Route: Pillar Point ridgetop track (marked) from lighthouse to Puponga Point, road and shoreline south to Collinwood (see route notes). Shoreline south to Parapara Inlet, Milnthorpe Walkway (at stone bridge) to wharf, Trev's Track, Highway 60, Parapara Beach Road, shoreline south to Rangihaeata, Rangihaeata Road, Highway 60 to Takaka. Abel Tasman Drive past Pohara to Anatimo. Totaranui Road (gravel/metalled) into Abel Tasman Park, Awaroa Road, Waiharakeke Stream Track to Coastal Track. Coastal Track south past Awaroa, Onetahuti, Bark Bay, Torrent Bay, to Marahau. Sandy Bay-Marahau Road, Riwaka-Sandy Bay Road, Highway 60, Swamp Road, Factory Road, Highway 60, School Road, Lodder Lane, Highway 60 to Motueka. Highway 60, King Edward St., Moutere Highway, School Road, Old Coach Road past Mahana to Moutere Highway. Moutere Highway (for 2km) to Cut Hill Road (closed forest road). Cut Hill Road for about 5-km to "Arterial" forest road at about [2511300E, 5985700N], then cross arterial road to unnamed forest road on other side, follow due south for 2-1/2 km to Sharp Road (last 500m steep downhill over rough road), to Pigeon Valley Road to Wakefield. Eigthy-eight Valley Road, Stock Road to Golden Downs. Valley Road, Kerr Hill Road, Korere-Tophouse Road, Highway 63 to St. Arnaud.

Towns/Services: Collingwood (lodging/meals/store), Takaka (everything), Pohara (camping/lodging/store), Awaroa Lodge (lodging/meals/no store), Marahau (camping/lodging/store/meals), Motueka (everything), Wakefield (store/meals/hotel/B&B), Golden Downs (lodging/meals).

Route Notes:

(1) The Pillar Point ridgetop track is well marked with wands and crosses several paddocks before emerging at the road near Puponga Point, where a bridge can be crossed leading to the main road.

(2) Only the first few kilometers of the road from Puponga to Collingwood needed to be walked, to bypass a coastal section of rocks (perhaps it was also because of high tide when I started). The remaining distance I was able to walk along the beaches and shoreline, using just one road bridge (at Seaford I believe) and crossing the vast Ruataniwha inlet (right out from the forested point) right at low tide. I actually crossed the Ruataniwha inlet almost due south directly towards Collingwood, and got within a few hundred meters of Collingwood before I came to the Aorere River, which was uncrossable (one person later said it could be crossed farther out to sea at low tide, but I probably wouldn't have tried it). So I walked 1.5 km west along the Aorere riverbank all the way to the road bridge (a grassy track starts on the bank just before the bridge, leading through the backyard of a private art studio). One problem with doing this at any time but low tide is that there is a channel of the Aorere River heading north-east that must be crossed when walking west along the riverbank. The channel was only shin-deep when I crossed, but at higher water, the channel might become difficult, leaving one trapped in the fork between the north and south channels and without enough time to retrace one's steps completely back out of the Ruataniwha Inlet (about 1.5 km across from forested point on north side to Collingwood and another km along riverbank to get to channel). (3) I left Collingwood about an hour after high tide and was able to walk on the beach south right from Collingwood, although with the waves lapping at the bush line in some places. The Parapra Inlet can reportedly be crossed at low tide, but it was much too early when I got there, so a few km on Highway 60 were required to bypass the Inlet. From Parapara beach, I was able to walk the coastline all the way to and around Rangihaeata Head and get back to the road from Rangihaeata. A local did tell me earlier that the Takaka River could be crossed at low tide farther out to sea, at least to the point at Waitapu Wharf, but I didn't try this. Indeed, as I looked out from Rangihaeata Head at low tide, it looked like one could walk straight to Pohara Beach from there, with only the Takaka and Motupipi Rivers in the way. When I later crossed the Motupipi River on the road bridge, it was quite a small river. But I wanted a meal at Takaka anyway, so left the shoreline at Rangihaeata.

(4) There are a few tidal crossing notes for the Abel Tasman Coastal Track which I won't repeat since they are well publicized.

(5) It was quite possible and pleasant to go from the end of the Old Coach Road (after 2-km on the Moutere Highway) through closed forestry Cut Hill Road and then on another forest road due south at the end of Cut Hill Road to descend into Pigeon Valley. The roads are in good shape, if you don't mind walking by a few road-side beehives (seemingly actively maintained) and huge piles of white rotting seashells (have no idea why they are there).

Maps: M24 Farewell Spit, M25 Collingwood, N25 Tarakohe, N26 Takaka, N27 Moutere, N28 Golden Downs, N29 St. Arnaud, 274-13 Kahurangi Parkmap, 273-07 Abel Tasman Parkmap.

Resupply: food and meals pleniful along route, so minimal food (one day's lunch) carried. Most important stop were the meals offered at Golden Downs Lodge, as there is nothing else between Wakefield and St. Arnaud.

OLD ROUTE ORIGINALLY PLANNED:

Route: Ferry to Picton. Road to Pelorus Bridge (40km), Maungatapu Road along Pelorus River, to start of Pelorus River Track. Pelorus River Track past Captain Creek Hut, Middy Hut, Roebuck Hut, to Totara Saddle. Browning/Hackett Tracks past Browning Hut, Hacket Hut, Pyramid Rock, Starveall Hut to Mt. Starveall. Route around Mt. Starveall. Track to Slaty Hut. Crest route past Slaty Peak, Ada Flat, to Old Man Peak. Track and route past Mt Rintoul to Rintoul Hut. Track past Purple Top, Tarn Hut, Mid Wairoa Hut, Top Wairoa Hut, Mt. Ellis (poled route), Hunters Hut, Porter Hut, to SH63. SH63 to St. Arnaud (12 km).

Towns: Picton, Havelock, Pelorus Bridge, St. Arnaud (store and DOC office).

Notes: Richmond routes not recommended for solo trampers. Bush routes from Slaty Peak to Old Man Peak (4 km), Old Man Peak to Mt Rintoul (3.5 km), and Red Hills to Mt Ellis (3 km).

Maps: P27 Picton, O27 Nelson, O28 Wairau, N28 Golden Downs, N29 St. Arnaud.

Page updated February 1, 2004