12.8 miles
Distance
3,454 ft
Climb
-5,044 ft
Descent
03:29:40
Avg time

Wakamarina Track Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
  • Difficulty Rating
  • Hiking SAC Scale
    T3 Demanding Mountain Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Wilderness Trail
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Direction
    Both Directions
    Popular direction shown
  • Climb Difficulty
    Black Diamond
  • Physical Rating
    Hard
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • TTFs on Trail
    Bridge, Rock Garden
  • Global Ranking
    #11448 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #42721 in Hiking
  • 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
More Stats for Wakamarina Track multi-use trail trail
  • Altitude change
    -1,590 ft
  • Altitude min
    321 ft
  • Altitude max
    3,489 ft
  • Altitude start
    1,949 ft
  • Altitude end
    361 ft
  • Grade
    -2.3%
  • Grade max
    -84.2%
  • Grade min
    81.6%
  • Distance climb
    5 miles
  • Distance down
    7 miles
  • Distance flat
    3,888 ft
  • Avg time
    03:29:40
  • Avg reverse time
    06:44:25
  • view trail stats
Status:
on Dec 3, 2024
Ideal
Avg: 4.56 (8 votes)
Your vote: 0

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Trail Conditions
  • Unknown
  • Snow Groomed
  • Snow Packed
  • Snow Covered
  • Snow Cover Partial
  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
  • Icy
  • Prevalent Mud
  • Wet
  • Variable
  • Ideal
  • Dry
  • Very Dry
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      Wakamarina Track Trail Reports

      statusdatedescription
      Dec 3, 2024 @ 11:40am
      Dec 3, 2024
      Walking from Onamalutu Reserve and up Kiwi Road takes about as long as from the track start to Fosters Clearing, but track was in good condition...
      Jan 12, 2024 @ 10:42am
      Jan 12, 2024
      Dry and fast from car park to Fosters clearing . A little greasy in places from Fosters towards Devils hutt.
      May 24, 2022 @ 3:37pm
      May 24, 2022
      Magic conditions. Slightly moist cornflakes covering the track. It is running mint. Fast and positive. Late autumn riding at its best. Enjoy it...
      Mar 26, 2022 @ 9:33pm
      Mar 26, 2022
      Track is in incredible condition. Minor issue is a couple of big trees down about 3/4 the way down the decent. Kiwi rd is closed so add another...
      Jan 26, 2022 @ 1:32pm
      Jan 26, 2022
      Large log across track roughly 600m before Devils hut. A ramp has been built up it but it's NOT rollable. Huck to flat.
      view all reports »

      Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail

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      • 0 rides
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      6 Months
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      • 9 rides
      • Last: Mar 30, 2025

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      Mar 17, 2024 @ 9:01pm
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      174 |
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      118 |
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      Mar 17, 2024
      201 |
      Mar 17, 2024 @ 9:01pm
      Mar 17, 2024

      10 Reviews & Comments


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      Videos

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      youtuber Wakamarina Wilderness Trail, South Island, NZ
      31:40 | 1082 | Apr 7, 2018 , My City
      Wakamarina descent, Feb 2019
      18:07 | 702 | Feb 23, 2019 , My City
      Wakamarina Womble
      570 | Oct 9, 2018 , My City
      wakamarina heli
      | Mar 18, 2024 , My City
      • By YogiNZ & contributors
      • #28456 - 16,040 views

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