Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Te Whara / Bream Head
Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Open
Grunt Factor: 20 ?
Gnarl Factor: 51 ?
7.5km
850m
895m
468m
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Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Open
Grunt Factor: 20 ?
Gnarl Factor: 51 ?
7.5km
850m
895m
468m
Front country - easily accessible
Point to Point (one way)
Undulating, some big hills
Native bush
Coastal
Other
Easy Single Track
Moderate Single Track
Technical Single Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +20.2%
Average Downhill Gradient: -19.6%
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2:00
Slow
1:30
Moderate
1:00
Fast
If you are not bringing in the Busby Head/Smugglers Bay Loop as a warmup, then take a deep breath when you leave the Urquharts Bay carpark. A short uphill trot through farmland (left at the first junction) will bring you to a stile and the start of the Te Whara Track climb.
Prepare yourself: in the next kilometre you will tackle over 1,000 stairs to reach 400m of elevation at Mt Lion. Once you are on the ridge, there are good views to be had: take care as there are also steep rocky drop-offs at these viewpoints.
Undulate along the ridge past Mt Lion - ignore the right turn onto Peach Cove Track (this drops to Peach Cove Hut at the coast) - and continue onto the Peach Cove/Te Whara Track intersection.
Turn hard right and prepare for more severe climbing over technical single track: rocks, roots and severe drop-offs abound.
Passing just below Bream head (the Gorilla), the trail descends steeply and is very technical before passing into open grassland and eventually sandy beach.
This trail includes the peak Mount Lion.
An ancient Maori route from Urquharts Bay to Ocean Beach. Spectacular coastal, offshore, harbour and city views. Kiwi audible at dusk.
From the Urquharts bay end, add in the Busby Head/Smugglers Bay Loop Track for some WWII history and coastal goodness (additional 3km).
Toilets at carpark
33 km
37 minutes
Unknown
No
Moderate.
Stop at any track junctions and check you are on the right route.
Generally good.
Long-sleeved thermal top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Gloves, Beanie/thermal headwear, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone, Map
None. Carry own water.
Limestone can be extremely slippery when wet: take care if venturing out to the many lookouts/dropoffs.
Rocks are very slippery when wet.
The Deck
Reotahi Road, Whangarei Heads
Great soup, great cakes - great pies! Solid food to get you going again.
Parua Bay Tavern
1034 Whangarei Heads Road, Parua Bay
http://www.paruabaytavern.co.nz
After a run like this you need a beer, hot chips and maybe a steak: you will get all this (plus a view and a grin from the locals) at the Parua Bay pub. And nobody minds if you are sweaty.
Trail Legend
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
You and Te Whara / Bream Head
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This is a great run or walk, its pretty steep but the views are spectacular, definitely worth the sweat!
May 30, 2020
Loved it, it was a mish up the hills but we got there in the end. When at the top of Bream head it is well worth the side trip to check out the view at the top before descending down to Oceans Beach.
January 24, 2019
I used to live round the corner from this run, and it is stunning. Add in the Smuggler's loop for views down the harbour. Mt Lion is a good climb, well worth it for the views from the top. There are kaka around too is you listen out for them! Finish it off with a pie from the cafe in McLeods Bay :)
August 31, 2017
These overlap with this trail to some degree. You may wish to combine them but please note that to qualify for FKTs on these runs you should record a separate activity for each.
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