The Mukamuka Munter is a 30km adventure run through stunning coast and mountain landscape. It starts on the coast at Turakirae Head and follows the coastline before entering the canyon-like Mukamuka Valley. The course continues over the south saddle of Mt Mathews and enters the Remutaka Forest proper in the Orongorongo valley. After a major river crossing and several Km’s of bush track, it exits at Catchpool Stream.

Route Specs

Download route GPX file

Event Day Information

Meet at the Catchpool Visitor Centre (just to left as you drive off the main highway)

• 7:00-8:00 am – Registration
• 8:00 am – Race briefing
• 8:30 am – We will check race gear and then carpool down to start of the race at the coast
• 9:00 am – Race starts
• We will have someone at the Catchpool Visitor Centre to look after your bags for the finish.

Massage

Please bring cash for a massage – $20

Route Video

Route Description

Note this isn’t a fully marked route like you would find in an Xterra. Saying that there will be marshals and some tape and the standard doc triangles at key parts but you are expected to do some homework with maps. I strongly suggest downloading NZ Topo50 Offline – North App (Google OR Apple) and you can install the topo maps for a few dollars. It works well in the back country as a back up. Don’t rely on technology though you will still need a map and compass. 

The route follows the original Mukamuka Munter race route in the southern Rimutakas, and involves running along the coast, up and down rugged rocky valleys and through some fantastic native bush. It is an awesome route!

Starting from Orongorongo River mouth, the route heads East following the South Wairarapa coastline for about 12km.  It then turns north up the Mukamuka Stream valley (make sure you take the main valley (not the initial left tributary ) up to South Saddle. From there it takes the Mt Matthews Track northwards (DOWN) to the Orongorongo River.

Once you have crossed the river everyone must take Big Bend Track on far side of river.  For safety and to be fair on all competitors do NOT run down the Orongorongo river valley.

After roughly 3km on the Big Bend track, take the Orongorongo Track, following Catchpool Stream, heading West, away from the river, to the car park, then follow the road to the visitor centre.

Course Map

Marshal locations

Contingency Plan “B” Course

If the river levels are too high we will use this B course.  This will be decided on previous day and email sent out to competitors that night of change

This alternative route is relatively sheltered in trees for most of the way so should be manageable in any weather conditions but can be extremely cold and muddy and while less scenic and spectacular than the official Mukamuka route, is still challenging.

Course B GPX Download

Equipment

These items are mandatory and must be carried by all competitors at all times during the event:

• Jacket (waterproof with a hood)
• Emergency (Survival) Blanket
• Thermal (e.g. polypropylene) top and bottoms, of a size that can be worn by the competitor
• Whistle
• Warm Hat
• Compass
• Topo-map covering the entire route
  Unit must have 1:50000 scale, or better, topo maps covering the entire route.
• Mobile Phone
• First aid kit
• Sufficient food for 1 day
• Water holders (bottles/bladder)
• Head torch with fresh batteries
• Gloves

Recommended equipment

• Personal Locator Beacon
• GPS unit with built-in maps (e.g. Garmin Etrex 10), NZ Topo50 Offline – North App (Google OR Apple), or equivalent.

The Mega Munter is the new brain child of mountain man Bradley Houghton. It involves extra Munting and extra back country experience to qualify. All runners must have run the 32KM Mukamuka munter or demonstrate previous experience in the past 24 months.

Route Specs

Event Day Information

Meet at the Catchpool Visitor Centre (just to left as you drive off main highway).

• 6:30-7:15 am – Registration (Bib pick up and gear check)
• 7:15 am – Race briefing
• 7:30 am – Carpool down to the coast carpark
• 8:00 am – Race starts
• We will have someone at the Catchpool Visitor Centre to look after your bags for the finish.

Massage

Please bring cash for a massage – $20

Cut offs

Orongoronogo River Crossing – You will have 3.5 hours to reach this point (11.30AM). If you miss this cut off your bib will be marked and you will be asked to take the 32KM route back to the carpark. If you’re worried about this cutoff make sure you’ve studied both routes!

Clay Fork – You will have 8 hours to reach this point (4PM). If you miss this cut off your bib will be marked and you will be asked to go back to the carpark via 5 mile loop. Escape route marked in yellow below.

Mega Munter Mandatory Gear

• Jacket (waterproof with a hood)
• Emergency (Survival) Bag
• Thermal (e.g. polypropylene) top and bottoms, of a size that can be worn by the competitor
• Whistle
• Warm Hat
• Gloves
• Compass
• Topo-map covering the entire route (Unit must have 1:50000 scale, or better)
• Mobile Phone
• First aid kit
• Sufficient food for 1 day
• Water holders (bottles/bladder) (Recommended capacity 2L)
• Head torch with fresh batteries

Recommended equipment

• Personal Locator Beacon

Route Description

The Mega Munter is an off road trail Ultra Marathon with a little bit of tarmac at the end to let you bring down your average minutes per KM on Strava.

• You will start from the mouth of the Orongorongo River, around the South Coast, up to South Saddle in the Rimutaka Forest Park via the Mukamuka Stream Valley. Whether it’s a good day or bad day South Saddle is always a highlight.
• Descend to the Orongorongo River via the Mt Matthews Track. This descent is steep and technical so be careful that your gnarl meter doesn’t explode. If you can smell the breathe of the runner behind you its time to speed up or pull over.
• Once you’ve hit Mt Matthews stream you will rock hop or rock plow your way to the Orongorongo River. A Marshall will be on hand to guide you across to the entrance to the 7th Wonder of Wainui, the East Whakanui track.   NOTE – Make sure you stop to fill your bottles/bladder to the brim AND have a big drink at this point. It’s a long way to the next available water, don’t worry about the person smashing across without stopping – they will be begging you for some water later on when you swiftly pass them.
• The East Whakanui track starts off with a steep climb/scramble and then it slowly decreases in intensity as you work your way up towards the ridgeline. Even though this is a race make sure you take time to appreciate the amazing forest through this section, it has some of the biggest trees in the region. There are several clearings along the ridge which on a good day if you dare to look behind you are some of the best views of Mt Matthews and its Northern ridge.
• You will then be linking up with the Mckerrow track. If this was just another Sunday this is nothing to worry about. However, on tired legs the undulating muddy mess that this track can be in winter could really ruin your day out.
• Once you’ve gone up and over Mckerrow you will take a right hand turn to start the descent down Clay Ridge to the Orongorongo track. If you’ve managed to save your quads there is a good chunk of time that can be made up here.
• At the intersection of Clay Ridge and Five Mile loop there will be a Marshall (also a basic water aid station & 2nd cut off point) who will direct you left where you will then meet another intersection with the Orongorongo track. Take another left hander back towards the river (opposite way the 32KM race will be running so be careful).
• Once you start getting back down to the river a Marshall will point you to the right to one final climb up and along Cattle Ridge and out to the Catchpool Carpark area along to the Doc Hut where the breifing was in the morning. The event distance is 50KM approximately with a high point of 800m approximately above sea level. A reasonable level of fitness is required to complete this event.

The event is open to runners 18 years of age and above. Runners will need to have either run the Mukamuka Munter 32KM previously or produce evidence of running an equivalent race in the past 24 months. Merit prizes will be awarded to all placegetters (first to third) in each category of three or more entrants. Spot prizes will be awarded to random participants on hand at the completion of the event. The Catchpool Creek Department of Conservation (DOC) office will be used as the event base throughout the event. Race briefing and prizegiving will be conducted here.

Course Map

Strava Route

Key Intersections