Wild Things - New Zealand's trail running community
New Zealand's trail running community

Login



don't have an account?

Bushy Breathtaking Branch Rd, Manawatu - Wanganui

Trail Directory proudly supported by Further Faster

Update Your Header Picture

Bushy Breathtaking Branch RdBeginner - Intermediate

Submitted by Rosie Rochester

Info Info
Map Loading

Trail Information

12.00km

325m

325m

 

Manawatu - Wanganui

Ashhurst

Front country - easily accessible

Out and Back

Undulating, small hills only

Native bush
Plantation/exotic forest
Open farmlands

Beginner - Intermediate

1:50 (Slow)
1:30 (Moderate)
0:55 (Fast)

-8.6%

+8.6%

CLOSED September & October for lambing NO DOGS as it crosses private farmland Keep to the route at all times in order to retain future access

Download PDF Guide

Fastest Known Times (FKTs)

Please set your gender to see your position on the FKT leaderboards.

Men

Show more

Women

Show more

Filter FKTs

The more , the harder the FKT will be to beat. Learn about Fastest Known Times.

Missing your time?

Register or login as a VIP and get yourself on the FKT leaderboard!

Register Now

Description

The scenic walkway follows the route of an abandoned country road route that links the Pohangina Village with Ridge Road.

On Kuku Rd you start at the signpost for Branch Rd by climbing over the first of 14 stiles. Follow the Green wooden signs with yellow arrows. Throughout the trail you will just continue to follow these or white markers. You will be passing through pine plantations and some steep but short climbs. At times the trail is extremely skinny with roots underfoot. The track then crosses into lush green native bush with tree ferns, beech and regenerating shrubs.

At 3km you climb a stile and you then start the next 3km farm section that continues on to Ridge Road. The track ascends gradually through open farmland and on a clear day you will enjoy extensive views of the valley below and out over to the Ruahine Ranges for as far as the eye can see. The views are breathtaking. Depending on if stock have been grazing recently there can be a fair amount of poop to avoid and a 1km section that has some large areas of mud year round. In winter it can be particularly slow going and if you're not careful you may well have a shoe swallowed by the mud monsters!

The final stile to climb welcomes you to Ridge Rd, your highest point & turnaround spot. There's a signpost and information board there, its a beautiful spot for a snack while enjoying the views. The run back is pretty much all downhill and is around 15 minutes quicker.


Trail Community

Find people who are interested in this run.

You must register or login to view this content.

Features of interest

This trail follows the route of an abandoned County road linking Pohangina with Ridge road. In 1948 explorer William Colenso with two Maori guides followed this route on his trek from Hawkes Bay to Lake Taupo.


Make Up of Run

Moderate Single Track: 30%

Easy Single Track: 40%

Farm Road / 4WD Track: 30%


Route Data

Reviews:

You must register or login to view this content.

Photos:

You must register or login to view this content.

Your Trail Wishlist

All the runs that are on your To Do list (no limit).

Add to wishlist view wishlist

Your Trail Dreamlist

The runs you most want to do (limited to 10).

Add to dreamlist view dreamlist

Wild Explorers

I did it!
  • Access

    Kuku Rd, Pohangina Valley. 30 minute drive from Palmerston North, 15 minutes from Ashhurst.

    16 km

    13 minutes

    No

    No

  • Staying Safe

    Easy.

    Generally good.

    Long-sleeved thermal top, Windproof jacket, Beanie/thermal headwear, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone.

    None, bring your own

    A 1km section from around 3-4km in is very muddy in winter.

    A few sections have narrow trail and steep drop offs.

  • Sponsor this trail

    If you are interested in learning about sponsorship opportunities, please get in touch below:

    Submit

Got a favourite trail? Tell us about it.

Share the love and add your favourite trail(s) to our growing trail directory.

Submit A Trail

Become a member today

Start enjoying the many benefits to becoming a member of our thriving community.

Become a member

Great brands at great prices with our VIP member's discount

Stay up to date

Sign up to our newsletter for latest offers and trail guides

Share this trail with a friend:

VIP Membership

Please register as a VIP or login to your VIP account to view this content.

Cancel Login Register

Membership Required

You can see up to three trail guides without being logged in but after that we require you to be logged in to your Free or VIP account. If you don’t yet have an account you can register here.

Login Register