Secret Spot Hot Tubs 5K Trig Loop - Legend of the Peaks

Starting from the Waipa Mountain Bike Carpark in Rotorua, you make your way across bridge that takes you in to the Whakarewarewa Forest. Within about 100m you’ll make a sharp left turn which takes you on the main climb for this run (yes, you start with a hill) following the “Pohaturoa Walking Track”.

This incredibly scenic climb takes you all the way to the top of Kohaturoa Hill, where you are met at the peak with a trig station and seats. You then descend down the stairs on the other side of the hill and if you can spare a moment it is worth taking a very short (30 sec) deviation to the lookout that gives you wonderful views of Lake Rotorua, the Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley and the world famous Pohutu Geyser.

The stairs finish on Trig Rd where you hang a right and continue until you reach the “T” intersection with Radio Hut Rd. Take a right, carry on until you reach Nursery Rd (signposted), right down Nursery and continue all the way to the entrance of the “Yellow Track” (signposted with a yellow arrow). Follow the yellow arrows all the way back to where you started (running through pines, then open area, Douglas Fir, a wonderful boardwalk over wetlands and finishing off with huge Redwood trees.