Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023

Beginner

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Kai Iwi Lakes

Dargaville, Northland

Submitted by Mike Tennent

Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023

Beginner

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I've done it Done

Open

Grunt Factor: 12

Gnarl Factor: 16

11.5km

100m

100m

106m

  

  

  

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Trail Map

Type of Run

Front country - easily accessible

Loop

Undulating, small hills only

Native bush

Beach

Lakeside

Run Makeup

1%
1%
18%
70%
5%
5%

Sealed Road

Gravel Road

Farm Road / 4WD Track

Easy Single Track

Moderate Single Track

Untracked / Route only

Average Uphill Gradient: +2.9%

Average Downhill Gradient: -3.7%

Trailhead

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Estimated Times to Run

1:40

Slow

1:15

Moderate

1:00

Fast

Starting at the carpark next to the Campground pop down onto the beach, turn right and follow the sand until it peters out, then take one of the wee tracks back to the 4WD track. Keep following that track until you come to what looks like an old toilet block set back a bit on your right. If you look left you should see a post with Taharoa Trail on it... go down onto the beach again and go right... just before the beach peters out again if you look right you will see a trail arrow.

Head onto that and enjoy some lovely single trail. Keep on this trail until you come to an intersection with Lake Waikare Trail pointing right. Head up here and follow the signs all of the way around the lake. When you get to what looks like a clubhouse, head towards the road and keep following the lake. In places there is trail and in places it's so overgrown you'll need to head back to the road.

Eventually you will get to a 4WD track and follow that to a barrier with a sign with a kiwi on it. Head past the barrier and shortly after that the trail splits. Once again head right, back on to Taharoa Trail again. This is wide gravelled track that suddenly stops, but if you look right there are tracks through the grass down to re-join the single trail. Follow this back to the northern campground, watching out for the walkway signs to your left and follow that all the way back to the start.

If you want to add the 3rd Lake - Lake Kai Iwi... when you get to the boat ramp, leave the trail and head right, you can then traverse over to the trail around the littlest of the lakes.

Great views, lots of fantails.

Plenty of parking space.

39 km

38 minutes

Unknown

No

Moderate.

Just use the Lakes, when in doubt look for the route around the lakes.

Patchy.

Short-sleeved thermal top, Windproof jacket, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone, Map.

Two fresh water lakes

None really

Nothing to note

Trail Legend

Denise Limby

Denise Limby

has completed Kai Iwi Lakes once in the last year.

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Trail Reviews

Nice flowing trails & Beautiful scenery!

DJ Gillming

October 12, 2020

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