more stats
3,495 ft
Distance
28 ft
Climb
-706 ft
Descent
00:04:56
Avg time
-678 ft
Altitude change
577 ft
Altitude min
1,257 ft
Altitude max
1,255 ft
Altitude start
577 ft
Altitude end
-53.448%
Grade max
15.786%
Grade min
193 ft
Distance climb
3,211 ft
Distance down
91 ft
Distance flat
00:04:56
Avg time

Matai Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Waitarake/Sharlands
    Nelson
  • Difficulty Rating
    Black Diamond Rate
  • Local Popularity
    35 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 45 in Trail Running
    • 5 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #128016 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #152358 in Trail Running
    • #326993 in Hiking
  • National Ranking
    #2,916 in Mountain Biking · New Zealand [+]
    • #2,567 in Trail Running
    • #3,355 in Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Direction
    Downhill Only
    Popular Direction Shown
  • Season
    All Year
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes up to Class 1

Short technical single track through native forest.

Access Info

You need a Tasman Pine Forest Access permit to ride this trail. They can be purchased from bike shops in Nelson for $10 (for a 2 week permit) or annual permits come as part of Nelson Mountain Bike Club membership (www.nelsonmtb.club).

Tags
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 5 rides
  • 15 miles avg distance
All
  • 16 rides
  • Last: Sep 15, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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Status:
on Sep 16, 2026
Ideal
Avg: 3.76 (3 votes)
Your vote: 0

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      Directions to matai trailhead (-41.252390, 173.338580)
      View on Discover Map

      Photos

      6 more »
      mtb
      370 |
      Oct 28, 2019 @ 2:35am
      Oct 28, 2019
      mtb
      204 |
      Oct 28, 2019 @ 1:53am
      Oct 28, 2019
      report
      mtb
      32 |
      Nov 5, 2022 @ 11:20am
      Nov 5, 2022
      report
      mtb
      24 |
      Nov 5, 2022 @ 11:09am
      Nov 5, 2022

      Videos

      no videos have been added for Matai yet, add a video.

      Routes with this trail

      276
      Aorere Day 2
      ★ 5.0 • 26 miles • 5,958 ft • 62 • Point to Point • Race •
      Aorere Enduro - Asia - Pacific Continental Round 1 Day 2
      3.4 ★★★★★
      3 Ratings
      5 ★
      4 ★ 67%
      3 ★
      2 ★ 33%
      1 ★

      2 Reviews & Comments

      liam-mail
      Lower Matai has two large slips over it. Closed sign at bottom but not at top. Top section still open but loop down Supplejack
      donalduck donalduck
      Clearly an old walking track as evidenced by the steps on some corners. Gradient is neither challenging nor flowing. Switchbacks are far too tight. It may be a nice walking track, but don’t bother trying to ride it

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      Nearby Trails

      Waitarake/Sharlands

      • By NMTBCTF Pro NMTBC & contributors
      • #38387 - 4,056 views

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Matai located?
      Matai is located in Waitarake/Sharlands, Nelson, New Zealand. It is part of the Waitarake/Sharlands trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates -41.25239, 173.33858.
      ▼ How hard is Matai?
      Matai is rated as Black Diamond difficulty.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Matai?
      Matai has 28 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 706 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 577 ft to 1,257 ft.
      ▼ Is Matai a point to point trail?
      Yes, Matai is a point to point trail. The direction is Downhill Only. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is Matai?
      Matai is 3,495 ft long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Matai?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Matai. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Matai?
      Matai is best visited during: All Year.
      ▼ How do I access Matai? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Matai are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Matai?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 5 minutes to ride Matai. The trail is 3,495 ft long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Matai?
      Matai is a less popular trail with lighter traffic. There have been 313 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 305 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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