Last Updated: 12th Aug 2024

Intermediate

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Pirongia Loop of Insanity.

Last Updated: 12th Aug 2024

Intermediate

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I've done it Done

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Grunt Factor: 48 ?

Gnarl Factor: 51 ?

28.0km

1430m

1430m

957m

  

  

  

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Trail Map

Type of Run

Front country - easily accessible

Combo

Very hilly

With permit

Native bush

Riverside

Open tussock/grasslands

Open ridges/tops

Other

Run Makeup

15%
10%
35%
40%

Farm Road / 4WD Track

Easy Single Track

Moderate Single Track

Technical Single Track

Average Uphill Gradient: +9.3%

Average Downhill Gradient: -8.2%

Trailhead

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Estimated Times to Run

Not suitable

Slow

6:00

Moderate

4:00

Fast

Start at the reserve carpark, cross Limeworks Loop Road and take the Nikau walk for 2.5 km to the Kaniwhaniwha Campsite.

From the campsite follow the Tahuanui Track for a hard climb of about 6.5 km until it meets the Tirohanga Track. Follow the Tirohanga Track 1 km to the Pirongia Summit (957 m), stay on the track for about another 1 km until you get to the Pahautea Hut. The hut has shelter, water, and the most phenomenal view from a toilet you will ever get.

From the hut take the Bell Track 1.5 km to the Cone (954 m). From here the track drops down for about 8 km to the central campsite. Stay on the Bell Track for another 4 km and take the swing bridge over the Blue Bill Stream.

Once across the bridge the track immediately turns to the left and follows the stream for about 4 km until it meets up again with the Nikau Walk, take this 2 km back to the Kaniwhaniwha Reserve.

This trail includes the peaks Pirongia and The Cone.

Pirongia Mountain is the largest area of native forest remaining close to Hamilton and is of considerable conservation value due to the variety of plant life and wildlife habitats available. Rimu and tōtara are found at lower altitudes along with tawa and tree ferns. Higher up, the forest changes; hardy plants like kāmahi, tāwari, horopito and mountain.

Find out more here

Long drops at Kaniwhaniwha Reserve (start point).

There is a decent carpark with a serviced toilet block, it can get quite full so getting there early is advised. There is a great flat area beside the stream and you can soak the joints and ligaments in one of the swimming holes when you get back from the trail. There is also a DOC campsite 2.5 km from the carpark.

29 km

26 minutes

With Permit

No

Hard.

As this is a DOC forest park there are orange trail markers at least every 20 - 30 m in both directions of the trails. If you find you are on pink markers you have left the main track retrace your steps. There are also signs at all intersections giving directions and track names.

Unknown.

Thermal leggings, Long-sleeved thermal top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Gloves, Beanie/thermal headwear, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone, Map

Track wise half way is the Pahautea Hut, you can get water to drink there. Although it's only 10 km it is a hard trail.
There are number of stream crossings that could be used if you carry a filter bottle.

The high level tracks on Pirongia follow steep-sided ridges. Water is difficult to find, especially in summer, so be sure to take sufficient drinking water with you. Because of poorly drained soils, many of the tracks can be very muddy, especially after rain.

Mud, rocks, streams, steep tracks and drop-offs.

Kaniwhaniwha Stream
Beside the reserve.
Swimming and cooling off after the hard trail!

Trail Legend

MR

Matt Rowbotham

has completed Pirongia Loop of Insanity. once in the last year.

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Trail Reviews

Tough going, most especially the scramble and and down the Cone - down the harder of the two. Great place to come if you want a cheap mud bath as on occasion I was immersed well past my knee in boggy mud. Cracking views at the top.

Anthony Sowerby

November 6, 2022

Agree with Jayne, go after a long dry spell, when the Bell Track mud monster is not in evidence. A great end-of-summer run, much of Bell and lower Tahuanui is runnable, plus a couple of sharp gnarly scrambles on the North side of the Cone make for a good mix of terrain.

John Scott

March 12, 2022

We walked this track and it took about 9.5 hours, so totally doable as a long day hike as well :) Bell track is notoriously boggy, but when we went after a really long dry spell it wasn't too bad! Both of these tracks are quite tame in gradient compared to the other Pirongia tracks, except for the short lung busting climbs to and from the Cone and around the summit. So glad to have finally done this epic loop!

Jayne Tankersley

January 11, 2022

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Overlapping Trails

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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