There’s a new line in the dirt up at the Hotoritori Trails Park....

— The Screeching Kākā is now open.

After just ticking over 100 hours of build time, this trail has come together mostly the old-fashioned way — by hand — with our little Cormidi loader helping out by clearing pine needles and shifting dirt and tools around the hill.

Many of those hours started early, heading into the forest in the dark and getting to work right around daybreak.

That early morning time in the bush is actually how the trail got its name. The resident Kākā's are especially active at dawn, and while the digging was underway they were often screeching loudly from the trees above. A few times they were sitting right overhead and their calls gave a pretty good fright!

It was an amazing experience hearing those birds calling through the forest while the trail slowly took shape.

Trail details:

• 706 m of new Screeching Kākā trail

• 141 m link trail to access the start

• 847 m total new trail

• +25 m climbing

• −63 m descending (downhill fun )

The entrance to the new link trail that leads to the Screeching Kākā trailhead is located directly opposite the entrance to Pyper Peak.

Next time you're out riding the Hotoritori Trails, make sure you drop into Screeching Kākā and check out the newest addition to the network.

Tag your riding mates and come check it out