Boulder Bank
Route
Time:
2-3 hr one way
Getting there
Access to the Boulder Bank is from Boulder Bank Drive (off Atawhai Drive (State Highway 6)) or by boat from Nelson. A ferry service is available from Nelson.
About the area
The plains and low hills between Nelson and Motueka are known as the Waimea Basin. Tramping, hunting, watersports and walks through historically and ecologically significant areas await visitors.
The internationally-renowned Nelson Boulder Bank is a natural spit of boulders, formed of the debris of land slips from the Mackay Bluffs, swept southwards by sea currents over 10,000 years. The bank is 13 kilometres long, the last eight kilometres forming a spit which separates Tasman Bay from Nelson Haven. It's width varies from 55 metres at high tide to 240 metres at low tide.
Boulder Bank. Photo: Trish Grant
Maori camped on the bank and fished there. They used boulders from the bank - some up to 50 kg - to hammer the rough forms of stone tools from quarries in the nearby hills.
The shelter offered by the Boulder Bank was a major factor in choosing the site of Nelson. In 1848 a beacon was erected near the end of the bank and, in 1862, the cast iron lighthouse building that remains today. In 1906 a cut was made in the bank to allow easier passage to Nelson Harbour for shipping. 'The Cut' now separates Haulashore Island from the bank.
Description
A walk along the Nelson Boulder Bank is an opportunity not to be missed. The eight kilometre walk, from Boulder bank Drive to 'The Cut' takes 2-3 hours one way. The Boulder Bank is rough, dry and very exposed, so be prepared for all kinds of weather and wear strong shoes.
Places to stay
Camping is prohibited in this area. Private accommodation is widely available in the Waimea Basin.
Plan and prepare
- Be wary of sudden weather changes.
- If boating in Nelson Haven, check tides and sea conditions before departing.
- No fires.
What to expect on a route:
- Challenging day or multi-day tramping/hiking
- Track unformed and natural, rough, muddy or very steep
- Suitable for people with above average fitness. High level backcountry skills and experience, including navigation and survival skills required
- Complete self sufficiency required
- Track has markers, poles or rock cairns. Expect unbridged stream and river crossings
- Sturdy tramping/hiking boots required
back to top