Westmere Walkway & Mitipo ParkBeginner - Intermediate

Description

Go through the gate to the left of SaveMart and make your way up the side of the building and straight down a farm track. At the end of the farm track there is a stile. Follow the farm track up the small hill and over the other side. You will come to another stile to cross. Climb the hill to your right once across.

The track is relatively unmarked for the next section but there are white poles to guide you up the hill. Follow your nose to where you can see the lookout point (there's another stile to cross just before it). Once at the lookout, follow the fence line along to top of the hill (initially) towards Matipo park. There will be a couple of stiles to cross or the gates will be open. Soon you will come to a short, steep downhill.

At the base, follow the signage and turn right to run along the farm track at the base of the hill. You'll pass a burial site on your left about halfway along. When you see the track begin to climb back up the hill, keep left and follow the creek until you come to a small, concrete bridge. Cross this bridge and follow the fence line (can be very swampy) about 100m until you come to a very steep ascent. There is the makings of a trail climbing this but at the top there is a stile to find.

Cross the fence and follow a short link single track (20m) until you come to a wider, 4wd track (Matipo loop). Follow this track uphill (clockwise). At the top of the park there are some unmarked mountain bike trails which start from the main loop just before it starts to drop back downhill. Stay on the wider track and make your way down until you come to the railway line. Cross the track and run alongside for about 100m, then find the track heading back into the trees.

When you come to a usually boggy fork in the track, the hill to the left will take you back to the entrance you came in (and subsequent loops if you choose), or do a loop of the creek running through the middle of the park. Once back on the farmland you came in on, run the farm track going up the hill that you passed just before crossing the concrete bridge. Follow the farm track along all the way back to where it loops back on the track you came in on. Run back down the track over the stile to the carpark.

Features of interest

Lookout over Whanganui. Possible views of Mt Ruapehu.

Make Up of Run

Untracked / Route only: 20%

Technical Single Track: 15%

Moderate Single Track: 20%

Easy Single Track: 15%

Farm Road / 4WD Track: 30%

Gravel Road: 0%

Sealed Road: 0%

Route Data