Last Updated: 1st Apr 2024
McLeans Meander
Submitted by Tony Sharpe
Last Updated: 1st Apr 2024
Grunt Factor: 9 ?
Gnarl Factor: 18 ?
10.2km
25m
25m
68m
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Last Updated: 1st Apr 2024
Submitted by Tony Sharpe
Last Updated: 1st Apr 2024
Grunt Factor: 9 ?
Gnarl Factor: 18 ?
10.2km
25m
25m
68m
Urban fringe
Loop
Totally/mostly flat
Dog Friendly
Plantation/exotic forest
Riverside
Easy Single Track
Moderate Single Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +0.3%
Average Downhill Gradient: -1.7%
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1:20
Slow
1:00
Moderate
0:40
Fast
Start and finish at the carpark. Mind the bikes. This run is on the designated walking/ running track so you won't have to deal with looking out for bikes zooming by, apart from at the occasional trail junction. The run itself is a mix of open gravel trail and pine needle strewn forest. If you are here in autumn look out for really awesome fungus displays. The trail is well marked and there's plenty of signage to let you know how far you've gone, and maps at various junctions. This is a really nice lo-fi cruise mode stretch out for all abilities, and great conditioning if you are doing the Naseby or Hanmer Old Forest races any time soon.
Pop out to the Waimakariri riverbank for some cool views if you want a bit extra - on the River Loop track
Plenty of parking at the trail head.
21 km
29 minutes
Yes
No
Easy.
Just keep following the walker/ runner signs
Patchy.
Short-sleeved thermal top, Windproof jacket, Cellphone, Map
Fill up at the carpark
Tends to be muddier and colder in winter, you may need a hat and gloves on the coldest days
Watch for bikes at the junctions. They zoom around here
Trail Legend
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
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Easy to find and navigate. I was there early morning and was the only one in the park - just me and the birds. At that time of the morning (6.30am) the mountain bike tracks provided different routes.
January 8
Not the most inspiring trail but a good option if you want something flat and fast. Lots of trees had been cut down through the middle section when I had run it. Very thankful for the GPX route at times as it would be easy to get lost. As others have said, some of the loose rock lined portions of the track weren't super fun! But a good option if other places have bad weather and you need to stretch the legs.
December 11
A great option when the weather isn't good in the hills. I found the trail to be well signposted, much easier to find your way around compared to bottle lake!
May 15, 2022
My second time doing this loop after 1 year. I think the sign posts have improved. The parts through the forest (about 70%) were quite enjoyable, with lovely smell of forest and well sheltered on a hot windy day. Agreed with the others, the parts with rock lined track were less enjoyable. Overall a good alternative to Bottle Lake.
November 1, 2021
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