Last Updated: 10th Apr 2026
Waiwhakareke Heritage Trail
Easy urban fringe trail
Last Updated: 10th Apr 2026
Open
Grunt Factor: 7 ?
Gnarl Factor: 12 ?
6.7km
105m
105m
Last Updated: 10th Apr 2026
Last Updated: 10th Apr 2026
Open
Grunt Factor: 7 ?
Gnarl Factor: 12 ?
6.7km
105m
105m
Urban fringe
Loop
Undulating, small hills only
Native bush
Lakeside
Easy Single Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +3.00%
Average Downhill Gradient: -3.00%
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60:00
Slow
40:00
Moderate
25
Fast
This trail is mostly non-technical gravel path set in young bush/wetland on the edge of Hamilton city, opposite the Hamilton Zoo. The gradient is gently downhill toward Horseshoe Lake, and gently uphill back toward the carpark.
Enter the trail and take the Southern Track on your right. Stay on this track until you reach Horseshoe Lake. Continue around the loop, taking the Northern Track back almost to the beginning until it comes to a T junction. Turn left at the junction taking the link track back to the Southern Track.
Follow this for a few hundred metres then turn left at the next junction, linking back to the Northern Track. At the end of this turn right and follow the track back to Horseshoe Lake where you continue onto the Southern Track, following this all the way back to the carpark.
Turn right onto the Northern Track and follow this past the first link track until you reach the second link track.
Turn onto the link track, then right onto the Southern Track and back to the carpark for the final time.
Young native bush and wetlands. Horseshoe Lake.
Public toilets available at the zoo, as well as near Horseshoe lake halfway around the trail.
Park in the carpark opposite Hamilton Zoo on Brymer Road. Also accessible on a number of bus routes. Has parking for bicycles, looks to include a plug for charging ebikes.
5 km
8 minutes
No
No
Easy.
Signposted at all junctions points. Simple layout is easy to navigate.
Perfect throughout.
Cellphone
Water fountains located in the carpark at the entrance of the trail.
Everyday Eatery
Hamilton Zoo
https://www.everydayeatery.co.nz/
Location just across the road at Hamilton Zoo
Do you have another suggestion on where to go afterwards for the best coffee / cake / breakfast / brunch / beer?
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