Katoa Po Sunday Rogaine - 15 March 2026
Bulletin 1
Event Information
When - Sunday 15th March 2026
- 8:00am to 8:45am Registrations (go to registration tent at event centre)
- 8:30am Optional briefing- for those new to Orienteering
- 9:00am Mass start of 90 minute Rogaine
- 11:00am Prizegiving
Where - Opepe Trust Farm Southern Block, SH5, Taupō
Organizer - Taupo Orienteering Club
Planner - Craig Farrar
Controller - Brendan Haigh
Registration: - Online
Entry Deadline - Sunday, 8th March 11:59pm
Late entries will be accepted on the day, subject to map availability
• enquiries to entries@taupoorienteering.nz
Entry fees
- $15 (club members), $20 (non-club members), $5 SI hire fee
- Late entries (on the day) subject to map availability add $5 to relevant entry fee.
- Katoa Po Explorer entrants This rogaine is part of your event, do not enter again!!
Event description - This Event will be based at the Katoa Po Event Centre and will cover generally the same terrain from the night before.
Competitors will have 90 minutes to visit as many controls sites to collect the most points possible. Like all score events, competitors will receive a penalty (-20 points) for every minute or part thereof they are late back. It will pay to bring a watch and plan well!!This will be a SPORTident event. Hire SI-cards will be available if needed. You can order hire SI cards on the enterO system.
If you are new to orienteering or rogaining there will be an optional event briefing at 8:30am where we will explain the basics of orienteering maps, how to use the electronic control punching system (SPORTident) and answer any questions. Bring your compass.
The Terrain - Most of the map is rolling hill pumice country farmland, into which a series of intricate, steep sided gullies have formed a complex drainage pattern of negative features. There is a very large gully trending NW through the centre of the map that all courses cross. Almost all the gullies are dry and firm underfoot unless there has been recent heavy rain. There are numerous stock paths that traverse the steeper gully flanks, allowing passage. Some of the gullies are forested which stock graze underneath.
Mapping - The map was created using the standard sized IOF symbols with just the NZ additions of water troughs and water tanks. Many earth banks of the smaller/ narrower gully flanks are shown as thin black lines (minimum cliffs without tags) because of space limitations. In the forested and bush areas, the vegetation is generalised. There are parts where the area symbols for open land with scattered trees or the open land with scattered bushes are used. Small patches of blackberry or bush lawyer are not mapped if they are easily avoided. All maps will be 1:7500 scale with fences shown.
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 Relay, Explorer and Sunday rogaine Event Centre, Camping and parking is an approximately 1.3 Km drive on a farm road from the entrance from SH5 (Location 38.774952 Deg S, 176.225470 Deg E). The last 300m may not be suitable for low clearance vehicles and will be closed for vehicle access between 7:30pm Saturday and 9:00am Sunday for safety of competitors. If just attending on Sunday morning for this event, please park at the indicated day parking at the bottom of the airstrip and walk the final 300m to the event centre.
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.
