Speights West Coaster Half Marathon

Race - Dec 14, 2019

Dogs Unknown

Features Birding · River/Creek · Swimming · Views

The route is the course for the 2016 Speights West Coaster Half Marathon.

There are several river crossings in the Goldie Bush Loop. Water is a necessity on the Te Henga Track which is very exposed, so be sure to bring your own.

The course starts at Constable Road and does a loop of the Goldie Bush Walkway/Mokoroa stream track then heads south on the Te Henga Trail to Bethels Beach.

From the start line on Constable Rd, go down the gravel road to the entrance to the Goldie Bush Loop on your right. Follow the singletrack down into the valley a few km until you get to a trail fork showing the Mokoroa Stream Track and Goldie Bush Walkway.

Take a right and continue on the trail here. You'll encounter a swing bridge and a few smaller stair climbs. At the next fork, take a left and follow the Mokoroa Falls Track until you get to the waterfall.

Once past the waterfall, follow the Mokoroa Stream Track along the river; the trail crosses the river several times so prepare to get your feet wet.

Now join back on to the Goldie Bush Walkway and climb up a lot of stairs to exit back onto Constable Road.
Follow the road back up to the start line where you'll find an Aid station and toilets before you take a right and then continue along the Te Henga Track to Bethels Beach. This trail has a few nice climbs in it and is exposed to the coast mostly running along the top of the cliffs. There are amazing views, and you can expect an aid station about halfway along.

You'll descend down a steep winding trail to the beach before a final shorter climb and another downhill to the beach where there is a small river to run through before about a 1km finish through the black sand bowl which is tough going and can get very hot.

Native NZ bush and Kauri through the Goldie Bush trails and Mokoroa stream trails. Exposed tussock and grasses mostly on the Te Henga Track.