Front country - easily accessible
Combo
Undulating, some big hills
Native bush
Open farmlands
Farm Road / 4WD Track
Moderate Single Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +11.3%
Average Downhill Gradient: -11.3%
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2:15
Slow
1:45
Moderate
1:00
Fast
From the DOC trail sign across the bridge you gently climb 600m on a dirt forestry track to the road end. The trail is to the right snd marked with orange triangles.
After 20m you cross the Maratoto Stream and follow a lovely single track through the bush for 3km, crossing the stream another 6 times. The trail emerges onto farmland and you follow the blue and orange marker poles through open land and bush before getting onto a farm track which descends to a track junction.
There are information boards showing the site of the old Golden Cross mine and information about it. Go left towards the Lake loop which takes you around the old tailings area which is now a lake. This loop will bring you back to the junction and you turn left to head down the farm track, over a stile and down a gravel road to the carpark.
Turn around and head back to the junction. Turn left following the signs to Maratoto track until you get back to the bush. Now enjoy the downhill as you return to the track start.
Golden Cross is the site of an old gold mine. Gold was discovered at Golden Cross in 1892, and an underground mine operated there from 1895 to 1920. The area reverted to farmland after the mine was closed, until the new Golden Cross Mine started operating in late 1991. The new mine operated as both an open-cast and an underground mine. The mine closed again in late 1997 – early 1998
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.
North end: See start point description for 3 parking options depending on type of car.
South end is a large carpark with toilets.
32 km
30 minutes
Unknown
No
Easy.
Non-existent.
Short-sleeved thermal top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), Whistle, First aid kit, Cellphone, Map
Follow stream for first and last 4km
Nil
Stream may rise with lots of rain.
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
You and Maratoto To Golden Cross
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Really enjoyed this run, great mix of beautiful bush single track, stream crossings and runnable farm road. Interesting learning about mining history of the area too. Will definitely do again.
Instructions on getting there and parking are spot on and really helpful.
December 23, 2020