Orienteering Challenge 5 – Kowhai Farms 2026

Orienteering Challenge 5 is a local foot-orienteering event at Kowhai Farms on Harding Road in Wharepapa South, in the Waikato countryside. Runners and walkers use a detailed topographical map of the farm to find a set sequence of checkpoints, with SPORTident electronic timing recording each result. All participants start within the same late-morning window, and the objective is simple: choose good routes, move efficiently across the land, and complete the course as quickly as possible. The Waikato Orienteering Club offers six course options, catering to families, first-timers, steady joggers, and experienced navigators. The White Course follows clear features like tracks and fences, while the Yellow Course requires basic map reading and straightforward checkpoint finding. The two Orange Courses involve cross-country navigation with more map interpretation, and the two Red Courses are designed for experienced orienteers, featuring complex legs and challenging route choices across the farm terrain.