Last Updated: 6th Mar 2025
The Great OH Trail
Submitted by Malcolm Law
Last Updated: 6th Mar 2025
Open
Grunt Factor: 18 ?
Gnarl Factor: 22 ?
14.0km
600m
600m
50m
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Last Updated: 6th Mar 2025
Submitted by Malcolm Law
Last Updated: 6th Mar 2025
Open
Grunt Factor: 18 ?
Gnarl Factor: 22 ?
14.0km
600m
600m
50m
Urban fringe
Out and Back
Undulating, small hills only
Native bush
Beach
Coastal
Farm Road / 4WD Track
Easy Single Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +14.9%
Average Downhill Gradient: -14.7%
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2:45
Slow
2:00
Moderate
1:30
Fast
Starting at the northern end of Waihi Beach find the trail and follow it north keeping the coast to your right. It is well signposted the whole way and there's really nowhere that you can go wrong.
You will climb over one headland before dropping to the lovely Orokawa Bay. The trail here threads its way through pohutakawas at the back of the lovely golden sand beach.
Just after climbing out of Orokawa Bay you'll see a side track heading inland to the 30m high William Wright Falls. This is a worthwhile excursion that adds about 3kms of rough stuff and numerous stream crossings.
Continuing north the trail clings to the headlands and cliffs and has a spectacular open section where it crosses a creek. Just before reaching Homunga Bay there is another side trail that climbs steeply for a couple of kms through farmland to reach the end of Ngatiangata Road, east of Waihi township. You could add this is in as an extra or if you have more than one vehicle you could run the track one-way starting from this road end.
Homunga Bay and the beach there are stunning. Well worth taking some time out before turning on your heels and heading back the way you came.
Stunning coastline fringed with pohutakawa trees - it would be stunning to run when they are in flower - and beautiful golden sand beaches. One to take your time over, even pack a picnic and your togs.
There are two toilets on the route: one at the southern end of Orokawa Bay and one at the northern end of Orokawa Bay.
Good safe parking
2 km
4 minutes
No
No
Easy.
Patchy.
Short-sleeved thermal top, Windproof jacket, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone
No safe drinking water. Take your own.
Muddy in places after heavy rain.
Flat White Cafe
21 Shaw Road, Waihi Beach
http://www.flatwhitecafe.co.nz
Great setting, good food & coffee
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Loved this! A lot of undulating trail but all runnable. I'd say it's more technical than the description describes. But don't let that put you off as it keeps the running vaired and fun.
December 8, 2023
Amazingly scenic, be prepared to stop often to take plenty of photos. Try hard not to get seduced into taking a swim in any of the beautiful spots along the way.
January 19, 2020
AO
Awesome trail! Fantastic views, can't get lost, great variety underfoot, pine needles, bush, dirt, small rooty sections. Nicely undulating. Opens onto some beautiful beaches. The side trip to the waterfall was a highlight. Tip, don't follow the markers precisely, the track is overgrown and cutty grass cut my legs to pieces. Once you get to the creek, just follow the creek up. It's faster, more direct, and less blood spilled! Reminds me of the trail between Stony Bay and Fletchers Bay, but much more easily accessible.
October 27, 2019
These overlap with this trail 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 activity for each.
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