Child's PlayBeginner

Description

From the car parking area head north past the boat ramp and along the footpath next to the beach. Once you cross the road bridge you will see a wee track that hooks off on the beach side of the road and goes around behind the boat yard ... follow this track which then joins onto the walking track to Childrens Bay.

This will take you down the boardwalk, across some sand and then up the other side and out onto Children's Bay Road, which you follow for 200m before turning right and onto Children's Bay track which is signposted. You then just follow the track all the way to the top, over the stile and out into the paddock. There may be cows which will leave you well alone.

The track isn't very well marked here so aim for the Rhinoceros. You then scuttle down the hill a wee way to the stile … it's signposted but basically keep heading north. Once you've crossed the stile you're onto some rougher single track which undulates it's way through some tagasaste and gorse stands (clear of the track) which is rather heady when it's flowering. If you get hay fever it may pay to take precautions. This section can be muddy after rain and in winter.

As you get closer to Takamatua the track turns into 4wd dirt track before it finishes at the road gate. If you want to go further then head out the gate and off down the sealed roads to the bay. If you're sticking to the route then turn around and head back the way you came. There's some pretty quick Strava times on this route so if you're a bit competitive then check them out and have a crack at breaking some.

Make Up of Run

Moderate Single Track: 25%

Easy Single Track: 60%

Farm Road / 4WD Track: 10%

Sealed Road: 5%

Route Data