Warmup event - 14 March 2026
Event Info
(more details coming soon)Important - read the safety note on traffic access below.
From Taupo, take the Napier-Taupo Highway (SH5) east from the Intersection roundabout of SH1 and SH5. Drive past the Opepe Scenic Reserve (12.1km) another 1.1 km east to the event entrance, which is on the righthand (south) side of SH5 (13.2km).
From Napier, take the Napier-Taupo Highway. The event entrance is 113km from the junction of SH2 and SH5, 4km west of where High Level Rd crosses SH5, on the lefthand side.
The Warmup event centre and parking is approximately a 500m drive on a farm road from the entrance from SH5 (Location 38.774952 Deg S, 176.225470 Deg E) suitable for 2WD.
The event centre for the Relay, Explorer and Sunday Rogaine is a further 700m along the farm road. See the map below.
Note that vehicle access to Opepe is from SH5, a busy road between Taupo and the Hawkes Bay, on a slight corner.
It is very important all drivers take care entering and leaving the farm entrance from SH5.
There is no dedicated turning bay in the centre of the road and the road shoulder is not wide enough to pull left when coming from Taupo (there are pull off options from the Napier side).
When coming from the Taupo side, if you have following traffic, it is recommended you pull over at the Opepe Scenic Reserve (1,100m before entrance) and let any traffic pass before approaching the entrance and turning right into the farm. Alternatively, you can drive past the entrance and pull over at a safe place on the straight section of road to the east of the farm entrance, before doing a u-turn and entering from the east.
There will be 400m signs west and east of the farm access point, the normal orange/white signs adjacent, as well as an orienteering teardrop flag at the access gate.
There are many small cliffs and earth banks, pits (tomo), gorse, blackberry, bush lawyer, branches and sticks at eye level, tree roots. There may be some farm animals. Electric fences will be off. Climb fences at strainer posts where possible.
Opepe is 750m above sea level. Be prepared for cold, wet and windy weather depending on the weather forecast.
