Waimea Basin walking tracks

Walking track

Getting there

The Waimea Basin comprises the plains and low hills around Nelson and Motueka.

Buses and other forms of public transport are common in the area but there are no scheduled services to this walk.

Description

Near Nelson

Albion Square

The old Armoury, Albion Square

In the heart of Nelson City is a lovely and historic area known as Albion Square. Part of this square is an historic reserve looked after by DOC. There are several historic features here that complement the nearby Hardy Street Girls School, an old (1864) post box still in use, the Suter Gallery and the Queens Gardens.

Interpretation panels on both Hardy and Bridge Streets help orient visitors to the square and its features, and provide more detail on its history.

Dun Mountain Walkway (now managed by Nelson City Council)

Time: The track is 9.5km long and takes 3 hours

Dun Mountain Walkway follows the line of New Zealand’s first railway, which serviced the Dun copper mine from 1862 to 1866. Copper ore was discovered in 1852 and sourced to a reddish-brown mountain which was named Dun Mountain after the rock - dunite. In 1857 a company was formed in England to mine the ore, which also contained chromium.

The railway line was 21km long and linked the mine to Nelson’s port. The wagons were pulled up to the mine by horse and descended by gravity, their speed being controlled by ‘brake men’. Following the mine’s closure a horsedrawn passenger tram continued on the city to port section until 1909.

How to get there:  The walkway starts on Tantragee Road, off Brook Street, 4 kilometres from the Nelson city centre. Access can also be gained from Fringed Hill summit (792m), 61⁄2 km further along the same road.

Walking the track:  From Tantragee Road the Dun Mountain Walkway zig-zags up to the former railway alignment. This it follows, through pine and native forest, to a junction, where it descends back to Brook Street. The walkway is a walking track; it is 9.5km long and takes 3 hours.

Beyond the junction, the alignment continues through beech forest to Third House shelter (1 hr), where it meets a track from Fringed Hill. A further 45 minutes (past another track from Fringed Hill) brings you to the sudden change in vegetation from mature forest to the stunted manuka and scrub of the ‘mineral belt’, an infertile, distinctly-coloured landform that occurs in patches between St Arnaud and D’Urville Island.

The railway alignment continues around Windy Point to Coppermine Saddle (this is as far as most mountain bikers usually go). From here a rougher track leads up for about 20 minutes to Dun Saddle, meeting the route from the Maitai valley.

Dun Saddle is the boundary between the City Council waterworks reserve and Mt Richmond Forest Park. From here marked routes extend in both directions: north over Dun Mountain towards Maungatapu Saddle and south for 40 minutes to the 20-bunk Rocks Hut.

Please remember:  The track is shared with mountain bikers. Bikers should always give way to walkers and stay in control of their bikes. No animals, firearms or fires are allowed. Be wary of sudden weather changes, especially beyond Third House.

Waimea Inlet

Waimea Inlet is the largest estuary in the South Island. Rich in food resources it was coveted by Maori; 33 archaeological sites are known from its shores. Following European colonisation in the 1840s, large areas of the inlet were drained and the coastal forest burned or logged.

Despite its modification, the estuary is considered to be of outstanding biological importance; the abundance of food attracts large numbers of fish; 50 species of wading birds have been recorded and there are rare plants and a carabid beetle found only at Tahunanui Beach.

The most popular areas of the Waimea Inlet are Tahunanui 'back beach', Monaco, Rabbit Island (the Rabbit Island gates are closed at night) and Mapua. Boat ramps are provided at Nelson, Monaco, Mapua and the inside of Rabbit Island (high tide only).

Please remember: The outgoing tide can cause embarrassing and inconvenient delays for boat owners - time your visit carefully. Please follow the rules regarding dogs, hunting and fires in individual places. Do not disturb the birds.

To the South

Eves Valley Scenic Reserve

Time: 20 min return

Eves Valley is off Waimea West Road, 27 km from Nelson.

This little reserve in Eves Valley is a regenerating beech-podocarp forest covering 28 hectares. The reserve has many picnic areas, good access to the stream and a scenic 20-minute bush walk.

Please remember: Dogs and camping are prohibited. Fires may only be lit in the fireplaces provided.

Snowdens Bush Scenic Reserve

The reserve is on Waimea West Road, just west of Brightwater, 21 km from Nelson.

Although severely modified, this reserve is an example of a forest type that once covered much of the Waimea Plains. It is dominated by totara, titoki and matai, and since grazing was stopped in 1972, a varied understorey has developed.

This 5.6 hectare reserve is a popular picnic and recreation area, with several paths meandering through the forest.

Please remember: Camping and dogs are not permitted.

Belgrove windmill

The Belgrove Windmill

The Belgrove windmill is on State Highway 6, 39 km south of Nelson.

The Belgrove windmill was built in 1897 on the Nelson railway line. It was used to pump water to help cool engines beginning the steep climb to Spooners tunnel. When the line closed, amid much protest in 1955, the windmill was left in place because it was also being used for domestic supply. It is one of only two such windmills remaining in the country.

Please remember: The windmill is beside a busy weighbridge; watch out for logging trucks.

Hope Saddle

Hope Saddle  is on State Highway 6, 75 km south of Nelson.

In 1871, a winding, precipitous track was cut through the bush over Hope Saddle. In 1879 the first horse drawn vehicles started using it, as part of the route from Nelson to Westport. At the saddle today, travellers can stop for a while and enjoy the views of forests and mountains. There is a shelter and toilet; interpretation signs and picnic tables are provided at two viewing points.

Near Motueka

Motueka River delta

Access to the Motueka River delta is at the end of Staples Street, just north of Motueka, or along the foreshore from the old Motueka wharf.

The Motueka River delta consists of the rivermouth, the Motueka sandspit and the 'Kumaras' estuary. The delta is formed of sediments from the Motueka and Riwaka Rivers, swept into continually changing shapes by the sea.

The whole area is ecologically important. It has extensive areas of rushland and saltmarsh where whitebait spawn; it is rich in shellfish and therefore a major feeding ground for wading birds, up to 10,000 of which feed or roost on the sandspit in summer.

Please remember: Fires are not permitted. Dog walkers must keep to the designated areas.

Riwaka Resurgence

Time: 10 min one way

The Riwaka Resurgence is 11 km from Riwaka township and 16 km from Motueka.

The north branch of the Riwaka River pours out of the cave-riddled marble of Takaka Hill in this beautiful area of Kahurangi National Park. Damp forest, clear cold water, tranquil pools, and moss-covered and water-worn marble rock create a fairyland quality.

A short path leads through the forest to where the river emerges. There is wheelchair access as far as Crystal Pool (5 min). Other attractions include picnicking, walking and fishing.

For a view down to the resurgence, drive up to Hawkes Lookout on Takaka Hill. A five-minute path takes you through bush and marble outcrops to a spectacular viewpoint. Hawkes Lookout is on State Highway 60, 10 km from Riwaka.

Please remember: Dogs and camping are not permitted. The rocks in the riverbed are very slippery.

Activities

Waimea Inlet is popular for fishing, whitebaiting, water-skiing, sea kayaking, jogging, walking, duck hunting, dog exercising (in some places only) and bird watching. Bird watching is best on the north-eastern corner of Bells Island at high tide during the summer season, when there are many northern hemisphere migratory birds present.

Motueka River delta - bird watching, whitebaiting, fishing, walking, swimming, and dog exercising (approved areas only) are all popular activities. The sandspit has an all-round view, from D'Urville Island to the Richmond and Arthur ranges and Abel Tasman National Park, providing wonderful photographic opportunities.

Dun Mountain Walkway is open to mountainbiking.

There are several historic features at Albion Square.

Other places of historic interest are: Waimea Inlet  and Belgrove windmill.

Plan and prepare

• Be wary of sudden weather changes.
• If boating in Waimea Inlet, time your trip with the tides.
• Light fires only in designated areas.

What to expect on a walking track:

• Easy to moderate walking from a few minutes to a day
• Track is mostly well formed, some sections may be steep, rough or muddy
• Suitable for people with low to moderate fitness and abilities
• Clearly sign posted. Stream and river crossings are bridged
• Walking shoes or light tramping/hiking boots required

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