Neary

Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023

Beginner - Intermediate

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I've done it Done

Closed More info

CLOSED DUE TO KAURI DIEBACK. You can sign up to e-updates re the track situation in both the Waitakere and Hunua Ranges here.

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Grunt Factor: 31 ?

Gnarl Factor: 48 ?

18.9km

870m

870m

688m

  

  

  

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Trail Map

Type of Run

Front country - easily accessible

Combo

Very hilly

Native bush

Run Makeup

15%
25%
25%
35%

Farm Road / 4WD Track

Easy Single Track

Moderate Single Track

Technical Single Track

Average Uphill Gradient: +11.9%

Average Downhill Gradient: -10.7%

Trailhead

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Estimated Times to Run

4:00

Slow

3:00

Moderate

2:00

Fast

Starting from the car park, run through the picnic area across the cattle stops, following the orange marker poles. Go through a gateway and a short climb across grassy paddocks. Turn right into some native bush, over the stile and follow a wide metal groomed trail.

Follow the trail on a steady upward climb, moving into thicker native bush. Run until you come to a trail maker at a T intersection, take a hard right, continuing along a wide trail for another 300m. At the next fork, take the Mangatangi Ridge Track. After a short climb, you will come to a nice wide muddy downhill, run all the way down to a camp site called Thousand Acre Clearing.

Passing the camp site you will cross a small streamand start another quite difficult climb up to the ridge line. Follow the blaze orange triangular plastic track markers. Continue to climb and run through some nice mature Punga trees, eventually opening out to nice grassy lookout sections. Towards the end of the climb it gets steeper again, take care to follow the markers. After 8.2 km you come to another intersection with the Upper Mangatawhiri track, do not go down the Upper Mangatawhiri track, turn hard right here and start heading down the ridge through a technical muddy, tree root section. After a short climb you will pop out at the highest point of the Hunua ranges at 688m elevation. This is known as K trig, climb up the viewing tower for 360 views.

Carry on the track North past the old hut, down a short section of steps, and onto some wooden board walks. After about 450m you will come to a bench seat, turn right onto Kohukohunui Track, where you will start a superb down hill section back to the start of the loop, with a few little ups. There are a few sections further down where you will need to push through bracken and ladder fern, once again beware of the orange trail markers, stick to the trails; there is also the odd post with directional arrows on them. At the 13.5 km mark you will come to another Y intersection, the left track is closed due to Kauri Die Back Prevention, so take the right fork, and get onto some nice smooth flowing downhill sections. At 14.7km you will be back at the end of the loop and from here, its back down the same 4km section, all the way back to the car and enjoy.

Beautiful native bush and a trig at the highest point in the Auckland Region

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.

Lots of parking available, generally secure.

38 km

38 minutes

Unknown

No

Moderate.

The trails in the area are well signposted but there are plenty of junctions so keep a sharp eye out for turns.

Very patchy.

Long-sleeved thermal top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Beanie/thermal headwear, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone, Map

No safe drinking water, take your own with you

Can be very muddy after heavy rain and in winter

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Trail Reviews

My favorite run in the Auckland area. I very rarely come across anybody on this track and it feels very remote. A beast of a climb, a bit of rooty stuff, a good deal of fast stuff. Nice park down the bottom too. Use the BBQ's and dip your feet in the stream.

Reesh Casey

November 5, 2018

Good solid hill going up with a long down hill. Nice bush with very little people traffic. Well worth it

Sarah Cook

February 4, 2018

Have completed this run a couple of times now. Can get quiet sloppy on the track after a bit of rain but that just slows you down a bit. Couple of good viewing platforms on the way up and some really cool bush sections where if you're not paying attention could loose your way but in saying that the track is well marked.

Andrew Fletcher

January 17, 2018

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