Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Eliza Mine Climb
Submitted by Danielle Meier
Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Open
Grunt Factor: 29
Gnarl Factor: 71
11.9km
950m
950m
588m
Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Submitted by Danielle Meier
Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Open
Grunt Factor: 29
Gnarl Factor: 71
11.9km
950m
950m
588m
Front country - easily accessible
Out and Back
Very hilly
Native bush
Easy Single Track
Moderate Single Track
Technical Single Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +15.6%
Average Downhill Gradient: -15.6%
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3:20
Slow
2:40
Moderate
2:00
Fast
Once you start on the track its pretty easy to follow. 1km in there is a river crossing but this can normally be navigated without getting your feet wet.
The whole way through you will be following the orange DOC signs, All turns are marked with DOC trail signs so extremely hard to miss. The first one is marked as straight ahead to Thompsons track or right to get to Mount Eliza - you want to take the Mount Eliza track. Once you get to the Mount Eliza sign you can go straight to see the mine shaft which is a 5 minute detour.
The head uphill / right following the signs to the North South track. Once you reach the North South track sign, you want to head left / south until you reach the summit. You will emerge at the top on the Kaimai ranges in a wonderful open field with epic views. You can explore up here for a bit but the best way back to the car is to back-track. You can make a loop by connecting to Thompsons track and following that back to the car park, but its extremely hard to do that without getting stuck up to your hips in mud pits!
This track takes you past the Mount Eliza mine and as you go through you can see sign of old mining spots.
On the right hand side of the clearing by a large tree you will find the start of the track. There are obvious orange DOC signs and a few minutes down the track you will see the first DOC sign with track names and estimated times.
37 km
36 minutes
Unknown
No
Moderate.
Non-existent.
Waterproof leggings, Thermal leggings, Lightweight fleece top, Long-sleeved thermal top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Windproof jacket, Gloves, Beanie/thermal headwear, Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Survival blanket, Cellphone, Map, Headtorch and spare batteries.
There is a river crossing 1km in that I assume would be drinkable but have never tried.
Very muddy after rain. Slippery in winter. Can have very strong cold winds at the very top of the trail at the turn around point. If it's a very cloudy, overcast day you will get up into the clouds and it will get a lot colder/ damper than at the start of the trail.
Mud and slippery roots, flax on trail. Very technical trail.
Forta Leza
2656 State Highway 2
https://www.facebook.com/Forta-Leza-Restaurant-Official-175575129206702/
They do delicious Pizza's, Coffee and have a good range of beer! awesome spot to refuel afterwards
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
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JM
It's a great venture out. A great climb and views from the summit. Only about 50% runnable. When wet, it's muddy & slippery so take care - especially on the return home as It is steep in parts. Thoroughly enjoyable.
October 25, 2021
Hard to run… or hardly runnable?!
Glad I scoped it out as a hike first - turned back about 800m before the summit as I’d run out of food and energy! I’ll be back though 😅
October 24, 2021
Nice trail which is pretty gnarly at times and plenty of places where walking is the only option. The best part without doubt is gaining the ridge and the great views at the turnaround point. Blowing a gale up there and could imagine it could get plenty cold so worth planning accordingly. Also, plenty of fallen trees across the trail requiring a bit of navigating. Ran across a hunter on the way back down and my brother-in-law on the way up (not even going to tax my brain with odds of the last one). That's two more people than I usually see on a Kaimais outing! Got the feet wet on the first stream crossing as wasn't too keen to do rock hopping on my own. Thanks for sharing Danielle.
August 30, 2020
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