Description

From the carpark follow the main trail, take the left turn a few hundred metres up on your left to the Crater Lake... well worth a look, then return to the main trail and continue slowly climbing until you come to some signs and an intersection.

Take the left trail signposted to the Summit and start climbing in earnest. Follow the trail to the road at the top (stopping for the views and photos of course), when you hit the road, turn left, a wee way up on the left is another trail, head onto that and climb to the road above that, turn left again and you are at the summit.

Once you have taken that all in and snapped some pics, head down the road for about 1.3km, ignoring the trails you came up and the MTB Trail. Then at a sharp corner in the road you will see a trail sign for Te Ranga Trail. This is the bottom half of the MTB trail that started further up and is generally treated as dual use, but be aware of any MTB riders and give way to them at all times. Follow the trail down, there is one split but both branches take you to the same place so suit yourself.

At the end of the trail (unless you need the loo, which is to the left in the Kerosene Creek Carpark) head right and follow the orange triangle route. This goes straight for about 500m and then turns left into lovely single trail, slowly climbing. Follow this trail, ignoring the one exit to the left and eventually it will bring you to the same intersection you were at earlier. Turn right this time and head up the mountain again... all the way to the top.

Once at the top and you've had a drink and boasted to the tourists about how it's your second time up today, head down the road again, but this time run straight past the previous turnoff and follow the road all the way to the bottom. There you will come out onto another road amongst the pine trees, turn left and then in about 500m left again. This turn may be a bit overgrown today so watch out for it. Carry on this road (you may even see a couple of red arrows from the Double Rainbow event) - past two gates - all the way to the highway. At the highway turn left and run for about 200m along the verge until you see the entrance for the trail. Follow this wonderful bush single trail for 2.5km to your car.

Features of interest

Plenty here... volcanic lakes, 360 degree views as far as Ruapehu on a fine day, great views most days of Lakes Tarawera, Ruataniwha, Rerewhakaitu and Okaro plus a few more small ones... and of course you can see Mount Tarawera.

Make Up of Run

Untracked / Route only: 0%

Technical Single Track: 10%

Moderate Single Track: 30%

Easy Single Track: 30%

Gravel Road: 30%

Route Data