AfterDark

Lights Out

The clocks go back on Sunday 4 April 2027. The evenings close in early; headtorches out!

The After Dark Series is WREC'kd's opening series: three night runs in the hills about Te Whanganui-a-Tara to mark the end of daylight saving. Various race formats, levels of challenge, timings and support. East Whakanui is planned as a two + person team event.

A WREC'kd series, proudly put on by the Wilderness Running and Endurance Collective Inc for our members.

The Series | Three Rounds

Kapakapanui

Tararua Forest Park · Ngatiawa Road, Reikorangi

11 km / 1,050 m △ ↓ GPX · Start 4pm

Nine unbridged river crossings in the first twenty minutes, then a steep, rooty climb through the bush to the 1,102 m summit. Kāpiti Island is out there somewhere in the dark.

East Whakanui

Remutaka Forest Park · Hine Road Recreation Reserve, Wainuiomata

19 km / 1,400 m △ ↓ GPX · Start 4pm

Straight up out of Wainuiomata in Remutaka and big trees. Steep, advanced track, and hard to follow in places even in daylight.

Dobson Loop

Tararua Forest Park · Kiwi Ranch Road, Kaitoke

14 km / 825 m △ ↓ GPX · Start 4pm

Up to Puffer Saddle, a sharp drop to Smith Creek, a technical valley floor with small creek crossings, then the long climb back over the saddle. The clay is slippery at any time of year.

Carry

A headtorch that will last the whole round, plus a spare light or spare batteries.
An extra warm layer. It gets cold fast once the sun goes.
Charged phone and the rest of the essential gear.

Join WREC'kd Night Info

WREC'kd is an Incorporated Society in Aotearoa that promotes endurance and adventure running activities in New Zealand's hills and mountains. We put on events for our members, and collaborate with others doing like-minded things.
wreckd.org.nz