Orange KakapikoBeginner
Submitted by Sean McWilliams
Front country - easily accessible
Combo
Undulating, small hills only
Native bushPlantation/exotic forestLakeside
Beginner
1:30 (Slow)
1:05 (Moderate)
0:45 (Fast)
-8.4%
+7.5%
NB Orange track is no longer open due to logging so you have to follow Green Lake Road instead.
Access to lookout road is currently closed on weekdays due to logging. Access is possible on weekends or after 3.30pm on weekdays.
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
Please set your gender to see your position on the FKT leaderboards.
The more , the harder the FKT will be to beat. Learn about Fastest Known Times.
Description
Note (may 2021): NB Orange track is no longer open due to logging so you have to follow Green Lake Road instead
Start at the gate for Green Lake Rd. Head along the gravel to the first junction and veer left. Approx. 200m up the hill you will come to a small signpost; go hard left into the bush. Follow the single track (aka Orange Track) up the short climb and check out the stunning views of Lake Rotokakahi (aka Green Lake). There are two lookout points, with the second offering the best views. Stunning. Keep following the track down through the pines and out into the Green Lake picnic area. Follow the trail through the grass, and head left out onto Green Lake Rd. Follow this until you get to the junction with Eight Mile Gate Rd (this is about 500m up the road from where you started). Follow the black arrows left into the pines, follow the trail and cross the road onto Sandstone Rd. Head along Sandstone until you come to Lokoout Rd on the right. Follow this to the top of Kakapiko, one of the high points in the forest. Bomb back down and cross straight over to Phillips Rd; follow this cruisey single track back to the carpark.
Trail Community
Features of interest
Lookout over Lake Rotokakahi, views from atop Kakapiko.
Make Up of Run
Moderate Single Track: 15%
Easy Single Track: 75%
Gravel Road: 10%
Route Data
Reviews:
Overlapping Runs
The following trails overlap with this run to some degree. You may wish to combine them but please note that to qualify for FKTs on these runs you should record a separate Strava activity for each
Whakarewarea Circuit - the Black Track
Length: 32.60km
Photos:
Your Trail Wishlist
All the runs that are on your To Do list (no limit).
Add to wishlist view wishlistWild Explorers
I did it!-
Access
Start at the intersection of Green Lake and Eight Mile Gate roads, off of SH5.
A five minute drive from the Waipa MTB Park, heading south on SH5 towards Taupo.
13 km
14 minutes
No
No
-
Staying Safe
Easy.
Look out for the back of the signpost about 250m up from the first junction on the left.
When descending Kakapiko, go straight ahead at the bottom onto Phillips Rd. This wasn't signposted last time i was there, but features on Topo maps.
From the picnic area, be aware that Lakefront Rd (a right-hand turn) is currently closed by iwi due to ongoing issues with Lake Rotokakahi. Please respect the rahui.Perfect throughout.
Short-sleeved thermal top, Windproof jacket, First aid kit, Cellphone, Map.
None.
None.
The descent from the Orange Track lookout is quite steep and rooty.
-
Post run indulgence
Brew
Eat Street precinct, Tutanekai St
http://www.brewpub.co.nz/
Best beer list in town, and great food. Hit up the locally brewed Croucher beers.Scope
1296 Tutanekai St
https://www.facebook.com/scoperotorua/
Exceptional coffee, great food, and great service.Secret Spot
Waipa MTB Park
https://secretspot.nz/
A great post-run foot soak or hot tub, great coffee, and food supplied by the awesome Guidough's bakery. -
Sponsor this trail
See other runs nearby:
Tokorangi Pa Track
Tarawera Trail Route Recce
Valley of the Killer Zombie Wallabies
Pohaturoa Track
Blue and Green Lake Loops
Whakarewarea Circuit - the Black Track
Single Rainbow
Yellow Plus Cardiac
Fat Man's Run
Okataina...Eastern & Western
The Other Okataina Trails
3 of the Best
RTRC Club Track Loop
A Roundabout Way to the Lost Tank
Whirinaki Long Loop
Waimangu
Double Rainbow
Lake Okareka Walkway
Mount Ngongotaha
Whakarewarewa Rainbow
As You Do Loop
Not Your Usual Rangitoto
Tennent's and Mistletoe Loop
RTRC Natives Loop
