Description

IMPORTANT: Please ensure you use all of the Council provided Kauri Dieback shoe wash stations you come across on the trail. Scrub then spray.
Please clean your shoes before running and after you are finished.

This is a good loop out of Huia, although the tracks are a bit gnarly and steep so can be slow going. Awesome views and sights are worth it though.

To start, from the Karamatura carpark, head up the Karamatura Track. You will shortly get to Fletcher Track which heads off (and up) to the left, so head up this. Fletcher Track heads up for 3km and gains 350m elevation and is steep in places. You will get to the junction with Mt Donald McClean Track at the top. From here its a short detour left (3km return) along easy runnable track (part of the Hillary Trail) to the top of Mt Donald McClean itself where there is a trig to bag and awesome views across the harbour, so its worth doing. When done, retrace back to the Fletcher track junction.

Otherwise turn right at this junction on Mt Donald McClean Track and after 1km you will get to Karamatura Forks. Turn right and head down Karamatura track, this is also steep downhill in some places. You will get to a small stream crossing near the bottom. From here it is a short left detour (5mins) to Karamatura Falls, which is also worth doing.

Otherwise cross the stream and continue downhill until the junction with Tom Thumb track on the left. Take this which immediately crosses another stream and heads up hill.

After just over 1km you will reach another junction where Tom Thumb bypass track heads off to the right. You can shortcut here if you want to bail out however will miss the awesomely massive Tom Thumb Kauri, so continue left and up Tom Thumb track.

You will soon get to Tom Thumb junction with the massive Kauri, its impossible to miss!

From here there is another optional short uphill track sign posted Goat Hill Track. This is a 5minute uphill track for some more views across the harbour.

When finished marvelling at the Tom Thumb Kauri, continue down on Twin Peaks track (note, this heads in both directions so if you're coming from Tom Thumb track go to the right, coming from Goat HIll track, go to the left).

You will get to another junction where the Tom Thumb Bypass track rejoins, however continue downhill on Twin Peaks. You will emerge out onto Huia Dam Access Road. Turn right here and run along the road.

At the road junction you can continue straight ahead at low tide and continue along the beach, or at high tide run up the road. Follow the Hillary Trail markers either way, both routes lead back to the carpark.

Features of interest

Mount Donald McCLean
Karamatura Falls
Tom Thumb Kauri

Make Up of Run

Technical Single Track: 60%

Moderate Single Track: 20%

Easy Single Track: 15%

Sealed Road: 5%

Route Data