Nelson Walks +
Brook Street Dam
Grade: 1 - 2
Time: One hour return
Access: Turn-off Nile Street East toward the hills of the Brook Valley via Tasman Street. Drive 3.9km to the motor camp. The carpark is through the camp by the dam. Cross the bridge to the start of the walk.
Cable Bay Walkway
Grade: 3
Time: Two hours 30 minutes to three hours one way
Access: The turnoff is 13km north of Nelson city towards Picton, on State Highway (SH) 6. Turn left onto Cable Bay Road at Hira and drive 8km to the stony Cable Bay beach. The track begins uphill to the left. Alternatively, walk the track from the other end at The Glenn (2) There is the choice of a car shuttle or a return walk.
Centre of New Zealand
Grade: 2
Time: 50 minutes for the loop
Access: Start at the Botanical Reserve sports field, in town, at the end of Hardy Street East. The track begins at the information panel at the base of the hill.
Dew Lakes (Dun Mountain)
Grade: 3 - 4
Time: Five to six hours return
Access: As for Maitai Caves and dam reserve above.
Dun Mountain Railway
Grade: 2 - 3
Time: Three hours for the loop
Access: Turn off Nile Street East onto Tasman Street and travel towards the hills into Brook Valley. The track starts near the community gardens at the Tantragee Road turnoff, 2.5km from Nile Street. The track start is signposted as Dun Mountain Walkway.
Kahikatea/Maitai Loop
Grade: 2
Time: 50 minutes for the loop
Access: Turn left off Waimea Road onto Bishopdale Avenue at the Caltex station. After 900m, look for a small carpark to the left of the road.
Maitai Caves
Grade: 2 - 3
Time: Three hours return
Access: Near the end of Nile Street East, turn into Maitai Road and head 11km up Matai Valley. Cross the Maitai Forks Bridge to the start of the dam reserve. The track begins at the footbridge 100m back down the road from the gateway into the reserve. Alternatively, walkers can cross the creek downhill from the last gateway.
Maitai River Including Tantragee Saddle and Brook Street
Grade: 1 - 3
Time: One hour to four hours 30 minutes return
Access: Start on the Maitai River bank in downtown Nelson, adjacent to the Nelson city Visitors Centre on the corner of Trafalgar and Halifax street. Alternatively, join the track at the end of town: Turn left off Nile Street East into Maitai Valley and park at the first bridge (Jickells bridge). Join the track on the far side of the bridge.
North Knob from Inwood's Lookout
Grade: 4
Time: Three to four hours return
Access: Drive south of Wakefield on SH 6 for 9.5km. At Belgrove, turn left into the Wai-iti Valley where the signpost reads Nelson Lakes National Park, Rainbow Skifield. Some 10km along this road, at the base of the Reay Saddle, is a poorly signposted turnoff, left onto the gravel Wai-iti Road. Take this steep, winding road to the 1000-m-high carpark adjacent to Inwood’s Lookout building. There are two fords to cross.
Rush Pool and Maori Argillite Quarry
Grade: 3
Time: Three hours return
Access: The track starts over the gate at the far end of the Maitai Dam reserve (see Maitai Caves above)
The Boulder Bank
Grade: 2 - 3
Time: 30 minutes to six hours return
Access: Drive for approximately 10 minutes from Nelson towards Picton on SH 6. Turn left onto Boulder Bank Drive and past the sewerage ponds to the rocky beach.
The Glen
Grade: 3
Time: One hour 45 minutes for the loop
Access: Drive from Nelson city towards Picton on SH 6. Turn off to The Glen 10km from Nelson. Park at the waterfront and walk to the top of Airlie Street where the track begins.
The Grampians
Grade: 2 - 3
Time: One hour to one hour 30 minutes return to the viewing platform
Access: The track starts close to the city centre at historic Fairfield House, on the corner of Trafalgar Street South and Van Diemen Street. It takes 20 minutes to walk from central Nelson through the Cathedral Grounds to Fairfield House.
Whispering Falls and Chromite Mine
Grade: 2 - 3
Time: Three hours return
Access: Begin at the Hackett picnic area 27km southwest of Nelson. Drive past Richmond on SH 6, then turn left onto Aniseed Valley Road at Hope. Head over the hill and up the valley to the signposted picnic area at the Roding River Reserve.
