Reefton walking tracks
Located in Victoria Forest Park in the West Coast region
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Introduction
There are a number of walking tracks in the Victoria Forest Park area that will get you into some interesting places such as Waiuta, Inangahua suspension bridge and Murray Creek.Walking and tramping
15 min - 1 day Easiest: Easy access short walkEasy: Walking track
Advanced: Tramping track
Dog access
The beech forests and historic goldfields of Victoria Forest Park offer an excellent range of day walking opportunities. All of these tracks are within 30min drive from Reefton. They range from short and well graded tracks to full day wilderness walking. All of them offer a taste of Reefton's fascinating history.
Some of these tracks can be ridden by mountain bike, see Reefton mountain bike tracks.
Rivers, such as the Inangahua, Waitahu and Larrys Creek all offer world class trout fishing opportunities. There are also many swimming holes around Reefton to cool off after your walk.
On this page:
Short/easy Reefton day walks
These walks are well graded and are between 15min and 1 hr 30 min in duration.
Tawhai Walk
Time: 15 min loop
A track suitable for wheelchairs goes through beech/exotic forest. Located just south of the Reefton Saddle on the Reefton highway (SH 7). There is a picnic area with tap water and a toilet.
Golden Fleece Walk
Time: 15 min loop
The track starts at the Murray Creek car park at Blacks Point which is located east of Reefton along SH7. The track travels along the Murray Creek Track for five minutes before branching off to the right, crossing Murray Creek and ending at the Blacks Point Museum. Return to the carpark via SH7
Alborns Coal Mine Track
Time: 1 hr 30 min
Begins at a carpark 9 km along Soldiers Road which leaves the Reefton highway (SH 7) just south of the town. Scattered among old coal mine workings are remains of makeshift winch equipment, including an old Leyland lorry. Other features are distinctive "coal measures", vegetation and views of the Victoria and Paparoa Ranges.
Longer more challenging Reefton day walks
These tracks are between half a day to a full day in duration and require some fitness and experience.
Snowy Battery Track
Time: 1 hr return
From the old Waiuta town site a well-formed downhill track leads you to the remains of a massive gold extraction plant, including large cyanide tanks and machinery foundations. Return by the same track.
Murray Creek Track
Time: 5 hrs loop track
The main Murray Creek track loops through the goldfield, taking in the Energetic, Inglewood and Ajax gold mines, Cement Town and Chandlers open-cast coal mine. The track starts at Blacks Point which is located east of Reefton along SH7.
Lankey Creek
Time: 2 hrs 25 mins
This track starts at the Energetic junction, on the Murray Creek Track, approximately 30 minutes walk from the Blacks Point carpark. It passes the Energetic and Bolitho Mines and partially follows an old tramline, before ending at the Lankey Creek carpark on SH7, approximately 3 km east of Blacks Point.
Progress Water Race
Time: 2 hr return
A footbridge crosses the Inangahua River to a good track which follows the disused water race, occasionally crossing side gullies via steps, to end at the Deep Creek-Inangahua River confluence. Those walkers who have more time on their hands can continue to the Golden Lead Battery.
Golden Lead Battery
Time: 6 hr return
From the end of the Progress Water Race Walk, a rough route climbs and descends numerous spurs to reach Golden Lead battery, standing in a small grassy clearing. This track is no longer maintained and caution is advised. Allow extra time and be prepared to turn around if necessary.
Larrys Creek
Time: 1.5 hrs return
This track starts at the end of a 6km forestry road which turns off SH69, just north of Larrys River, approximately 16km north of Reefton. It follows the true right bank of Larrys River, winding through beech forest and ending at the historic Caledonian goldmine. Historic remnants include a steam engine and a quartz stamping battery. Care must be taken crossing Larrys River.
Access to these tracks is via the state highways that surround and dissect Victoria Forest Park as well as a number of secondary roads.
The route between Golden Lead Battery and Progress Water Race following Deep Creek is no longer maintained.
Victoria Forest Park is home to a significant population of native bird species. You will see plenty of weka and bush robins. Keep an eye out for the less common kaka and kakariki.
There are a plethora of historic sites and relics around Reefton, mostly relating to quartz gold mining. In fact many of the walking tracks were originally formed as accessways to mines.
Historic Golden Lead Stamper Battery
Along your track you can visit the Golden Lead Stamper Battery. This stamper battery crushed the quartz from Golden Lead, until miners realised their dreams of wealth were also crushed.
Stamper batteries like this one were once found at the hundreds of larger quartz mines in New Zealand. Today, as few as twenty still stand on site. Read more about the Golden Lead Stamper Battery.
Stay safe in the outdoors
- Take the right gear for your trip: Walking and tramping gear lists.
- Tell a trusted person your plans and when to raise the alarm if you haven’t returned. Send them the information directly, or use the Outdoor Intentions form or Plan My Walk.
- Follow the five essential steps of the Land Safety Code.
Contacts
| Paparoa National Park Visitor Centre | |
| Phone: | +64 3 731 1895 |
| Fax: | +64 4 471 1117 |
| Email: | paparoavc@doc.govt.nz |
| Address: |
4294 Coast Road Punakaiki RD 1 Runanga 7873 |
| Postal Address: |
4294 Coast Road Punakaiki RD 1 Runanga 7873 |
| Full office details | |
| Reefton Visitor Information Centre | |
| Phone: | +64 3 732 8391 |
| Fax: | +64 4 471 1117 |
| Email: | rvcinfo@xtra.co.nz |
| Address: |
67–69 Broadway Reefton |
| Postal Address: |
PO Box 100 Reefton 7851 |
| Full office details | |
| Dog permit contact | |
| Office: | Hokitika Office |
| Phone: | +64 3 756 9100 |
| Email: | hokitika@doc.govt.nz |
| Postal address: | Private Bag 701 Hokitika 7842 |
