Whigs' Flying Fifty (WFF)Intermediate

Description

N.B. While the track is dog friendly the first 2kms up the Crocodile are private and dogs are not allowed. Instead take the Kennedys Bush Rd to the junction of the Crocodile & Kennedys bush track.
This trail is a great introduction to the Port Hills, it's based on the Old Crater Rim MTB race route but using the Crater Rim Walkway (CRW) to link up the mtb tracks intead of road sections. The section around Godley Heads was also lengthened to make the distance up to 50km.

Start at the dog park and head along the base of the hill to the Crocodile track. Head up the original Crocodile trail (although any will do) cross Kennedys Bush track and follow the 3 winding mtb trails (Siberia etc) uphill, continue upwards on Kennedys Bush track to the Summit Rd.

Cross the road & turn left. Follow the CRW untill you rejoin the Summit Rd at Worsleys Rd. Go up Worsleys until you see a pylon track on your right just before the crest. Head up the pylon track then turn right onto the Flying Nun mtb track. This is an awesome, smiley track with big berms on the bends and interesting route choices (the outside choices are usually the best, however, be aware the first r/h bend does have a vertical smooth stone berm so check out the easy option shortcut just before it if you are unsure or if it's wet.)

Follow this trail down past Sign of the Kiwi where it becomes Old Dyers Pass Rd (still single track). When you hit the tarseal after a few kms cross the road (Dyers Pass Rd tarseal) and pick up the mtb trail signs into Victoria Park and head up to the old skid area. From here head straight up the steep trail (any steep uphill here will do) until you intersect the mtb traverse track right below the summit rd. Head left and follow this underneath Sugarloaf until it intersects the Summit Rd again.

Cross the road and continue to follow the mtb track for a couple of kms until right after a switchback when you have dropped almost to the road. Turn left off the track, cross the road and head down Mt Vernon Farm Track. After a few km's the track splits, bear left and carry on down instead of flattening out. At the bottom you will hit the tarseal, take the first right then follow the road along the bottom of the hill to the left for approx 1km until you reach Rapaki road on your right.

Head up Rapaki road/track again to the Summit Road. You will now roughly follow the Summit Rd all the way to Godley Heads. Cross the road, turn left and follow the Witch Hill track, cross the road & pick up the post quake walkway on the city side of the road to The Tors. Follow the Tors Walkway track to the Bridal Path. Continue in the same direction & aim to pass just behind the gondola building and drop to the next saddle.

From this saddle follow the Mt Pleasant Track (covered in light stone) up the next hill towards the radio towers that you will have seen from by the gondola. From the trig on top follow the trail down until you hit a farm track, turn left here, keep an eye to your right and pick up the Greenwoods mtb track after a couple of mins. Follow this trail down to the Summit Road at Evans Pass crossroads (4km down from trig to Summit Rd.)

Go straight ahead at the crossroads, over the cattle stop and turn right onto the mtb track. Follow this track over the next 2 hills. On the 3rd hill from Evans Pass take the 2nd mtb track up the hill to your right (neither are signed but both are only a few meters along from when you hit the road) . Follow this on the main track until you hit a junction. Turn right towards the signed summit mtb track. At the fenceline turn right and either follow the fence or the marker poles along the top then back down to the saddle. Now look to your left and take the stile over the fence, follow this track on the harbour side of the hill untill you cross another stile. Don't drop just yet but head leftish until you pass the old WW2 building and take the next right onto a farm track that will drop to Godley Heads Car park. Go over the stile into the car park and take the track on the harbour side and follow this round to the finish Taylers Mistake.

Make Up of Run

Moderate Single Track: 35%

Easy Single Track: 33%

Farm Road / 4WD Track: 30%

Sealed Road: 2%

Route Data