About

Nelson Trails is a project started in 2015 by a Nelson local. The aim of the website is to provide detailed information and maps for recreational trails throughout the wider Nelson-Tasman region. In an era where trail guides can be generated in minutes, Nelson Trails remains a largely hands-on project built from field visits, local knowledge and years of incremental improvement.

The website is independently owned, self-funded, and maintained in spare time. Advertising helps cover the ongoing costs of hosting, maintenance, and further development.

You may notice Google Ads throughout the site. While they’re not always the most attractive part of the browsing experience, they play an important role in keeping the website online and freely available. I’d much rather fill the site with advertising from local businesses and organisations than rely on generic Google Ads.

If you find the website useful and would like to support its continued growth, there are a couple of ways you can help. Local businesses and organisations interested in advertising can email jordan@nelsontrails.co.nz. Individual supporters can also buy me a coffee, with contributions helping to cover hosting costs, website maintenance and future improvements.

To understand how the physical difficulty rating of each track has been assigned, click here.

All written content on Nelson Trails has been developed by the website owner. Almost all of the spatial data has also been developed by the website owner through personal fieldwork, although some data from the Department of Conservation, Nelson City Council and Tasman District Council has been incorporated where appropriate. All photographs on Nelson Trails have been taken by the website owner. The website also utilises publicly available data and aerial imagery from external authorities, including Land Information New Zealand, Nelson City Council and other organisations where acknowledged.

DOC alerts and Mt Richmond Forest Park access information displayed on track pages are retrieved automatically from Department of Conservation APIs and update as the source information changes.

Nelson Trails is not an official source of information. While the website owner has taken all reasonable skill, care and due diligence in providing accurate and complete information and material on this website, they assume no responsibility for its accuracy or completeness and make no commitment to keep the information up to date. As a result, some information may be incorrect or out of date. The representation of tracks on this website does not necessarily indicate a public right of access, and permission should be obtained from the appropriate authorities where required.

To ensure you have the most up-to-date information, refer to the Department of Conservation, New Zealand Mountain Safety Council, and the relevant local authority or land manager. Please take responsibility for your own safety before venturing into the outdoors. Ensure you understand the conditions and hazards you may encounter, and prepare accordingly.