Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Waiopehu Gable Grunt
Submitted by Stephanie Berry
Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Open
Grunt Factor: 49
Gnarl Factor: 83
23.0km
1375m
1375m
1097m
Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Submitted by Stephanie Berry
Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Open
Grunt Factor: 49
Gnarl Factor: 83
23.0km
1375m
1375m
1097m
Front country - easily accessible
Loop
Mountainous
Native bush
Open farmlands
Open ridges/tops
Farm Road / 4WD Track
Easy Single Track
Technical Single Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +13.2%
Average Downhill Gradient: -15.5%
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8:00
Slow
6:00
Moderate
3:30
Fast
Topo map is essential. Head off from the carpark at Poads Road and follow the poled route across the paddocks until you come to the track proper. When you get to the first junction take the right hand track marked Waiopheu Hut - this is part of the Te Araroa Trail. There is a second junction further up - continue on the right hand trail.
Just keep on climbing, and climbing and climbing. The hut is about 9km up. There is water but I think this needs to be boiled so it would pay to take enough for the whole trip. There is a toilet at the hut though. From the hut keep climbing up to Twin Peaks and the Memorial beacon. You then have a small descent and another wee climb before the next junction which is the turn off down the Gable End Ridge Track. At this point you'll be hoping it's all down hill from here but sadly you'd be disappointed - there's a few gentle undulations as you make your way back down the mountain.
Stick right all the way down past the first turnoff and head along the Ohau Gorge before rejoining the track just before the farmland again and back to the carpark. My watch stopped at 21.9km but with a little calculating worked it out to be 23km round trip. Not for the faint hearted.
Large carpark area with a longdrop for last minute necessities. No water available here so make sure you fill up before leaving Levin.
11 km
13 minutes
Unknown
No
Moderate.
Make navigation of this route super-easy by using the Capra app on your phone. View on Capra .
Generally good.
Thermal leggings, Long-sleeved thermal top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Windproof jacket, Gloves, Beanie/thermal headwear, Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Survival blanket, Cellphone, Map, Headtorch and spare batteries.
Water at the hut is fine to drink
Very muddy after rain
Exposed to cold winds
Snow in winter
Trail Legend
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
You and Waiopehu Gable Grunt
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Definately a high gnarl factor on this one. The first half up to waiopehu hut is a decent 9km slog, not super steep or technical but quite boggy in places but wooden pathways are currently being installed in the worst places by a super team of vollies.
From the hut onwards is where it gets gnarly. Steep, undulating, rocky, rooty, grasses covering the track on the tops, many bogs. I went in up to my knee at one so be careful and just go around them. I don’t think these bogs are being covered by the wooden paths and they seem to stay boggy all through summer.
The decent is steep and seems to go on forever. I reckon if you want to ramp up the grunt factor then do the trail clockwise (gable ridge first).
Also, there is currently a slip 4km from the end (just after you turn right off the swing bridge), there is a detour if you go about 100m up the Slip Disc (I think it’s called that) track and across a bush bashed track to the right above the slip. Super sketchy but doable if you hang on to the vegetation and back down carefully. After that it is plain sailing to the finish!
January 7, 2022
This was a big day out! Quite a slog up to the hut and I made the mistake of thinking I was halfway time-wise at that point. The second part was VERY muddy. I used the dogs as a measure of just how muddy - if their legs disappeared I definitely had to go around. The descent went on seemingly forever but there were some lovely views. Lots of tripping hazards so go carefully. Ran into several friendly hikers along the way.
September 23, 2019
AH
Fun track up to Waiopehu Hut. We had planned to go around Gable Ridge but the weather packed in big time (typical Tararuas) so went down the same way. Very boggy and hard to avoid going straight through mud in some places, so be prepared for wet feet.
January 25, 2019
Completed the track yesterday. Good track, I'd definitely say more of a tramping track than a running track due to how much MUD there was and there was heaps - just kept on going. If you're after a good running trail I wouldn't recommend this. Completed in just under 7 hours.
January 13, 2019
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