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

Login



don't have an account?

Goblins Gander, Wellington

Trail Directory proudly supported by Further Faster

Update Your Header Picture

Goblins GanderIntermediate - Experienced

Submitted by Rosie Rochester

Info Info
Map Loading

Trail Information

37.00km

1980m

1980m

 

Wellington

Otaki

Front country - easily accessible

Loop

Very hilly

Native bush
Riverside
Open ridges/tops

Intermediate - Experienced

Not Suitable (Slow)
7:30 (Moderate)
5:00 (Fast)

-10.5%

+10.7%

Download PDF Guide

Fastest Known Times (FKTs)

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

Men

Women

There are currently no female FKTs for Goblins Gander.

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

NB The time estimates are moving time so allow another few hours if you are keen to stop and enjoy the amazing views.

Head up the track on the right of the info board/maps. Turn left at the first sign following the arrow to Waiotauru Hut. It's a lovely runnable undulating track that passes by historic relics from the days when they milled the forest of its ancient trees. There's a few narrow sections that pass over slips where extreme care is needed, stunning views over the river and forest in these spots though! Birds abound in the bush, we saw two morepork, tomtits, grey Warblers, Tui, kereru and of course fantails always love to come along for the run!!!

Not long after the swing bridge the trail widens out to a 4WD track. This continues to Waiotauru hut. There's a couple of places where the track detours off down to the right as some areas 4WD vehicles can't pass. These are actually off the walking track and it can be a little bit confusing so check your map or navigation app if you are in doubt.

There's one side stream crossing where you follow the orange markers, and you cross the main stream at the site of a demolished old rusty bridge, (this shows as a bridge on the map). A few hundred metres up the 4WD track at approximately 12km you'll arrive at the hut, recently rebuilt, and the pile of rubble from the old vandalised one is still next to it. From here carry on up the 4WD track and its a steady and mostly gentle (with some pinches) but runnable climb (fitness dependant) uphill 6km to Maymorn junction.

There's a signpost here, follow the arrow to Kapakapanui Hut, its 6.5km, and is absolutely mind-blowing mossy green scenery through Goblin forests. There's a pretty meaty, rooty climb up to the tops, and then you'll pop out into the open with ever changing terrain, rocks and scrub, and then back into rooty Goblin forest sections.

120 metres before Kapakapanui Hut you'll see a huge orange triangle - this is the start of the unmarked route across the saddle to the Pukeatua Track. A quick detour down to the hut gives you a last chance to refill water. The unmarked route across the saddle is around 2km, and can take about an hour to walk (mostly too tricky to run). There's a fair amount of bushbashing, climbing over logs, bush lawyer, mud (See Navigation Tips info for this route below). It's great fun, with beautiful views at spots along the way of the Kapiti coast and island.

You'll arrive back on to track at the orange triangles where you turn right onto Pukeatua track, which is a stunning run all the way back to Otaki Forks. At the high spot of Pukeatua if you are lucky you can see Mt Taranaki & Mt Ruapehu. Breathtaking!


Trail Community

Find people who are interested in this run.

You must register or login to view this content.

Features of interest

Near the beginning of the run you pass this historic steam powered sawmill at Sheridan Creek. This operated from 1930 to 1938. It was a shoestring operation and worker safety was not a priority. But during the depression employees were pleased to have a job. Logs were brought down a bush tramway by a rail tractor, the route included the steepest grade (1 in 5) recorded on a bush tram. There were several accidents. The operation closed unexpectedly in 1938 when a flood washed out the bridges. Much has survived and it is a relatively complete timber industry heritage site. The site is managed as a remote experience ‘discovery’ site. Restoration work has included the rust arrest of the log hauler and timber mill boiler. Two sections of original tramway have been excavated, placed onto new sleepers and treated with metal preservatives. The turntable has also been rebuilt.


Make Up of Run

Untracked / Route only: 5%

Technical Single Track: 20%

Moderate Single Track: 25%

Easy Single Track: 30%

Farm Road / 4WD Track: 20%


Route Data

Reviews:

You must register or login to view this content.


Overlapping Runs

The following trails overlap with this run 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 Strava activity for each


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

    Drive right to the end of Otaki Gorge road. It's around 20km inland from Otaki Township. There is an info board here, large gravel carpark, and a long drop toilet. If you prefer a flush toilet stop at the carpark before this one, this is also where the DOC rangers' house and intentions book is (always a good idea to fill this out)

    20 km

    26 minutes

    No

    No

  • Staying Safe

    Hard.

    A a navigation app on your phone is highly advised.
    When you are following the unmarked route across the saddle from the large triangle on the tree BEFORE Kapakapanui Hut across to meet the Pukeatua Track there is quite a bit of bush bashing. At times you can follow a light footbed, but mostly you are finding your own way. There is different coloured tape on trees from time to time but it's extremely erratic. Its not difficult, its just important to stay on the saddle and not veer off either side downhill, this is where your navigation app is hands down the best thing to check from time to time!! Otherwise follow your compass bearing. Watch out near the end for the large orange marker & smaller triangles, this is Pukeatua Track. Turn right and follow this track back to the forks.

    Very patchy.

    Thermal leggings, Lightweight fleece top, Short-sleeved thermal top, Long-sleeved thermal top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Gloves, Beanie/thermal headwear, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Survival bag, Cellphone, Compass, Map, Headtorch and spare batteries.

    Plenty of access to water in the stream and two huts.

    Large muddy patches year round.
    This involves tops travel, be prepared for EXTREME cold weather. Even in summer, be prepared for worst case scenario, don't skimp on warm layers and plenty of food, and take a torch. It is soooo beautiful that with photo stops, and checking out the huts, and the amazing Goblin forests, time does get away on you, so during autumn/winter it's easy here to run out of daylight hours.
    The time estimates are moving time so allow another few hours if you are keen to stop and enjoy the amazing views.

    This involves tops travel, be prepared for EXTREME cold weather. Even in summer, be prepared for worst case scenario, don't skimp on warm layers and plenty of food, and take a torch.

  • 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