Wakamarina Track Details
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Activities
- Mountain Bike
- Hike
- Trail Running
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Riding Area
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Difficulty Rating
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Hiking SAC ScaleT3 Demanding Mountain Hiking
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Trail TypeWilderness Trail
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Bike TypeAM, XC
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DirectionBoth DirectionsPopular direction shown
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Climb DifficultyBlack Diamond
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Physical RatingHard
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Trail VisibilityAlways easy to follow
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Dogs AllowedYes
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TTFs on TrailBridge, Rock Garden
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Global Ranking
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Land Owner
The Wakamarina Track, an old goldminers’ trail, crosses the Richmond Range from the Wairau Valley to the Wakamarina Valley. Mountain bikers could complete the trip in one day (or do a there and back style ride to Fosters Clearing - Intermediate Grade). The track is best ridden as described below, from south to north.
Ride up to Fosters Clearing for views (water supply in the clearing), then descend and sidle about 2km's before walking to the top of the crossing (1066m). It's rough going through here. From here it's switchbacks galore as you descend over 800m in 2.5km's of rocky, twisty singletrack.
Near the bottom turn right at the turn off to Stone Huts, and you'll shortly reach the Devils Creek Hut turn off. Have a look at the hut, or sidle down to the Wakamarina River valley. After 4km's you'll reach the Doom Creek Hut site, head left down to the footbridge crossing Doom Creek and head left again. The Wakamarina Rd end is 2km's further on, and then an easy 15km's to Canvastown.
Expect it to take up to 5 hours.
INTERMEDIATE GRADE OPTION:
Head up to Fosters Clearing and then back the same way you came. It'll take about 2-3 hours.
AVOID IN THE WET!! The track has a clay surface.
Blue Moon Lodge can organise shuttles (http://www.bluemoonhavelock.co.nz/)
Access Info
Blenheim side:
Turn off State Highway 6 on to Northbank Road, 6km north of Renwick (16km from Blenheim). Follow Northbank Road for 5km, then Onamalutu Road for 11km, past Onamalutu Domain, to Flowers Creek ford. A final 5km up Kiwi Road leads to the car park at the start of the track. Road access is also possible from Bartletts Valley. This route to the track is longer and recommended for 4WD vehicles only.
Havelock side:
Access to the track is via a road from Canvastown, 9km west of Havelock on the Nelson–Blenheim Highway. The road leads 15km up the Wakamarina Valley to Butchers Flat car park. A road suitable for 4WD vehicles only continues a further 1.5km to a small car park just before Doom Creek.
Local Trail Association
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Please consider joining or donating to the local trail association to supportdonate to earn trail karma!
trail development & maintenance.
Traditionally Indigenous Territory
More Stats for Wakamarina Track multi-use trail trail
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Altitude change-1,590 ft
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Altitude min321 ft
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Altitude max3,489 ft
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Altitude start1,949 ft
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Altitude end361 ft
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Grade-2.3%
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Grade max-84.2%
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Grade min81.6%
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Distance climb5 miles
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Distance down7 miles
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Distance flat3,888 ft
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Avg time03:29:40
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Avg reverse time06:44:25
- view trail stats
- Unknown
- Snow Groomed
- Snow Packed
- Snow Covered
- Snow Cover Partial
- Freeze/thaw Cycle
- Icy
- Prevalent Mud
- Wet
- Variable
- Ideal
- Dry
- Very Dry
The colour categories are based on what percentage of riders are riding a trail in its intended direction.
- > 96%
- > 90%
- > 80%
- > 70%
- > 50%
- < 50%
- bi-directional trail
- no data
- < 2 days
- < 1 week
- < 2 weeks
- < 1 month
- < 6 months
- > 6 months
- Downhill Only
- Downhill Primary
- Both Directions
- Uphill Primary
- Uphill Only
- One Direction
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- mountain biking (>6 month)
- hiking (1 year)
- moto (1 year)
- Downhill Ski
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- Nordic Ski
- Snowmobile
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- Last: Mar 30, 2025
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