Mountain Bike Trails in Takaka

Heaphy Track

You can mountain bike the the Heaphy Track in the winter season from 1 May to 31 November. Most people ride the trail from east to west as the Mackay-Lewis downhill is more fun. See Classic New Zealand Mountain Bike Rides (South Island) by the Kennett Brothers for a good mountain bikers description of the trail and what to expect. There are plenty of shuttle options for either end of the trail. To find them, a quick internet search or contact the Nelson, Golden Bay or Westport Information Centres. Some will no doubt be listed below in the links section. The Heaphy Track is a tough ride and you need to be prepared. See the Department of Conservations Heaphy Track webpage for more info: http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/nelson-tasman/places/kahurangi-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/heaphy-track/BROWN HUT TO PERRY SADDLE HUT:Time: 2 hr 30 min–3 hr 30 min Distance: 17.5 km The ride starts with a gentle steady climb, passing Aorere Shelter and winding up to 890 metres through beech forest to Perry Saddle Hut. PERRY SADDLE HUT TO SAXON HUT:Time: 2–3 hr Distance: 12.4 km A mainly downhill ride to Gouland Downs on a wide, well formed track. Initially the track is quite steep with technical stony sections and deep streams. Roughly halfway is Gouland Downs Hut; from here it’s 5.4 km to Saxon Hut. SAXON HUT TO JAMES MACKAY HUT:Time: 2–3 hr Distance: 11.8 km Boardwalks and a well formed single track climb to James Mackay Hut with its spectacular view of the Heaphy River and West Coast. Look out for Powelliphanta snails on this section. JAMES MACKAY HUT TO LEWIS HUT:Time: 1–2 hr Distance: 12.5 km This section is technical but an invigorating descent to Lewis Hut. The track is rocky, rutted and soft in places; get off your bike and walk these soft, muddy sections to avoid damage to the track or yourself. Control your speed and be aware of people approaching. LEWIS HUT TO HEAPHY HUT:Time: 1.5 hr–2.5 hr Distance: 8 km There are a number of suspension and swing bridges on this section. The suspension bridges are ride-able, or alternatively use the approved MTB swing bridge crossing method: flip your bike on its back with the rear wheel angled away from you at 45 degrees; with the stem in one hand move yourself by gripping the top wire with your other hand. Flooding occurs over the track in the lower Heaphy Valley and can reach up to 1.5 m depth. Be prepared to wait or return to Lewis Hut until it’s safe to continue. Avoid further damage to this part of the track by walking your bike through the muddy sections. Look out for Powelliphanta snails in the Heaphy Valley and around Heaphy Hut. HEAPHY HUT TO KOHAIHAI SHELTER:Time: 3–4 hr Distance: 16.2 km This spectacular coastal section of track weaves in and out of nīkau palms and native bush on one side and the roaring Tasman Sea on the other; it’s a highlight of the Heaphy Track and a great way to finish the ride. Look out for Powelliphanta snails on the track around Katipo Creek.

Kill Devil - Link Tin Shelter to Riordans to Waingaro Junction

Kill Devil Track - Carpark to Tin Hut Shelter

This challenging single track in Golden Bay is one of the region's best. The epic 44 km return track has a whopping 58 switchbacks with an overall climb of 1,820 metres - it's certainly a challenge, but those who conquer it give it rave reviews. The Kill Devil Track is signposted from the Uruwhenua Road. You'll follow a gravel road along with the cows through some farmland before entering a forestry block. Sign the intention book at the start of the track and get ready for an epic ride. The farm road turns to single track and the real Kill Devil Track begins. Without a doubt, the most challenging aspect of this ride is the climb up Kill Devil Spur. Don't say we didn't warn you - you'll face 58 (or is it 57?) switchbacks over 800 metres of climbing. The miners who build the track knew what they were doing and the track is quite well graded. You'll climb along a grassy terrace before entering the bush. The beech forest thickens about the same time the grade gets a bit more challenging. The switchbacks range from smooth, to rocky, to erosion prone with large rocks. Your balance will certainly be tested over the course of the climb. Many of the tight corners are smooth in the approach so you can get a bit of momentum. Inevitably you'll be off the saddle (some more than others) - especially in the last half of the climb where the switchbacks are quite eroded. Expect the climb to the ridge to take between 1.5 - 2.5 hours. Just before you reach the summit, you'll reach a signposted stream. Fill up your water bottle or Camel Back as this is one of two reliable water sources on the track. Just past the stream the view opens up and there is a great spot for a refuel. The vies are superb - stretching all the way from Abel Tasman National Park to Devil River Peak and the Devil Range. The ride along the ridge is fantastic - a mix of technical sections with fast, smooth and open sections make for a great 6 km ride. A couple gnarly, rocky descents down a tight ridge will ultimately drop you at the turnoff to Riordans Hut. You'll have to hop off your bike for the first 100 or so metres but after this it's all rideable. The hut has been refurbished, has big open fireplace and offers up some fantastic views. It's a great place to stay for the night. After passing Riordans Hut you enter the Kahurangi National Park. While this is typically out-of-bounds as far as mountain bikes go, DOC has allowed a three year trial period and you can ride all the way to Waingaro Forks Hut. The ride to the Waingaro Forks Hut is fast and downhill with more rocky and technical switchbacks. Be prepared for weather to come in quickly as much of the ridge is quite exposed. The ride down is an absolute rush though and just as challenging in reverse on the 58 switchbacks.

Kill Devil Track - Riordans to Waingaro

On the Lockett Range the track is characterised by rough rocky sections mixed with short lengths of smooth packed dirt. The track is generally well drained and follows a mixture of moderate to steep gradient along the ridge top. It's a technically challenging ride for an experienced mountain biker with a high level of fitness. Mountain bikes ares not allowed into any huts or shelters, beyond the Waingaro Forks Hut, or off the formed and designated route. E-bikes are not permitted on the trail. Be courteous to other trail users, and respect the mountain bikers code.

Paines Ford Tramway Track

The track follows the line of a tramline that operated between the early 1880s and 1905, and was used to take timber from the Takaka Valley down to Waitapu wharf. It provides access to some excellent swimming holes in the Takaka River as well as to rock climbing areas. There is a large picnic area with a toilet beside the highway bridge. Climbing With its impressive line of limestone bluffs emerging from a remnant patch of forest, Paines Ford is one of New Zealand's best rock-climbing areas. Climbers come from far and wide to enjoy the challenge of the sheer rock faces - these are definitely not for beginners.

Pikikuranga Trail

Stage 1 managed and built by the Golden Bay Mountain Bike Club ( GBMTBC) 3km of all weather machine built Grade 3 flow trail, running Northwest from the Takaka Hill Saddle (Golden Bay side) and finishing 300m west of the highway. Stage 2 to be built from stage 1 to Upper Takaka, please join the club Donate and help bring this 9km The route passes through the Takaka Hill Scenic Reserve for its whole length. The reserve is managed by the Department of Conservation. As the Golden Bay Mountain Bike Club aims to build an iconic track, we will be building a high quality and long-lasting robust footprint, inclusive of a variety of natural playful features. The line would aim to maximize the distance for fall and keep into the gradient of 6-8 degrees specified for grade 3 descending tracks in the New Zealand Mountain Bike Trail Design Construction Guidelines. This document was co-written by DOC and has their approval. The Takaka Hill is in a high rainfall area averaging 2000mm per year, so we see water management and surface as key design parameters. Across the length of the trail, we have a mix of soil and rock surfaces so speed and cost of track construction will vary as we progress. A higher quality build will enable us to mitigate a large ongoing maintenance schedule.

Selwyn St Walkway