Golden Bay Trails
Upper Takaka trails
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. (The track is mostly downhill and so less difficult if you start at the Flora Saddle end).
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.
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.