Golden Bay Trails
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 Carnagetranslate
Access Info
Can be accessed from Rameka Creek Road, Great Expectations, The Odyssey
Great Expectations
This great addition to the RamekaExperience 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.translate
Access Info
In short the Project Rameka is a "Carbon Sink" project to help get our world back into the shape it should be So... with that in mind. It may be worth noting that people living, or based in Golden Bay often park beside the big Totara at the bottom of the RamekaGorge (4 km out of Takaka) and ride up the 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! Both are greener options than using shuttles to and from the top!
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 suntranslate
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
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.