Last Updated: 15th Jul 2024

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Maungakawa Ankle Breaker

Matamata, Waikato

Submitted by Lance Knauf

Last Updated: 15th Jul 2024

Beginner

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I've done it Done

Open

Grunt Factor: 13 ?

Gnarl Factor: 51 ?

6.4km

370m

370m

494m

  

  

  

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Trail Map

Type of Run

Front country - easily accessible

Loop

Undulating, some big hills

Native bush

Run Makeup

30%
40%
30%

Easy Single Track

Moderate Single Track

Technical Single Track

Average Uphill Gradient: +12.8%

Average Downhill Gradient: -12.2%

Trailhead

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Estimated Times to Run

1:15

Slow

0:45

Moderate

0:30

Fast

The track is a relatively short loop with good elevation leading to easy-to-access views. The track is very well marked and being a loop can tackle it whichever way suits. At the fork of tracks the left track attacks the summit from the south and is a more pleasant gradient as it steadily makes its way up towards the summit where there is a viewing platform in the tree tops making for an amazing view over the Hauraki Plains and even down to Ruapehu on a good day. The right track tackles the summit from the next ridge to the east, this is shorter and slightly steeper.

This trail includes the peak Maungakawa.

Great views from the top of Waikato and Hauraki Plains leading to a high amount of smiles per miles.

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.

Roadside carpark on a quiet back country road.

21 km

25 minutes

No

No

Easy.

From the carpark follow the track past the old faded sign, up the hill the track forks into the two directions of the loop, choosing how to tackle the hill is the most difficult part of the navigation. The track is very well formed and signposted by small orange triangles every 10-15 metres making it hard to lose the track.

Generally good.

Long-sleeved thermal top, Windproof jacket, Gloves, Beanie/thermal headwear, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Survival blanket, Cellphone, Map, Headtorch and spare batteries

There is no water available along the way.

Generally well drained tracks. After rainfall tree roots could become extremely slippery.

The track is riddled with tree roots so be careful with root placement especially when coming down.

Trail Legend

Tim Purchase

Tim Purchase

has completed Maungakawa Ankle Breaker twice in the last year.

Learn about Trail Legends.

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Trail Reviews

Nice trail - good view from the platform. Definitely deserves the name - I wouldn't want to run it anticlockwise - the uphill clockwise is very rooty and technical - the trip down much smoother.

Rob Holm

March 6, 2024

Good trail, nice bush, awesome technical but fast section on the way down made me feel like I was flying. The view from the top is awesome too.

Kelly Davenport

January 16, 2023

Great run with some speedy action on the downhill. Add a bit extra on the suggested time to run.

Anthony Sowerby

April 16, 2022

Great short track with lots of elevation, my watch pegged it just under 6 km with 380 m elevation CW. I liked the rocky rooty track, good training ground for the Pirongia event in December.
I did both directions and found that CCW was a little harder to follow.
A few trees over the track this day.
The stream needs a bigger pool for cooling down.

Paul Ewart

September 18, 2021

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