Tahunanui and Tahina Hills Walks

Time: 1 1/2 hours

Area: Nelson Airport

Note: Half of the walk is uneven with an unformed surface. The Nelson Regional Airport Authority permits access around the perimeter but for obvious reasons access to the runway is prohibited and wandering on to the Nelson Golf Club's course at the northern end is also not permitted. Dogs and cyclists are also prohibited.

Start Location: This walk starts about 150m on the left from the last roundabout on the airport entrance road at the humpback bridge which crosses Jenkins Creek.

Download the Airport Perimeter Walk map.

Route directions

Follow the path along the airport side of Jenkins Creek to get to the southern end of the runway and round to the western coast of the airport peninsula. You'll see a variety of aircraft coming and going from New Zealand's fourth busiest airport.

You will follow the Blind Channel with a pretty outlook over to Rabbit Island. A 30 minute (return) detour to your left will take you out to the end of the peninsula, with views of Monaco and Oyster Island. At low tide beachcombers may choose to clamber down on to the beach beside the western fence. If you miss the turn back onto the perimeter track, you will wind up on Tahunanui Beach. The main track continues along the coast to the golf course, then turns right and follows the fence line to a collection of buildings. Follow the road back to the roundabout which is close to where you started.

Time: 50 - 70 minutes walking. The playground time is over to you!

Area: Tahunanui

Note: Easy walk over sand. Check the newspaper for tide times when planning this walk.

Start Location: Tahunanui Reserve carpark by the Lions Playground.

Download the Lions Playground and Tahunanui Beach map.

Route directions

Cross the playground and head to the left on Tahunanui Beach. There's plenty to interest children on the beach, and in summer (or a fine winter's day) you can swim.

The view of ships coming and going from the port is impressive and if you're taking an evening stroll, the sunsets are a treat.

Turn left when the main beach ends and head down the Back Beach to the point where the sand hills end at the entrance to a small inlet. From here wander through the trees back towards the carpark.

There are a number of tracks to follow which all eventually lead out onto the reserve road.

Once out from under the pine trees follow the road past the roller skating rink and the fun park (with hydro slide, mini golf and Indy 500 cars). Where the road forks take the left side and walk past Natureland and through the walkway past the café.

From here follow the road back to the carpark and the Lions Playground.

Time: 1 1/4 hours

Area: Tahunanui

Note: The latter part of the walk is tidal, and should not be attempted 2-3 hours on either side of high tide.

Start Location: Carparking area by the modellers' pond in the Tahunanui recreation area.

Download the Tahunanui and Back Beach map.

Route directions

Walk around the modellers' pond on the path to the right which takes you to the BMX track and Beach Road*. Head to Golf Road and follow it to turn right into Parkers Road as it veers to the right and runs alongside the Tahunanui Holiday Park - one of New Zealand's largest and most popular motor camps.

Take the steps down to the beach at Parkers Cove. You may have to take your shoes off or use stepping stones to cross the channel, even at low tide. You are now on the Back Beach and ready to walk right along to the Tahunanui main beach.

If you have a dog with you, make your exit from the beach as the signs indicate. If not, stay on the sand until you see a sign pointing to the café. Take a right turn up the boardwalk and make the short walk back past Natureland to your starting point at the modellers' pond.

While you are at Tahunanui you can take advantage of a variety of recreation options. There is a hydroslide, bumper boats, Indy 500 cars, mini golf and rides on miniature trains around the modellers' pond. Some of these activities operate only in the weekend or peak holiday times, but Natureland is open every day with a small entry charge.

Options: *For a different route at low tide, you can walk along the estuary to Parkers Cove and continue along the back and main beaches.

The Tahunanui Back Beach is also home to the rare Back Beach Beetle.

Time: 1½ - 2 hours

Area: Tahunanui Hills

Start Location: The Tahunanui Beach carpark

Download the Britannia Walk map

Route directions

Follow the road towards town about 200 metres and look for the Days Track sign that leads you up into the Tahunanui hills – start climbing! At Grenville Terrace turn right, then left on to Days Track again and do some more climbing! Once on Moana Avenue turn left and walk up to Princes Drive.

At the top is the lookout, a plane table, and also a couple of seats to take in the views and catch your breath.

Follow Princes Drive down to Richardson Street – turn left and then right into Fifeshire Crescent. Fifeshire, Whitby and Maryann are names of early Nelson settler ships.

Take Fifeshire Crescent along to the end, turn right and up Maryann Walkway to Albert Road. At the top take Poynters Crescent down to Harbour Terrace and turn right. Stepney Lane is on your right – take the steps to the top, carry on into Queens Road and then up to the reserve for a rest and a view of The Cut, Haulashore Island and the Boulder Bank. The Cut is man-made and was completed in 1906 to allow ships a safer entrance to the harbour than the former channel past Fifeshire Rock.

Turn right and walk along Victoria Heights up to Britannia Heights and turn right to follow the road past the historic Songer Tree (Sequoiadendron giganteum), planted on Arbor Day 1900.

At the bottom turn right into Richardson Street and left into Whitby Road. Follow Whitby Road and The Cliffs round to Malcolm Place. Just past the first house (on your right) in Malcolm Place is a marble cupola on a concrete post marking the steps down to what remains of the Haven Cemetery. Follow the path that leads between the houses and then take the staircase down to the Basin Reserve.

Turn left and follow the waterfront along Rocks Road back to the Tahunanui Beach carpark on the seaside footpath.

Time: 30 - 45 minutes

Area: Tahunanui Hills

Start Location: Start at the Tahunanui Beach carpark on Rocks Road.

Route directions

Cross over Rocks Road and walk up Bisley Avenue. Turn right into Champion Terrace - near the end turn left up the pedestrian track to Paddy's Knob. It has lookout decks with interpretive panels of the landmark features of the area, and panoramic views from the hills in the south out to Separation Point in Tasman Bay.

This is quite a steep track that is surrounded by new native plantings, and has a great view of Tahunanui Beach part way up.

Leave Paddy's Knob and turn right into Stansell Avenue (which becomes Tosswill Road) and continue along to Tamaki Street. Turn right into Tamaki Street and take the steps down to Tahunanui Drive.

If you prefer something a little less steep follow Tosswill Road round to the bottom. Turn right into Tahunanui Drive and walk back along to the Lions Playground and the carpark. Check out the interpretive panel showing regional highlights, and the Abel Tasman Sculpture which was sculpted by Anthony Stones in the UK and erected in 2000.

Time: 45 - 70 minutes

Area: Tahunanui hills

Start Location: The Tosswill Reserve beside the Tahuna Bowling Club on Tahunanui Drive.

Download the Tosswill Reserve Walk map.

Route directions

Walk up through the reserve taking the narrower concrete track of the two tracks up the hill. At the top turn right into Tosswill Road, right into Chamberlain Street and then left into Rangiora Terrace. Enjoy the views of the Nelson Golf Course and the Tahunanui Beach Reserve. At the end, turn left into Tamaki Street and right into Tosswill Road. Continue around the road (which turns into Stansell Avenue) to Paddy's Knob and enjoy the views from the viewing platform with interpretive panels of the region's features.

Leave Paddy's Knob* and continue along to Moana Avenue up the hill.

Just before Moncrieff Avenue, take Days Track down to Rocks Road - this section of Days Track is in two parts, the first going as far as Grenville Terrace with the second starting about 15 metres to the right.

At the bottom turn left into Rocks Road and continue along Tahunanui Drive past the shops and back to the Tosswill Reserve. If you've got children with you remember to stop at the Lions Playground beside the beach.

Options: *An alternative route is to take the walking track from Paddy's Knob lookout to Champion Terrace and down to Tahunanui Drive and back to the Tosswill Reserve.

PLEASE NOTE: Days Track is currently closed and not accessible at this time.

Time: 40 - 60 minute walk

Area: Tahunanui Hills. Mostly sealed - up hills and down.

Start Location: The Basin Reserve, a small carpark on Rocks Road, opposite Connolly's Quay fishing platform. Notable features within the carpark are the Norfolk pines, the Phoenix palm and the interesting cliff formations above.

Download the Views of Tasman Bay & Days Track map.

Route directions

At the northern end of the reserve a set of steps leads you up beside a private driveway. Go along the concrete pathway a little way and veer right at the grass - walk along the grass pathway and up a gravel path between the houses.

Just before you start up the steps deviate left slightly and you will see the Haven Cemetery, the burial place of Captain Wakefield's clerk, Henry Bell. Go up the steps and on to Malcolm Place - turn left and then right into The Cliffs.

At the top of The Cliffs the road forks. Take the left fork and head up the concrete pathway - Moncrieff Walkway. Turn right into Princes Drive at the top and catch your breath at the seat, or a little further along at the lookout where there is a plane table.

Continue on down the hill, on Moana Avenue and past the grove of large pohutukawa on your left. Cross Moncrieff Avenue and turn right at the Days Track sign. Go down the first section of Days Track* and turn right into Grenville Terrace.

Fifteen metres along on the left another Days Track sign indicates the second section - this part doesn't have quite as many steps. Down at the bottom of the track you reach Rocks Road - cross the road here.

'Live the day' and swim in the sea, or follow Rocks Road back round to the Basin Reserve. John Tinline donated the chain fence round Rocks Road from Magazine Point to the Beacon in the late 1890s. The fence was completed with funding from well known Nelson benefactor Thomas Cawthron - a safety measure after a cyclist plunged into The Haven in 1912.

Options: *If you don't think your knees can handle the many steps of Days Track, then follow Moana Avenue and Bisley Avenue to the bottom of the hill. At the Tahunanui roundabout turn right and walk around the waterfront back to the Basin Reserve - a short stroll along the beach is a great idea if you've got time.