Hunuas: Valley Loop & Piggotts hut

Hunuas: Valley Loop & Piggotts Hut.

Unlike the Hunua traverse, this ride takes in the nice parts of the Hunuas - the Valley Loop, and Piggots hut, as well as two lakes.

Starts 10:30 from Upper Mangatawhiri Campground car park (which you get to from Hunua Rd, not Clevedon).

From the car park we do the Valley loop, which follows a stream. The loop consists of Moumoukai Rd and Graeme White Rd and is largely pretty and flat.
After the Valley Loop, we head over the hill to the Mangatangi Reservoir. We will stop here for a snack (or lunch if you can't wait).
We then return over the hill to the Upper Mangatawhiri Reservoir.
(We go past the cars here, so anyone wanting to do a shorter ride can stop at this point).
We then cross the dam and go up Lilburne Rd to Piggotts Hut for a latish but well earned lunch (about 28 km to this point).
After lunch we return back to the car park, which is down hill, so you wont have to do anything serious on a full stomach.
about 33 km in total with three hill climbs.

DIRECTIONS FROM AUCKLAND
I find the easiest way is to take the Ramarama exit 466 from the Southern Motorway because it's a straightforward country road with minimal turns.
From exit 466, go east and you will be on Ararimu Rd. Follow Ararimu Rd all the way until you get to a left turn into Gelling Rd.
At the end of Gelling Rd, turn right into Hunua Rd.
Not far down Hunua Rd, you will find Moumoukai Rd on the left, which takes you into the Hunua Ranges.
Follow Moumoukai Rd till it turns into a metal road. Go over the big hill for about 4-5 km.
The car park is obvious and signposted "Mountain Bike car park" on your right before you get to the Mangatawhiri Dam.

NOTES.
1. This ride is easy from a technical point of view, no mountain biking trails involved. However it is all on metal and there are three significant hill climbs. We will take it slowly though. If using a non-eBike, you will need to be fit.
2. There are bike cleaning stations we need to go through to keep the ranges free of Kauri Dieback. We will be using them properly.
3. Bring both a snack and lunch. We will stop at the balcony at the visitor building (or the picnic tables) at the Mangatangi Reservoir (maybe after 12pm). We will also stop at Piggotts Hut (maybe after 1 pm). You can choose which one you use for a snack and which one for lunch.
4. The photo shows part of the track up to Piggotts Hut.
5. The motorway exit 466 is after the BP service center along the motorway, so you could stop there on the way to get your snacks, drink, lunch and morning coffee fix. I can confirm that there is no cafe at Piggots hut, but on the plus side any food you bring tastes twice as good there.

As normal then:
- This is weather dependent so if it turns to rain we will just re-run on another day.
- Please bring a spare tube for your particular bike wheel size.
- We travel at circa 15ks an hour except for down hills.
- We have a tail end Charlie to make sure riders do not get lost.
- We are not too fond of leaving people behind.
- Assistance will be rendered for any mechanical issues but we are not bike mechanics.
- Please wear Hi Vis for your own safety.
- If you are signed up for the ride but change your mind at the last minute please text or phone me on 021 2319442 to advise.