Last Updated: 6th Mar 2025
Big Breast Loop
Submitted by Isaac Walker
Last Updated: 6th Mar 2025
Grunt Factor: 52 ?
Gnarl Factor: 24 ?
38.0km
1920m
1920m
1580m
Last Updated: 6th Mar 2025
Submitted by Isaac Walker
Last Updated: 6th Mar 2025
Grunt Factor: 52 ?
Gnarl Factor: 24 ?
38.0km
1920m
1920m
1580m
Front country - easily accessible
Loop
Very hilly
Lakeside
Open farmlands
Open tussock/grasslands
Open ridges/tops
Gravel Road
Farm Road / 4WD Track
Easy Single Track
Moderate Single Track
Technical Single Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +8.6%
Average Downhill Gradient: -12.2%
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9:00
Slow
7:00
Moderate
5:00
Fast
You could start this run in a number of spots and run it in either direction. I picked the start/finish so I could have a swim in the lake at the end and also the direction so I had a more gradual ascent and steeper descent.
From Johns Creek carpark follow the road back up through the ford and turn left at Hawea Back Road. Follow this straight piece of gravel road for around 2.5km through another ford until you reach Nook Road. Turn left up Nook Road and this will take you to the start of Grandview Track. From here it is a simple DOC marked trail. There are 6 creek crossings (with some luck you will keep your feet dry) before you start the Grandview ascent.
Head up and up until you reach the Grandview Summit sign - turn right and follow the trail for around 500m so you can claim the summit. Head back down to this same intersection and turn right - follow the signs to Grandview Ridge Track around to the left. Follow the 4wd track all the way around the tops, passing trig point 1453, staying on the farm road and not taking any turns. You will pass the signs to Pakituhi Hut on the left, stay straight right through to around the 29km point. Turn left towards the Breast Hill Summit.
This is the final grunt to finish off your already tired legs. Once you hit the summit of Breast Hill - take a break! Magical spot up there. Then simple follow the DOC poles back down the ridge to your right overlooking the lake the entire way. Feel free to pop down to Pakituki Hut at the saddle, or make the right turn and head around the sidle and down the nice steep descent. Quite technical in parts and tough on tired legs so keep your wits about you. Once you hit the gravel road at the bottom of Breast Hill Track turn right and follow it for around 1km back to the carpark and finish. Time for a swim!
This trail includes the peaks Grandview Mountain and Breast Hill.
Amazing views throughout! Really interesting rock formations along the top of Grandview Ridge Track and also coming down Breast Hill.
If you know of any public toilets near the trail start or on the route, please login and then let us know so we can update this section.
You could ride/run from Hawea along the lake-front track. Plenty of parking and shade under the big tree.
15 km
39 minutes
Unknown
No
Moderate.
If you follow the directions provided and keep an eye on all signs you will be fine - this one is well signposted and reasonably easy to follow.
Generally good.
Thermal leggings, 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, Crampons / microspikes (for winter conditions)
There are occasionally a couple of small streams running over the back of Breast Hill but to be sure - take all your water with you.
Very very tough with snow - as I found out and as you can see from the photos. Snow can be chest deep (and deeper) in wind blown spots even late in the season. I would only recommend doing this route in decent weather and minimal snow. Rain can also make the track very boggy in spots.
Creek crossings - take care. Spiney Spaniards - take care. The technical descent coming down Breast Hill on tired legs - take care.
Sailz Cafe
Hawea
http://www.sailzlakehawea.co.nz
Great coffee and home cooked food.
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RP
Real varied route with plenty of runnable sections to split up the climbs/descents. Take care heading down from Breast Hill as its pretty technical and the track is very narrow in parts. Incredible views all around!
February 12, 2024
Brilliant loop, also started with the Breast Hill Track because the climb is great fun.
May 12, 2022
Great day out - easy 4wd track most of the way means lots of runnable terrain.
Was happy to have done it starting from Breast Hill side, as it made for easier running down Grandview on the way back and cooling my feet down in the streams :)
December 6, 2021
Awesome run. Bit of flat/runnable, plenty of climb, amazing views. Choose your direction. We went flat run from johns creek to grandview and up. Meant a tough techy dhill down breast (which i like but each to their own). Or go breast first which is steep tough climb but makes dhill down grandview fast. Either way epic loop. Cheers Isaac the starfish Walker. Easier in summer vs waist deep snow Isaac?
December 12, 2020
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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