Thomas River Run

An awesome short loop with well formed trails, delicious native bush, small (easy) river crossings and copious amounts of native birdlife. Start at the DoC sign for the Thomas River trail on Trelissick Loop, head down to the stream and once up onto the terrace head right. Easy to follow trail from there. You will cross over an access road to a Lodge about 900m in, the trail then meanders along above the Thomas River before dropping down to cross the river and briefly send you along a 4WD access track for the Castle Hill Village water scheme.

Take note at the 1.9km mark to look for for a trail to your right as you'll come back to this point and head up there upon your return. The trail gets a bit less travelled from here but eventually brings you out to a massive flying fox (private), from here you get great views up the valley and up to Leith Hill. Now retrace your steps and head up the trail mentioned previously. Eventually the trail will bring you back out to the start of Hogsback track. Follow the gravel road down to Castle Hill Drive and then Trelissick Loop to your start point.

An ideal warm up/shake out for the nearby Leith Hill, Loop of Depression or Hogsback trails without repeating any of those trails (about 100m overlap for trail access).