Collins Drive Loop

Broken Hills, broken dreams - an adventure at Collins Drive, Hikuai.

Broken Hills is accessed from (narrow) Puketui Road (SH25a) and is 1 hour 45 minute drive from Auckland.

We plan to catch up half way at The Corner Stone Cafe, SH2, Mangatawhiri. Parking space at Puketui Road is limited to around 8 cars.

Hence cars will need to be well occupied. We intend to give priority to regular active hikers on this event. Everyone will go on the waitlist and organisers will move to going.

The start of the hike requires a crossing of a small wide tributary to the Tairua River. You can expect this to be at knee height +/- depending on how tall you are! We will look at rainfall prior and send a car ahead if we feel this is a risk. Hiking poles and pairing+ up with others (holding backpack straps) is a good way to get reassurance and cross safely.

Check the link in the comments. **Collins Drive Loop**

The 500m long Collins Drive provides an opportunity to experience a real underground mine system. This tunnel was driven through the hill in a fruitless attempt to find a quartz reef with payable ore. Dangerous shafts have been boarded up but there are still active mines in the area.

You will need a torch for the 15-min boardwalk through the tunnel. Turn your torch off near the tunnel entrances to (no promises) see the glow-worms. We may enter in small groups at intervals to have a better experience. Patience is required. We will approach Collins Drive in a loop track starting near the meeting point at Puketui Road end. Look out for a small landing 5 min short of Collins Drive marks the start of an aerial cableway that carried ore hoppers to the Golden Hills stamper battery. From the west end of Collins Drive, a 10-min climb to the ridge will bring us to the Main Range Track. Let’s be clear about something….. these climbs are steep!!!! From here there is an option for some (or all) members of the group to push on a bit further up Paton Stream Dam Track, perhaps as far as Point 463. There will be a time limit on this additional high intensity cardio. The remainder of the group can enjoy some extra time at the first lunch at The Lookout. Thereafter we will continue the loop and head back down a sometimes challenging track and eventually head towards the Broken Hills camp site to take in this lovely location, toilet and second lunch or just relax in the shade if it’s a sunny day. It’s a beautiful landscape we think you’ll enjoy spending time here. Required - Head torch turn OFF for best chance of glow worms near entry and exit.

No phone lights please, if possible. Optional - Helmet as there is a low roof in the drive.

• Distance 8-10k (or more if you go to Point 463).

• Ascent - 324m (or more) + Duration - we aim for 4 hours including rest stops.

• Grade - 3.0 but

• parts are very challenging

• high work rate

Afterwards we will retire to a country pub, The Red Fox, Maramarua.

Schedule for the day
8.40am+ arrive Corner Stone Cafe
9.00am leave Corner Stone Cafe
9.50am arrive and introduction
10.00am Hike start
2.00pm Hike finish
3.00pm Red Fox, Maramarua
4.00pm depart for Auckland Locations
The Corner Stone Cafe, Mangatawhiri https://maps.app.goo.gl/9ytttVg4NMLwkymU6?g_st=ipc
Puketui Road, Hikuai https://maps.app.goo.gl/q6kr6jtGkgciLoV1A?g_st=ipc
Red Fox Tavern, Maramarua [https://maps.app.goo.gl/rKjMJgf4ExjhScfk6?g_st=ipc](https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fmaps.app.goo.gl%2FrKjMJgf4ExjhScfk6%3Fg_st%3Dipc%26fbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExV2JSM0RjOUVTR3l1UDNsUAEeAg1Y84fukDdUqwKUtUYc_6a8d0AmhHfR8ILujkCrZfczJB7fediAjM2U1V0_aem_nKo8VF-l1eFf1G2Xnl1dpg&h=AT2ipwJ5-Co9cUuki-4Lq7Sg6U9GFYOyO1q6iyzXZYQC0INjWfFIep2HC_2Y-7QZyNy54AP296iFDZOSZDUMXKDBUvH9d8kfCbIRrlsw7B8c9C6VSt84Ekv7w7aTSpdqo3iGlA)
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We are excited about this one.