MacetownBeginner - Intermediate
Submitted by James Harcombe
Front country - easily accessible
Out and Back
Undulating, small hills only
Native bushRiversideOpen farmlands
Beginner - Intermediate
4:00 (Slow)
3:00 (Moderate)
2:30 (Fast)
-10.3%
+10.2%
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
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Description
From the toilet at the Chinese settlement, cross the small creek on the bridge, and head right. Follow the 4WD track towards the Arrow River. When you see the river, look left for the path that leads across the large water pipe. This is the start of the Macetown track, and the Sawpit Gully track. The track follows the pipeline for about a km, at which point, you can head left for Sawpit Gully, or continue traversing before dropping down to the river. The Arrow River is crossed here by a large bridge. Once crossed, head left, upstream, along the obvious 4WD track. This track goes all the way to Macetown, and in warm, dry weather is the most direct route (there are several river crossings along the way!) It's possible to keep your feet dry by keeping to the footpath, which is marked with orange standards. If you take this option, you will need to take care at about the 10.5k -here take the right turn, keeping close to the Arrow River as the left turn at this point leads to Big Hill.
Trail Community
Features of interest
Furthest point on the run is the historic gold mining town of Macetown. It's worth allowing an extra hour to explore the restored cottages and gold mining history of the area. The distance quoted is the distance to the first of the restored cottages.
Make Up of Run
Moderate Single Track: 10%
Easy Single Track: 5%
Farm Road / 4WD Track: 85%
Route Data
Reviews:
Overlapping Runs
The following trails overlap with this run 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 Strava activity for each
Photos:
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Access
Toilet at the Car Park for the Chinese Settlement.
Plenty of car parking near start. Public transport available from Queenstown via the Connectabus.
1 km
3 minutes
No
No
-
Staying Safe
Moderate.
Make navigation of this route super-easy by using the Capra app on your phone. View on Capra .
At about 10.5k, there is a small creek crossing, and a branch in the track. The more obvious route is to the left (Big Hill). Do not take this! Follow the flagging tape to the right for Macetown. If it's hot, keeping to the 4WD track, and crossing the river is the easiest route to follow, but misses out on some interesting single track.
Very patchy.
Short-sleeved thermal top, Long-sleeved thermal top, Seam-sealed waterproof 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.
There are plenty of side streams feeding the Arrow River that are safe for drinking.
A great track for running all year round. The 4WD track is not an option in wet weather, as the Arrow River packs a punch in flood!
Some of the single track is narrow with very steep drop offs.
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Post run indulgence
The Fork And Tap
Arrowtown
http://www.theforkandtap.co.nz
Great selection of wine and beer and wholesome pub food!Provisions Cafe
65 Buckingham St., Arrowtown
http://www.provisionsofarrowtown.co.nz
Great coffee and food in a classic character building. -
Sponsor this trail
See other runs nearby:
Big Hill Circuit
Sawpit Gully - German Hill
Mt Rosa Loop
Queenstown Trail Anticlockwise
Bush Creek Banger and The Steiger!
New Chums Loop
Miners Trail
Brow Peak Mini Mission
Crown Peak Traverse
Lake Hayes Circuit
Beat Beetham
Coal Crown Arrowtown
Glenroy Water Race Track
Arrowtown Gold
Mt Sale via Crown Peak and Mt Scott
Advance Peak (via Big Hill inbound and Macetown Road outbound)
Coronet Loop
The Not WILD 50 Mile Course
The Not WILD 20 Mile Course
All The New Chums
Brow Peak and Big Hill
Mt Soho Marathon
Cardrona to Arrowtown
Hilly Delight
Fast and Flat in Arrowtown
Crown Peak and Mt Sale
The Beast of Beetham