Last Updated: 4th Feb 2025
Tuatara Trail Run
Submitted by Ben Aynsley
Last Updated: 4th Feb 2025
Open
Grunt Factor: 12 ?
Gnarl Factor: 51 ?
6.0km
420m
420m
342m
Last Updated: 4th Feb 2025
Submitted by Ben Aynsley
Last Updated: 4th Feb 2025
Open
Grunt Factor: 12 ?
Gnarl Factor: 51 ?
6.0km
420m
420m
342m
Urban fringe
Loop
Very hilly
Dog Friendly
Native bush
Sealed Road
Gravel Road
Farm Road / 4WD Track
Technical Single Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +15.9%
Average Downhill Gradient: -14.1%
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1:20
Slow
55:00
Moderate
35
Fast
Loop is best run Clockwise, head north along Alexander st and turn right onto Chapel St after 400m. Head straight up Chapel st and through the footpath to Mount st. Head 20m down Mount st to the start of the King Park Walking track, from here it is a steep climb up 200m passing a couple of lookouts over Greymouth.
Once you reach a sign saying return via same route head past the sign (obvious trail) and you will find orange and white markers. You are now on the Tuatara trail which is maintained by the West Coast Alpine Club.
Follow markers through the dense native bush until reaching a service road approximately 20-30mins later- be careful when following markers ,there is plenty and if you lose sight of them you have gone the wrong way.
When hitting the Power Line service road either head left for 50m for some views or go bombing down the muddy rocky slip 'n' slide of a track for a couple of km before out of the blue pops some gravel road. From here its another 1km downhill past the Substation before you're back to where you started.
You have now completed the Tuatara Trail which doubles as a race held by the W.C.A.C each November.
Brilliant views from Multiple Lookouts along the trail.
Best parts about this run are accessibility from town (no transport required), decent vertical for those wanting to grow some mountain legs and a feeling of a real West Coast run up through the naturally formed technical trail.
Downside would only be for those wanting a run, there's probably as much walking as running in this one. Oh, and for those not wanting to get their new inov8s dirty ...better look elsewhere .
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0 km
2 minutes
Yes
No
Moderate.
You must head straight past "return via same route" sign at the top of king park walkway - Tuatara trail marked by large T in orange
Generally good.
Windproof jacket, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone, Map
None
Extreme mud during rain
DP1
Mawhera Quay
Best Coffee in Town
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Gnarly as! Would not recommend doing this in road shoes like I did, made things interesting.
January 7, 2021
This is a great track close to town with good elevation. But be prepared to get muddy! Lots of fun.
January 3, 2021
Slippy and slidey but great fun trail and fab to be able to access it from town.
May 7, 2020
Good fun, I did it in the wet too so yep it was muddy and slippery. Not fast, lots of scrambling over trees, trying to stay on my feet and finally bashing through waist deep grass, but an adventure! Great description given above, and I'd agree there are loads of markers in the bush so if you haven't seen the next one you're off route.
January 22, 2020
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