Pelorus Track
Tramping track
Time:
3-4 days one way
Getting there
From the Nelson-Blenheim Road (State Highway 6), turn onto Maungatapu Road at Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve and drive 13 km to the road end.
For the Hacket car park end, head for Aniseed Valley, 29 km south of Nelson via Richmond and Hope.
From Nelson, access the track via the Dun Mountain Walkway, a Waimea Basin walking track. This begins in Brook Valley, 4 km from the city centre.
Public transport
There is no scheduled public transport to either end of this track but a shuttle bus can be arranged.
About the area
The Marlborough Sounds are renowned for their scenic blend of bush-clad hills and tranquil bays.
The Motueka area encompasses Mt Richmond Forest Park, the southern part of Abel Tasman National Park, and the mountainous headwaters of the Karamea and Motueka rivers which form part of Kahurangi National Park.
Description
Pelorus Track
The Pelorus Track, in Mt Richmond Forest Park, offers a semi-remote forest experience. All three ends of the track are ideal for day walks and picnicking. The track passes through bush, crosses various saddles, and boasts interesting features like a waterfall and an old chromite mine.
Walking times
Roadend to Captains Creek Hut - 4 hours.
Captains Creek Hut to Middy Hut - 2 hours.
Middy Hut to Roebuck Hut - 4 hours.
Roebuck Hut to Browning Hut - 4 hours 30 minutes.
Browning Hut to Hacket Picnic Area - 2 hours.
The area is best known for its mining activity in the latter half of the nineteenth and the early part of the twentieth century of minerals such as copper and chromium.
Activities
Fishing
Hunting
Fishing
The Pelorus is popular for fishing. Anglers need a licence from Fish and Game New Zealand.
Hunting
Hunting is allowed, except on the first 2 km of the track and in the Nelson City Water Supply Reserve. All hunters must have a DOC permit. Hunting dogs are allowed with a permit from DOC.
Swimming
Emerald Pool, 1 hour from the end of Maungatapu Road, and Hacket River are ideal for swimming.
Places to stay
This is a standard 6-bunk hut in the Sounds area.
This is a standard 6-bunk hut in the Sounds area.
This is a standard 6-bunk hut in the Sounds area.
This is a standard 8-bunk hut in the Motueka area.
You need backcountry hut tickets or a Backcountry Hut Pass to stay in the huts, which all require one ticket.
Camping is permitted. Carry out your rubbish and bury any human waste 50 metres from any waterway.
Plan and prepare
- Undertake the Pelorus Track only if you are an experienced tramper and carry warm, waterproof clothing and extra food.
- Rivers can rise quickly; do not cross when they are swollen.
- Boil, filter, or treat water for drinking. In dry conditions, carry water on the ridges.
- Always leave your intentions with someone responsible and fill in the hut books.
What to expect on a tramping track:
- Challenging day or multi-day tramping/hiking
- Track is mostly unformed with steep, rough or muddy sections
- Suitable for people with good fitness. Moderate to high level backcountry skills and experience, including navigation and survival skills required
- Track has markers, poles or rock cairns. Expect unbridged stream and river crossings
- Tramping/hiking boots required
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