Located in Abel Tasman National Park in the Nelson/Tasman region
Mountain biking Wainui - Gibbs Hill - Tōtaranui is allowed from 1 May to 30 September
Distance: 23 km
Time: 5 hr (walking); 2 hr 30 min (biking)
If walking, a more pleasant option is to return to Wainui from Tōtaranui using the Abel Tasman Coast Track
Distance: 23 km
Time: 5 hr 30 min (walking)
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.
Distance: 9 km
From the Tōtaranui camp office, follow the avenue road and then Abel Tasman Coast Track past the Ngarata Homestead north towards Anapai. At 1.4 km just past the concrete bridge turn left at the start of the Gibbs Hill track. The track crosses a ford before a 3 km long uphill section begins which has steep sections. At the ridge and next intersection, turn right to Gibbs Hill. From the saddle you can follow a narrow track to the summit a few minutes walk away. Great views. Return the same way.
Mountain biking Wainui - Gibbs Hill - Tōtaranui is allowed from 1 May to 1 October at any time of the day. There is a maximum group size of eight riders.
Gibbs Hill mountain biking brochure (PDF, 85K)
Mountain biking is NOT allowed on other tracks in the area.
This is a shared-use track. Follow the mountain bikers code: respect others, respect the rules, respect the track.
The road-ends of Tōtaranui and Wainui are north-east of Takaka. Tōtaranui is 32km from Takaka by road. For the last 13 km the road is unsealed. Wainui is 21 km from Takaka. For the last 2 km, the road is unsealed.
The gate at the camp entrance is locked overnight.
1 October - 31 March opening times: 7.30 am to 8.30 pm
1 April - 30 September opening times: 7.30 am to 6.30 pm
Please remember that this track is used by walkers, hunters and mountain bikers.
There is gorse next to the track. The native forest is regenerating from historical clearance. Gorse is a nurse crop in the regeneration process. If biking take plenty of patches and/or spare tubes in case of punctures due to gorse thorns.
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