Whakarewarea Circuit - the Black Track

Gorgeous jaunt through the redwoods and native bush! Just follow the black arrows, it's pretty well marked. Varied terrain - forestry roads, mountain bike tracks, walking trails.

Follow the signposts for the tracks leading out of the Redwoods visitor's centre via the Redwoods Memorial Grove.

Take a left after the small bridge and follow for about 250m before turning right onto Green / Purple / Black tracks for the first climb. Follow this to the top, then go right up the stairs via Purple / black tracks.

At the top, follow the black arrows to the left, all the way to the top of Tokorangi Pa and down to the water tanks. Follow the black arrows onto the Lynmore Link track, over the footbridge, and take a left onto Pipeline Rd. Follow this for several kms, then branch left onto the signposted diversion track.

At the end of this, take a right onto the Blue Lake Feeder track. Follow this until the Black track diverts off to the right about 400m before the grass embankment above Blue Lake (it's signposted with a black arrow; if you hit the grass, you've gone too far). Follow this meandering single track until it joins onto the Blue Lake circuit track and go right.

Follow this to the Tikitapu Rd / Lakefront Rd junction and go right up Tikitapu Rd (i.e. up the hill). Follow Tikitapu Rd for approx. 5kms then follow the black arrows down Branch Rd, take a right onto Green Lake Rd, then cross Eight Mile Gate Rd onto Sandstone Rd. Follow this for a couple of kms and follow the black arrows on the single track through the natives block, and go left on the other side (no signposts).

Follow Heath Rd to the end, then turn right onto Popular Ave. At the next junction, go through the gate, cross the road onto the short section of single track, then veer right. Head up the hill, taking the signposted left turn which heads onto Ring Rd. Take a right onto Ring Rd, follow it to the end and head right onto Reservoir Rd. Follow this to the Reservoir / Hill / Pipeline junction and veer left onto Pipeline Rd. Head up Pipeline, through the junction, and carry on straight ahead down the hill for about 300m. Take the signposted left turn, then a right onto the K2 trail.

Follow this section of single track until you come out onto The Wash Rd andhead right down the hill. At the bottom you'll see the black and purple arrows (the tracks rejoined at the top of K2) and take a right into the bush and up Cardiac Steps; the last climb of the track!

Follow the steps up to Katore Rd and follow it as it skirts around the reservoir (keep this on your right). At the junction of Katore / Nursery / Radio Hut Rds, take a right turn onto Norsery and head down the hill. You'll hit tarmac about halfway down; follow it to the gate. Head through the gate and along Longmile Rd for about 80m and head back into the Redwoods. Follow this track to the junction by the small bridge and head left back to the visitor's centre.