Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Pupu Hydro Run
Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Open
Grunt Factor: 8
Gnarl Factor: 22
5.3km
290m
290m
200m
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Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Open
Grunt Factor: 8
Gnarl Factor: 22
5.3km
290m
290m
200m
Login as a VIP to see driving directions, distance and time.
Front country - easily accessible
Loop
Undulating, small hills only
Native bush
Riverside
Gravel Road
Easy Single Track
Moderate Single Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +16.3%
Average Downhill Gradient: -15.1%
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0:55
Slow
0:40
Moderate
0:25
Fast
Starting from the car park you run down the track and can either go left or right (being a loop track is doesn't really matter.) Going left takes you up the gravel access road to the water race used for maintenance. This is long but gentle hill and once at the top you will reach the lookout, go down the hill to get to the bridge over the river (halfway).
From here you enter the native bush and run beside the historic water race. The track can become very narrow here at various points (exactly one person wide) but there is a rail next to the track you can hold onto. You'll reach the end of the water race and get to the small power station. Now it's time to go down the zig zag which is the most technical part of the track. There are some very large gouges taken out of the track here and a few rocks/tree roots so if not confident take your time (a good example of semi-technical running). Then it's over a bridge and back to the start of the loop and back to the carpark.
There is an old gold mining water race that you run alongside for the entire top portion of the run. There is also a very small working hydro power station along the track as well. A bridge over the river marks approx the halfway point and there is a lookout along the gravel part of the track at the highest point with a seat where you can look out over the bay.
No public transport, plenty of space for parking private vehicles.
10 km
12 minutes
Unknown
No
Easy.
Unknown.
Short-sleeved thermal top, Windproof jacket, Whistle, First aid kit, Cellphone.
There is a river and the water race along the track both with water. Unknown if potable
Will probably get quite muddy after periods of high rainfall.
Trail Legend
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
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Did it opposite direction to described as it had been raining a lot recently and thought easier to slip up hill than downhill! Overall thought this was a good direction to do it. The water race was heaps of fun and nice big gravel section for second half
May 29
Beautiful fun trail. Was raining for my run today so I was pretty tentative.
January 26, 2022
Love the bush and the water race boardwalk! Great wee loop, would run it heaps if I lived in the area :)
December 30, 2021
Love this track, is my go-to when visiting Takaka for a after work run.
January 6, 2020
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