Gibbs Hill mountain biking
Track category
Tramping track
Mountain bike - Intermediate
Time:
10 km one way from Totaranui to Wainui. Can be a 23 km loop using unsealed roads as well as track.
Description
Mountain biking rules
Mountain biking Wainui - Gibbs Hill - Totaranui is allowed from 1 May to 1 October at any time of the day. There is a maximum group size of eight riders.
Mountain biking is NOT allowed on other tracks in the area.
Your comments
Forward any comments about mountain biking on the Gibbs Hill Track to mbtrialsnm@doc.govt.nz
Rides
Loop: Wainui - Gibbs Hill - Totaranui - road back to Wainui 23 km, 2 h 30 min
View towards Totaranui from Gibbs
Hill
The circuit is easier to do in a clockwise direction to take advantage of the gentler uphill from Wainui to Gibbs Hill. From Wainui car park follow the Coast Track to the saddle and then turn right up the ridge towards Gibbs Hill. Near Gibbs Hill the track is very steep and most riders will need to walk. If you wish you can leave your bike and take a short walk to the summit. Continue south along the ridge and turn left towards Totaranui at the next intersection. Some sections of this track are steep and slippery in wet weather. It's 10 km of track from Wainui to Totaranui. From Totaranui use the road for the 13km return to Wainui.
Totaranui - Gibbs Hill return 9km
From the Totaranui camp office, follow the avenue road and then Abel Tasman Coast Track past the Ngarata Homestead north towards Anapai. At 1.4km just past the concrete bridge turn left at the start of the Gibbs Hill track. The track crosses a ford before a 3km long uphill section begins which has steep sections. At the ridge and next intersection, turn right to Gibbs Hill. From the saddle leave your bike and follow a narrow track to the summit a few minutes walk away. Great views. Return the same way.
Getting there
The road-ends of Totaranui and Wainui are north-east of Takaka. Totaranui is 32km from Takaka by road. For the last 13 km the road is unsealed. Wainui is 21 km from Takaka. For the last 2km, the road is unsealed.
Activities
Mountain biking and cycling
Plan and prepare
Other users
Walkers, trampers, hunters.
Please remember that this mountain biking track is shared with walkers and trampers (particularly on the section of the Coast Track at the Wainui end), and with other bikers who may be coming the other way.
Gorse
There is gorse next to the track. The native forest is regenerating from historical clearance. Gorse is a nurse crop in the regeneration process. Take plenty of patches and/or spare tubes in case of punctures due to gorse thorns.
Trip intentions
Before you go into the outdoors, tell someone your plans and leave a date to raise the alarm if you haven't returned. To do this, use the New Zealand Outdoors Intentions process on the AdventureSmart website. It is endorsed by New Zealand's search and rescue agencies and provides three simple options to tell someone you trust the details about your trip.
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