Hapuku - Mt Fyffe Loop

Start at the rail bridge, a few hundred meters from SH1, as there is much more parking here.
The trail follows the Kowhai River MTB trail for around 6km until you meet Postmans Road.
From here, there is about 4 kilometres of quiet country road running, turning left onto McInnes Road, before quickly turning right onto a gravel road, which takes you back onto a trail.
Weave your way through a mix of trails and backroads, past the Koura Bay golf club and on to the Hapuku River.
This is where it starts to get great.
Work your way up the river, which requires a few crossings; they are easy unless the river is high, when this trail should not be attempted.
Partway up the river, the trail starts again on the left, with a rather steep climb up through the bush.
After around 27km, you will reach Hapuku Hutt.
After the hutt, there are a few kilometres of small river crossings and dense bush ending at the Kowhai Saddle at the base of Mt Fyffe. Here you leave the trail and ascend a steep, exposed ridgeline to the top of the mountain, and follow the ridgeline to the summit of Mt Fyffe. Expect exposed scree and some rugged climbs, but nothing too treacherous. Grab some water before leaving the river, as there are a couple of hours between here and the next water at Mt Fyffe Hutt.
Now you are about 33km in, and it is downhill all the way home.
You will reach Mt Fyffe Hutt at around 37km in.
Run down the Mt Fyffe gravel road - back to the Kowai river track and back to the start.

A couple of tips: ensure you have the right gear for the conditions, the ridgelines are very exposed. Expect longer times than the distance and elevation suggest; there are large sections of slow terrain between leaving the Hapuku River and the Summit of Mt Fuffe.