Day 1 of the Aorangi Undulator 100 starts on Fri 1st Nov at 7am at the end of Muritai Road, at the gate where the where 4WD road starts. You will be running 50km which is expected to take competitors from 5 to 11 hours.
Race officials will be at the edge of Lake Oneke (which is the new finish of Day 1) from 12- 6pm.
Our vans will be dropping you at either Pinnacles' Camp Site of accommodation that you have organised between Pinnacles and Mangatoetoe Valley. Your accommodation needs to be along this road unless you arrange your own transport.
WE WILL SUPPLY DETAILED MAPS WITH COMMENTS. YOU WILL STILL NEED YOUR OWN TOPO MAPS THOUGH.
Route
Run around the coast until a k or 2 before the end (lighthouse) there is a small track that sidles up the hill to your left (this will be marked) . Take that and it will take you to a stall hop over that and continue down the track. Take the first left that takes you around the first East Harbour Lake.
Then once around that head down to the coast. The track branches left or right near the coast take either one they both about same time.
Once you hit coast run around coast track staying towards the coast the whole way. You will hit a small gate that says private. The owner does not mind if you run through. It's only about 1 km.
Then you hit the beach and the rocks (very large rocks about 5 metres high) you can run through these rocks by using a narrow corridor that is not immediately obvious until you approach them (this will be marked this year) onto the beach.
There will be a marshal here to direct you as last year people did not
take the beach route and they ned to follow the beach around the inlet.
There may be a shallow inlet crossing if at all. 
Run along the sand bypassing the Wainuiomata river that lagoons into an inlet. You can bypass this by running through the rocks and along the sand on the beach . Along the sand you will then head up to the paved road and run to the head of Orongaronga Valley by the road.
There will be a bridge where a marshal will be. This marshal at the head of the valley will take your name and send you up the main Orongorongo Valley.
You find your way up the valley for approx 10km until you will see another marshal. He will point you up towards the Mt Matthews track.
Take this track following markers until you hit the intersection that goes left (up to Mt Matthews ) or right (up to South Saddle) you need to take right up to South Saddle. Do NOT go up Mt Matthews.
Once you hit the South saddle you will see an iron pole at top (this will be marked with tape) . If you look down the other side (it is not immediately obvious) you will see a track that descends down a narrow gully with trees to MukaMuka Valley. It is well marked by DOC.
Keep following this gnarly track down to main valley and descend down to coast. At coast turn left and follow the 4wd or the beach to the finish flags at the edge of Lake Oneke.
Topo Map - please note that the route on this map does not show the
final 6km to Lake Oneke.
You will be starting your second day with the 1-day event competitors.
There is a camp site at the Pinnacles, if you camp there then at 5am on
Saturday you can be transported in the support van to the Day 2 start.
Day 2 finishes in the Putangirua Pinnacles car park. Transport is
available to pick you up from the finish and take you back to your
accommodation.
The fastest times over this course are expected to be expected around 5-6 hours, and the slowest 10-12 hours.
The whole course is a marked DOC route, covered the whole way by triangular orange DOC markers and backed up in the less obvious places (such as tree falls / junctions) by orange tape markings.
- IF YOU ARE IN THE BUSH AND HAVE NOT SEEN AN ORANGE MARKER IN A WHILE YOU ARE OFF THE TRACK. Retrace steps to last known point, DON’T JUST BLUNDER ONWARDS.
- Orange markers are less frequent in the river valleys.
- See more specific notes below, but significant aspects of the route simply follow the river’s route - so do the same but LOOK REGULARLY for orange markers which signify deviations from the river / creek.
- Oh, and there’re lots of nettles, gorse, rocks and roots, which are not suitable for the weak.
START
Start at Mangatoetoe river end to Kawakawa Hut. Follow river upstream.After 4km (30 mins ish) the river splits around an island before rejoining further upstream. Take the left (true right) side.
Another 1km (10mins ish) there’s a river junction on the right (true left). Take left river (true right) and aim for the large orange DOC triangle.
Travel now up river, dipping in out, it is gorge like. Follow regular DOC orange marks where possible.
Exit fork from river well marked by cut cabbage tree stump in river.
UNDULATION #1
Approx. 130m steep vertical climb. Cross the saddle, then a very steep descent, TAKE CARE. Descent ends by waterfall and pool – follow river downstream, rocky boulder-hopping for 4km.At that 4km point make sure you are scanning the true right of river as there will be a big DOC triangle marking where you leave the river bed. You must spot this or you will miss the turn off and head down the river. The triangle leads you into a copse of trees and a track that leads to Kawakawa Hut .
KAWAKAWA HUT
Kawakawa Hut is on true right of river, and marshalled. A 4WD track crosses river at hut. You MUST GET CHECKED BY MARSHAL at the hut.Kawakawa hut to Pararaki HutHead upstream crossing creek regularly for 10 to 15 mins. Turn left at ‘Pararaki Hut’ wooden sign.
UNDULATION #2
Approx. 310m vertical climb. Steep climb up narrow ridge – careful, don’t fall off. Long cambered sidle to saddle.When you hit the BIG fallen log look hard left for the track not straight ahead.
After saddle descend to Pararaki river.
Turn right upstream at river.
PARARAKI HUT
Pararaki hut is 100m upstream on left (true right).YOU MUST GET CHECKED BY MARSHAL at the hut. Pararaki hut to Washpool hut
UNDULATION #3
Approx. 550m vertical climb. Windfall at base of track not far from hut, follow orange taps and markers. Solid climb, obvious track.Then very steep descent ending in a final 30 or so metres of loose scree, very easy to gather unwanted / wanted momentum.
Turn left at Washpool stream and follow blazes downstream for 100m, look for sign to hut on true right bank and head up steps to Washpool hut .
WASHPOOL HUT
YOU MUST GET CHECKED BY MARSHAL at the Washpool hut.Washpool hut to Finish: Follow well signed Kopi track, up, up and up.
UNDULATION #4
Approx. 550m vertical climb. Steep climb, summit and obvious left towards NW ridge.Ridge undulates for 3km through bush. When you get to old fence and 4x4 track it is pretty much the climbing over.
Descend through ‘Gorse Alley’ – like taking off a plaster this is best done quickly, showing weakness will be booed.
Take signed (and marshalled) left turn to Pinnacles – YOU MUST CHECK IN WITH MARSHAL.
Turn left to lookout track NOT ‘Circular Walk’ and descend obvious stepped route to river valley.
Turn right at river valley and follow river downstream towards aromas of sausages sizzling and rest awaiting.
Look out for BLUE WARATAHS WITH ORANGE TRIANGLES. There are 2 and will put you on the track to the finish. If you miss them it’s not a major you’ll just be running on rougher terrain and it will take longer.
You’re done.
Go party. You are not weak.
Day 3 of the Aorangi Undulator 100 starts on Sunday 3rd November. Known as the Haurangi Crossing, it is 25km long. Expected time 4-5 hours. Longest could take 10
Starts Pinnacles car Park ends at Waikuku Lodge
Last year's route can be viewed here on Mapmyrun.
Start at Pinnacles car park (20 min down road from bach) and runs up the main river valley for a few minutes on left side of valley you will see a sign that says Pinnacles The High Way , take this route up to the main Aorangi Track. At the top you will turn left (right is towards Washpol where you have come from the day before!) then after a few minutes you will get to another intersection that says to Sunderlands Hut. Take this turn that descends to a river valley (stream) the 4 wd will cross the river and goes up other side. This is the start of a major undulation that will last for about 1- 1hr 30 min . Once you get to the tops it opens out and hopefully you will get some views. The only place you can get lost is the first major intersection that goes left or right. Take the right that descends this is the main ridge . the one that goes up and left is the wrong one and eventally drops to a major river valley DONT GO THAT WAY. After this its all undulating 4wd until you get to the big rocky descent to Sunderlands Hut valley. Once you get to bottom turn right and follow 4wd that keeps crossing river. It eventually gets to a last uphill.
At the top of this you have a final k descent then you will see Waikuku Lodge and finishing flags!
Transport is available to pick you up at end of day 3 and take you back to Wellington unless you want to stay the night at Waikuku Lodge at the end of the run and go back to welly Mon morning. More details to come...Of course your friends relatives can get involved too if they want re pick ups and drop offs but i will need to be very stringent with who is where at all times i need to know for safety...THIS IS V IMPT you let me know if someone else gives you a ride etc As we need to know who is on course and who isn't.
