Golden Bay Trails
Pikikirunga Trail
The Takaka Hill is an iconic road in the South Island of New Zealand. State Highway 60 reaches 791 meters above sea level. For local mountain bikers it has always been the Holy Grail, to create a mountain bike ride from the top of this famous New Zealand hill, all the way to the bottom on the Takaka valley side. The potential is huge. The concept is to realize that dream and create a truly iconic classic mountain bike experience that every mountain biker in New Zealand will need to ride. As the descent is 650 meters over some 8km we will build the track in three stages that join together to descend the whole hill. This approach will allow us to more effectively manage this large project, we can build and open each stage whilst we are planning for the next one. The Pikikirunga track will be a grade 3, descending, all-weather mountain bike single track that will allow a greater number of abilities to enjoy this epic 8 km descent.
Stage One: A 3km section running Northwest from the Takaka Hill Saddle (Golden Bay side) and finishing 300m west of the highway. The route passes through the Takaka Hill Scenic Reserve for its whole length. The reserve is managed by the Department of Conservation. The Golden Bay Mountain Bike Club has been granted permission to build the track by the Department of Conservation and signed a community agreement to that effect on 15th December 2020.
Historic Kill Devil Pack Track
Riding options
The track can be ridden in a day or you can overnight at either Riordans Hut or Waingaro Forks Hut. Camp Creek (off Uruwhenua Road, Upper Takaka) to Skeet Creek
Distance: 13.3 km
This part of the track is on a former stock route (unformed legal road outside the national park). It is mostly of benched construction with a rock base. Climbing up to the Lockett Range the track is mostly in good condition with minor areas of erosion.
Skeet Creek to Waingaro Forks Hut
Distance: 5.4 km
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.
The Klicks
A series of fun tracks that run parallel the road to the bottom of the gorge. These are a Grade 4. And include 1 Klick, 2 Klick, Hell and Carnage
Access Info
Can be accessed from Rameka Creek Road, Great Expectations, The Odyssey
Great Expectations
This great addition to the Rameka Experience has been built by the volunteers and helpers of Project Rameka in conjunction with the Golden Bay MTB Club. This is the start of a planned network of trails in the area.
Great Expectations takes you down to Rameka Creek 3.5km's from Pack Track. Access Info Golden Bay often park beside the big Totara at the bottom of The Rameka Gorge (4 km out of Takaka) and ride up Ehe Rameka Creek Road and then down Great Expectations. Others do the same and ride up to Canaan Downs and back doing the entire Rameka Track both ways!
The Odyssey
Starts off as regular narrow pineforest singletrack with switchbacks. After that it's into regenerating native, largely manuka, getting more narrow with some steep, tight, switchbacks which were probably the most difficult part. There is significant exposure to falling at this point. Where the track comes out into the open, between the switchbacks, sometimes overgrown, especially in late spring and hard to follow the track/rut. The third section is when it comes in towards the river, to join into The Klicks. Not the hardest grade 5 trail around but still quite challenging and fun.
Pack Track
This track is the original “Pack Track” that was formed at the beginning of last century to allow access to Golden Bay by both horse and foot from Motueka. More recently the old bench was reopened by members of the Golden Bay Mountain Bike Club in 2010.
The Pack Track was reopened to connect the Historic Rameka Track to the Project Rameka track network and is approximately 3km's in length. It is Grade 3 and has been kept to the standard of the Rameka track which is also Grade 3.
The Rameka
A narrow, rooty, pedally, native forest singletrack with creek crossings that winds its way down toward Takaka. The first 5km of track rolls gently downhill with some pedalling required through rock garden sections and a few mostly rideable creek crossings. The last 1km of track loses elevation much more quickly.
Links on to the Pack Track, Great Expectations and The Klicks. Well worth making a day out of it. Access Info At the top of Takaka hill, turn onto Canaan road and continue to the carpark at the end. Turn right and ride up the 4wd track and left onto the Rameka track.
The Historic
Uncovered and redeveloped in 2017 this is a continuation of the historic Rameka Track. It has a consistent gradient and several difficult to ride switchbacks that will improve with time and work. Otherwise the trail is easy to ride, though skinny. It gets afternoon sun. Access Info This trail lies on Project Rameka land. The Rameka Creek (usually dry) needs to be crossed at the bottom. In heavy rain "Great Expectations" would make a more sensible ride, having a bridge over the creek
Flora Saddle to Barron Flat Track
The Flora Saddle to Barron Flat mountain biking track is a one day backcountry ride that traverses through a variety of landscapes and terrains. It follows a historic pack track, connecting the Flora carpark (Graham Valley Road end, Motueka River valley) with Barron Flat (Upper Takaka, Golden Bay).
The full trip offers a challenging ride in a backcountry environment for riders of intermediate skill level (Grade 3), with a mixture of technical, single track and cross country riding experiences.
Aorere Goldfields Track
Aorere Goldfields Track is a 3-hour loop, which gives you access to explore some of the more accessible gold-mining remnants.
Technical Difficulty: Grade 3
1) The Main Loop is approx. 18.5km and will take about 2 - 3 hours, longer if doing the caves and dam first.
2) The Shorter Druggan Dam Caves loop is approx. 10km and will take about 1.5 - 2 hours, longer if exploring caves.
Gibbs Hill Track
Mountain biking Wainui - Gibbs Hill - Tōtaranui is allowed from 1 May to 30 September
Loop: Wainui – Gibbs Hill – Tōtaranui – road back to Wainui
Distance: 23 km
Time: 5 hr 30 min (walking); 2 hr 30 min (biking)
The circuit is easier to do in a clockwise direction to take advantage of the gentler uphill from Wainui to Gibbs Hill. From Wainui car park follow the Coast Track to the saddle and then turn right up the ridge towards Gibbs Hill. Continue south along the ridge and turn left towards Tōtaranui at the next intersection.
Some sections of this track are steep and slippery in wet weather. It’s 10 km of track from Wainui to Tōtaranui. If biking use the Tōtaranui road for the 13km return to Wainui, walkers can return to Wainui via the Abel Tasman Coast Track.
Puponga Farm Park tracks
Puponga Hill Top Track
The track starts at the visitor centre and finishes at Wharariki Beach and is described below in three sections.
Pillar Point Lighthouse Track via Old Man Range:
Tramping track/Grade 3 Intermediate mountain bike
Distance: 4 km
Time: 1-2 hr one way (walking)
The track starts opposite the visitor centre car park and climbs steadily through open farmland and stunted bush along the Old Man Range to Pillar Point Lighthouse, with panoramic views all the way. Behind the light are the ruins of one of New Zealand’s first radar stations, built during World War Two. For a round trip, continue down a 4WD track to Wharariki Road (30min) and return to the car park via Wharariki Road (1h).
Pillar Point Lighthouse:
Walking track/Grade 2 Easy mountain bike
Distance: 1.5 km
Time: 45 min one way
From a small car park off Wharariki Road the walk climbs steadily up a 4WD track to the lighthouse. Cape Farewell, 5min (200m) one way Follow the sign posted road from Wharariki Road to the Cape Farewell road end car park. A short walk takes you to a lookout over Cape Farewell.
Puponga Farm Park Track/Green Hills Route:
Route/Grade 3 Intermediate mountain bike
Distance: 10 km
Time: 3 hr return
From the Wharariki car park, follow a vehicle track west to Green Hills Stream and beyond. Superb farmland, lakes, cliffs and wind-carved moorlands are features of this area. Mountain biking is allowed on this track.
Motupipi Hill is managed by the Rata-Tui Restoration Trust (RTRT), which was set up by Beth Burdett and Phil Castle. The Trustees of the trust are Beth, Phil and Jonathan Kennett. Motupipi Hill will be managed for forest restoration, bio-diversity and human-powered recreation (mountain biking and walking). The entrance to Motupipi Hill is from the end of Burnside Road (half way between Takaka and Pohara). There is no drive-on access to MH and no parking in Burnside Road. Please park on Abel Tasman Drive at the small park at the intersection of Rototai Road.