Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Hunua Falls - Cossey Massey Loop
Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Grunt Factor: 12 ?
Gnarl Factor: 33 ?
7.7km
380m
380m
345m
Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Grunt Factor: 12 ?
Gnarl Factor: 33 ?
7.7km
380m
380m
345m
Urban fringe
Loop
Undulating, some big hills
Dog Friendly
Native bush
Sealed Road
Easy Single Track
Moderate Single Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +11.0%
Average Downhill Gradient: -11.0%
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1:30
Slow
0:50
Moderate
0:35
Fast
From the car park cross the bridge and turn left. A few hundred meters of easy trail takes you to the loop junction. Clockwise or Anticlockwise - it doesn't matter as both are great. I like anticlockwise as it's a shorter climb - you start with a good mix of stairs and uphill single track to undulating single track to more uphill track to the highest point at 345m. A further 250m along at 330m you'll come to the Wairoa-Cossey track junction - this track has a gate and will be on your right. To continue the loop stay left. From there it's down hill time, single track down, undulating, down and down with loads of fun turns, steep bits and flat bits. Around 4.5km in, you'll come down to the top of the Cossey's reservoir, run along the water edge on sealed road to a junction where the road heads left - you head right along the water, past the giant overflow to a car park. Here there are toilets and a picnic table. Head past these and look on your left for the trail (Cossey George track) entrance. From here it's down stairs, to some fun single track undulating, about 6.5km in you hit the stairs. Enjoy the stairs. At the bottom you're almost done, some flat track takes you to a small river crossing, great on a hot day to sooth the feet, then it's uphill and back to the start of the loop. Hang a right back to the carpark.
Be mindful as there are some sections with roots and trippy bits so keep your wits about if running fast.
Hunua Falls Loop Walk. 10 minutes, 800m. This is a great way to see the popular Hunua Falls from all angles and enjoy the surrounding forest. The track is clearly signposted from the Hunua Falls car park. The track climbs from the Wairoa River through beautiful lush forest, follows along a shady stream and arrives at an excellent lookout platform. Once you have soaked up the views, continue along the track as it loops through more of the forest and back to the base of Hunua Falls.
Travel by car is the best way - or you could cycle.
Parking is at the end of Falls Road, Hunua, Auckland. There are loads of car parks.
Security is as normal for a trail - nothing of value left in sight.
Pedestrian access: Open 24 hours, Summer gate opening hours: 6:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. (Daylight savings). Winter gate opening hours: 6:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. (Non daylight savings).
4 km
5 minutes
Yes
No
Moderate.
Near the highest point is the junction to Wairoa-Cossey track - this track has a gate and will be on your right. To remain on the loop stay left and don't go through the gate.
Non-existent.
Windproof jacket, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone, Map
No drinking water available. Bring with you or purchase from the dairy in Hunua - about 1km up the road.
Be mindful of heavy rain as this can cause slips and may increase the water level for the river crossing. Take care crossing the stream - if too high continue following the road all the way back to the Hunua Falls car park.
2/5/17: Hunua Falls open - car park and short walks to falls are open. Please take care as there may be surface damage to track following the recent weather events.
There is a detour in place for Cossey Gorge Track down the road - this allows you to still do a loop walk up Massey Track and across Wairoa dam. The track is closed from the park noticeboard. Follow the road for approximately 1.4km and you will see a small track to your left which reconnects you to the bottom end of the Cossey Gorge Track.
With Relish Delicatessen
9 Papakura-Clevedon Road, Clevedon, Auckland
amazing service, great coffee, super amazing cheese and ham sausage rolls
Trail Legend
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
You and Hunua Falls - Cossey Massey Loop
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Loved it. Despite recent weather events and the continued rain, this track is in great condition. Nothing remotely muddy to negotiate. No detours anymore, either. Ran anticlockwise.
June 3, 2023
OW
Track status update 11 March: due to a large slip, there is currently a diversion in place. If running clockwise, you run a section of road between the top of the stairs after the new swing bridge, until you get to the toilets/damn. Slightly shorter than the normal loop via the track, but still plenty of beautiful trail to run!
March 12, 2023
I’ve hiked this trail a few years back and after running it today can see it’s had some great upgrades and attention to it. Kudos to DOC. Running it clockwise means a long steady climb….seems to be more ups than downs….then you reach the downhill section and it is an absolute blast. Headed out early and enjoyed the trails virtually to myself.
April 15, 2022
Clockwise or anti-clockwise decision time?
Clockwise you start on the Cossey Gorge Track, anti-clockwise you start on the Massey Track.
Both directions start off with some steep uphill stairs, then have some 'undulating' uphill before hitting the top and then it is 'undulating' downhill.
Clockwise you get the stream crossing over and done with at the start, anti-clockwise it is at the end, if that makes a difference to you.
But the main difference may be that the track on the Massey Track is better maintained. It is over 1m wide at some points - a lot of points actually - and the stairs are the new DoC kinds that are made offsite and then put in place and filled, both of which makes for fast down hill running. Also the Cossey Gorge Track has some steep, non-stair bits which are (or at least I find them to be) too steep to run down without fear of losing traction. I mainly prefer going anti-clockwise for some strange reason, but going clockwise means you can have some fun downhill fast running, swerving around the trees.
June 6, 2021
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