Kevin's Guide to Nelson, New Zealand - Visiting Nelson (Takaka Hill)

- Takaka Hill

- Motueaka

- Tasman Bay

- Nelson City

- Nelson South

- Accommodation

- Transportation

- Gay friendly
businesses
- Media and
Entertainment

Spectrum (Nelson) Inc.

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Takaka Hill

The Takaka Hill forms a physical barrier between the settlements of Golden Bay and the rest of the district. Over its 24Km of winding road, it climbs to 972 metres above sea level, and accordingly, offers many superb views out over both Golden Bay and Tasman Bay, not to forget those looking down on to the coasline of the Abel Tasman National Park.

As you drive over the hill, you will see the outcroppings of marble which give the hill its alternate name of the marble mountain. It is the only hill like it outside of Italy. The marble from the Takaka Hill can be found on many important buildings in New Zealand, including Parliament Buildings in Wellington.
Because of the limestone structure of the Takaka Hill, it is not wise to deviate from the formed/marked tracks when visiting the lookouts, or doing the walk to the TV transmitter, as there are numerous sinkholes that are not marked and thinly covered by the ground cover - the weight of an adult could be enough to break the surface.

About 2/3 of the way up on the Motueka side is a jade (greenstone) carver and café - an ideal place for a stop and to enjoy the naerby views.

Canaan

Just past the Ngarua Caves on the Nelson side of the hill, the 11Km gravel road to Canaan leaves the main road to your right.
Canaan is one of the main entry points to the Abel Tasman National Park with several waking tracks going from here down towards the coast. One of the shortest and easiest walks available from here is the approx. 2 hour return trip to Harwoods Hole, a natural sink hole in the limestone over 200 metres deep, and 15 metres in diameter. The well formed and easy to walk track takes you through the native bush and past a couple of small ponds which can be spetacular in the right lighting conditions.

Ngarua Caves

Guided tours of the Ngarua Caves last approx. half an hour, with hard hats provided (head clearance is a little low in a couple of places). The caves are illuminated and easy walking, except for the ladder at the end to get out.

Clearly visible is the damage that people can do to this type of environment, as well as what mother nature does to birds that fall through the old sinkholes with a moa skeleton being slowly excavated (moas are flightless birds, now extinct, which looked a bit like an emu or an ostrich, and some species were the tallest birds known, at just over 3 metres high - the one being excavated is just under a metre high).