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3,071 ft
Distance
49 ft
Climb
-28 ft
Descent
00:06:51
Avg time
20 ft
Altitude change
1,096 ft
Altitude min
1,143 ft
Altitude max
1,106 ft
Altitude start
1,125 ft
Altitude end
0.6%
Grade
-19.7%
Grade max
14.2%
Grade min
968 ft
Distance climb
702 ft
Distance down
1,401 ft
Distance flat
00:06:51
Avg time
Puarenga Details
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Activities
- Hike
- Trail Running
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Riding AreaWhakarewarewa Forest
Rotorua -
Difficulty Rating
-
Voted DifficultyBlue (1 vote)
-
Local Popularity90 in Hiking [+]
- 80 in Trail Running
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Hiking SAC ScaleT1 Hiking
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Trail ExposureNormal
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Trail TypeSingletrack
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Trail VisibilityAlways easy to follow
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Dogs AllowedYes
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eBike Allowed
2026 Update: NO BIKING. Two way walking. Road side of the trail is closed until further notice.
Historical Trail Description:
Nothing technical, just tranquill and relaxing. Runs parallel to Ball & Chain which is on other side of the stream. There is also a cruisy link track from the Duck Pond and Larch Roads intersection down to Puarenga.
Great link track in a picturesque part of our forest, Puarenga features bench seats along the trail for time-out. A beautiful (NOW MISSING) traditional Maori carving (once) stood as a guardian over the trail about half-way through.
The perfect place to cruise and stop for a bite to eat, especially on a hot summer's day.
Puarenga - Flowers of Sulphur - refers to sulphur particles floating on the surface, sometimes joining together, resembling petals of flowers, hence the name... from The History and Placenames of Rotorua by the late, great Don Stafford (thanks to Kiri Jarden at RDC for the heads-up).
The trail is two-way walk, NO BIKING. Bikes please use the new access trail that replaces BALL AD CHAIN.
source: Ride Rotorua
Access Info
One end is at the water tank at the end of Mad If You Don't trail (the intersection of Nursery Road. and 8 Mile Gate Road.) The other end is at the intersection of Larch Road and Hill Road. Access it from either end, because it's a two way, shared use trail.
Trail Supporters
Rotorua Trails TrustMaintainer
Traditionally Indigenous Territory
Recent Activity on Trail
Past Week
- 0 rides
6 Months
- 7 rides
- 7.0 km avg distance
All
- 14 rides
| c1 | c2 | c3 | c4 |
|---|---|---|---|
January | February | March | April |
May | June | July | August |
September | October | November | December |
Puarenga Trail Reports
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Trail Conditions
- Unknown
- Snow Groomed
- Snow Packed
- Snow Covered
- Snow Cover Partial
- Freeze/thaw Cycle
- Icy
- Prevalent Mud
- Wet
- Variable
- Ideal
- Dry
- Very Dry
Trail Flow (Ridden Direction)
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The colour categories are based on what percentage of users are riding a trail in its intended direction.
The colour categories are based on what percentage of users are riding a trail in its intended direction.
- > 96%
- > 90%
- > 80%
- > 70%
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- < 50%
- bi-directional trail
- no data
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- < 1 week
- < 2 weeks
- < 1 month
- < 6 months
- > 6 months
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Trail Popularity ?
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Directions to puarenga trailhead
(-38.184300, 176.273700)
Photos
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Videos
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7 Reviews & Comments
MJ5MtJx7
Trail urgently needing blackberry pruning as starting to encroach the path
Tully01
Rode this today on way back from Split Enz - what a beautiful picturesque trail with the stream. Highly recommended for families. Track was in excellent condition. Grade 2.
brush29
Trail is a mess again.
Trees down everywhere.
No clear way through them.
As a grade 2 Should be closed until repair.
Trees down everywhere.
No clear way through them.
As a grade 2 Should be closed until repair.
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Nearby Trails
- The Verry Safe Trail 341 ft
- Puarenga (duck Pond Exit) 807 ft
- Fern Drive 1,161 ft
- Eight Mile Road (no Bikes) 1,644 ft
- Duck Pond Road 2,073 ft
Whakarewarewa Forest
- By brenthillier
NSMBA TRAILFORKS & contributors - #27713 - 5,189 views
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