Wild Things - New Zealand's trail running community
New Zealand's trail running community

Login



don't have an account?

Pirongia Loop of Awesomeness, Waikato

Trail Directory proudly supported by Further Faster

Update Your Header Picture

Pirongia Loop of AwesomenessIntermediate

Submitted by Vicki Woolley

Info Info
Map Loading

Trail Information

15.50km

1400m

1400m

 

Waikato

Te Awamutu

Front country - easily accessible

Loop

Very hilly

Native bush
Open ridges/tops
Other

Intermediate

6:00 (Slow)
4:30 (Moderate)
3:15 (Fast)

-16.1%

+16.5%

Download PDF Guide
View trail on Capra App

Fastest Known Times (FKTs)

Make sure to bag Pirongia summit for a valid FKT time!

Please set your gender to see your position on the FKT leaderboards.

Men

Show more

Women

Show more

Filter FKTs

The more , the harder the FKT will be to beat. Learn about Fastest Known Times.

Missing your time?

Register or login as a VIP and get yourself on the FKT leaderboard!

Register Now

Description

From Grey Road carpark, head north along the Mangakara Nature Walk. Don't be in any great rush - take time to look at the information posts along this self-guided trail - your legs will appreciate a slow warmup. At the junction, stay left and follow the signs directing you to Ruapane Link Track. Follow Ruapane Track until it joins Tirohanga Track: stay left at the fork and continue heading up the ridge. The track begins to climb steeply and as the terrain changes from soft soil to broken rock, look for large limestone 'bombs' partly covered in moss and lichen as you climb. A rocky slab leads you up to Ruapane Trig where there are great views to be had although it is often too windy to loiter long. Continue on Tirohanga Track past the trig: the footing becomes increasingly technical, alternating between rooty muddy sections and rocky exposed ridge sections. Dropping down the side of Tirohanga Bluff, a sheer rock wall adorned with rata vines provides some welcome respite from the wind. Continue climbing to the lookout at Pirongia summit - shortly before the lookout note Mahaukura Track heading off to your left: this is your way down.

Make sure you are rested, refuelled and clear-headed before heading back the way you came on Tirohanga then quickly branching right onto Mahaukura Track. This track is a beast: heavily technical (slippery rocks, roots, mud) and with a series of seemingly endless ascents and descents as you undulate down the ridgeline with far less grace and ease than the wild goats who mock you from the sheer-sided peaks. Nearing the carpark the gradient becomes more gradual; the trail softens into bush again and a screamingly good descent should make you completely forget the swearwords you have may have uttered during the previous hour.


Trail Community

Find people who are interested in this run.

You must register or login to view this content.

Features of interest

Pirongia is an ancient volcano and has wonderfully interesting exposed lava outcrops such as Tirohanga Bluff. Good weather days deliver fabulous views over the Waikato Basin to Central North Island volcanic plateau and along the West Coast. Some of the best examples of NZ native bush: look for the 700-year-old pahautea trees near the hut, and rare Dactylanthus taylorii - NZ's only completely parasitic flowering plant.


Make Up of Run

Technical Single Track: 80%

Moderate Single Track: 15%

Easy Single Track: 5%


Route Data

Reviews:

You must register or login to view this content.

Photos:

You must register or login to view this content.

Your Trail Wishlist

All the runs that are on your To Do list (no limit).

Add to wishlist view wishlist

Your Trail Dreamlist

The runs you most want to do (limited to 10).

Add to dreamlist view dreamlist

Wild Explorers

I did it!
  • Access

    From SH39 heading south to Pirongia, turn right onto Te Pahu Road, left onto Hodgson and Grey Road is a left turn off here.

    There is plenty of parking at the Grey Road carpark (road end), toilets and a sheltered information block.

    21 km

    18 minutes

    No

    No

  • Staying Safe

    Easy.

    Make navigation of this route super-easy by using the Capra app on your phone. View on Capra .

    Navigation is easy but BEWARE: Pirongia has notoriously localised (and frequently hostile) weather that can impair visibility. Be prepared with good quality wet-weather gear; hat, gloves beanie and extra thermal layers in a waterproof bag.

    Patchy.

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

    Carry own water

    Notoriously muddy and slippery (rocks, roots) in the wet: exposed ridge sections with steep drop-offs where visibility can be impaired in wet weather and wind-affected.

    Steep drop-offs.

  • Post run indulgence

    Wild Thyme Cafe
    21 Thompson Road, Te Awamutu
    Fast service and good, hot coffee.

    Iguana Street Bar

  • Sponsor this trail

    If you are interested in learning about sponsorship opportunities, please get in touch below:

    Submit

Got a favourite trail? Tell us about it.

Share the love and add your favourite trail(s) to our growing trail directory.

Submit A Trail

Become a member today

Start enjoying the many benefits to becoming a member of our thriving community.

Become a member

Great brands at great prices with our VIP member's discount

Stay up to date

Sign up to our newsletter for latest offers and trail guides

Share this trail with a friend:

VIP Membership

Please register as a VIP or login to your VIP account to view this content.

Cancel Login Register

Membership Required

You can see up to three trail guides without being logged in but after that we require you to be logged in to your Free or VIP account. If you don’t yet have an account you can register here.

Login Register