Front country - easily accessible
Combo
Undulating, some big hills
Native bush
Riverside
Lakeside
Sealed Road
Easy Single Track
Moderate Single Track
Technical Single Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +5.9%
Average Downhill Gradient: -6.1%
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2:00
Slow
1:30
Moderate
1:00
Fast
From beside the Alpine Lodge follow the signposted trail to Kerr Bay via Black Valley Walk - a lovely warm-up alongside a beautiful stream. Very soon you'll be at Kerr Bay - turn left towards the campsite and pick up the trail entering the bush where there is a large information sign.
At the first junction head right, following the sign to Bellbird Walk and soon after take a left following signs for the Loop Track & St Arnaud Range Track. You now start a gentle climb.
At the next junction follow the sign to the St Arnaud Range Track and Loop Track, which continues uphill for about another 1k and then turn right on to Loop Track following the sign for Kerr Bay. This heads gently uphill for a short way before it starts sidling and then trending back down towards the lake shore.
At the bottom of the hill (Kerr Bay) turn right and run back along the Lakehead Track to the car park. You are now some 5k into your run. Follow the road over the wee bridge and then bear left across the grassy reserve, heading for a spot just left of the toilet block - this is the start of the Brunner Peninsula Nature Walk. Follow this for a mellow 3k to West Bay (keeping left at any junctions you see along the way)
At West Bay take a sharp right on to the road and follow for a couple of hundred metres to a grassy clearing on your right where the Moraine Walk heads off towards Lodge Road. Follow this trail through kanuka forest for about 1k, the last few hundred metres of which are parallel with, and close to, the main road. Look out for a sharp right turn signposted 'Black Hill Walk' and follow this uphill to the trig at the top.
A sweet short downhill then delivers you on to Lodge Road - turn left and follow this downhill to SH63 where you turn left again to run the short section of road back to the Alpine Lodge.
This trail includes the peak Black Hill.
Abundant birdlife in the beautiful native bush around St Arnaud thanks to the efforts of the Friends of Rotoiti.
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.
Plenty of roadside parking or, if you're going to have post-run refreshments at the Alpine Lodge they won't mind you parking there.
0 km
0 minutes
Unknown
No
Easy.
All junctions are well signposted.
Very patchy.
Short-sleeved thermal top, Windproof jacket, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone, Map
There is water available from the toilet block at Kerr Bay but nowhere else on the trail.
Sections of the trail can be very muddy after heavy rain.
Nothing out of the ordinary
Alpine Lodge
St. Arnaud
http://www.alpinelodge.co.nz
Great food, beer & coffee and warm hospitality. The open fire is particularly welcoming on cold days.
Trail Legend
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
You and St Arnaud Discovery Loops
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Great run despite wasp sting at midpoint. Technical under foot through the first loop track then nice undulating trail around Lake. Too many beersies over xmas meant I ran out of steam and walked up Black hill at the end.
January 28, 2021
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.
Length: 38.3km
Level: Intermediate - Experienced