Battle Hill Farm and Forest Park is situated on the Paekakariki Hill Road to the north of Pauatahanui Inlet.

Battle Hill Farm and Forest Park, located on the Paekakariki Hill Road

The Battle Hill venue is another challenging ride with steep hills and forestry roads that can be quite hard under foot. There are added hazards sometimes in the form of mountain bikers who have a regrettable tendency to go hell-for-leather down-hill even after meeting horses coming up-hill. But mostly everyone survives unscathed.

Battle Hill trail profile

The Start/Finish line, at the western end of the trail, is at an altitude of 65 metres. The ride traverses rolling farm-land, crossing Transmission Gulley to the base of the hill and the start of the major loop. A climb through mature forest breaks out at a saddle at 385 meters and is followed by a short descent to 300 meters and another climb to 435 meters. The trail then follows the ridge on the "out-and-back" portion of the trail through felled forestry until branching off on a steep descent to the turn-around point at 220 meters. The climb back out of this gully is a challenge to the fitness of horse and rider.

Rejoining the loop, the return leg takes a different trail down to Transmission Gulley again, and takes a more direct route across the farmland to the finish.

For variations on distance, the main loop may be performed twice, and the "out-and-back" extension included or omitted. For "vet-gate" rides, riders return to the base before commencing the second loop.

The trail as mapped below includes over 650 meters of climbing, making it one of the harder rides WATRC competitors can expect to meet. Despite this it is a great venue and an excellent ride that everyone enjoys, and the views from the top are impressive.

Battle Hill trail map