Beeby’s Knob
Mount Richmond Forest Park
Beeby’s Knob (1442 m) is a peak in the southwestern corner of Mt Richmond Forest Park, near St Arnaud. A return trip to the summit is a good half-day walk or MTB ride, and Beeby’s Hut provides the option for overnight stays. There are two access routes; a walking track, and a 4WD road/MTB singletrack, the latter providing the option to ride.
| Details | |
| Distances (via walking track) | 6 km one way to summit; 7.8 km one way to Beeby’s Hut |
| Distances (via Wots Up Doc) | 8.4 km one way to summit; 10.2 km one way to Beeby’s Hut |
| Time Required | 3-4 hr one way to summit; 4-5 hr one way to Beeby’s Hut (walking) |
| Trail Type | Tramping track/4WD road |
| Physical Difficulty | Hard |
| Uses | Walking, trail running and MTB |
| Start Elevation | 610 m (walking track) or 710 m (4WD road) |
| Max Elevation | 1442 m |
Maitland Ridge Track (Te Araroa Trail)
Walking, trail running and MTB
Red Hills Hut (Te Araroa Trail)
Walking, trail running and MTB
1 hr from Nelson
There are two ways to reach the summit of Beeby’s Knob and Beeby’s Hut; a walking track and a 4WD road/MTB single track. The walking track is suitable for walking only, while the 4WD/singletrack is suitable for both walking and MTB.
Beeby’s Knob Walking Track: Korere-Tophouse Road
The track starts at a small car park on the left side (if you’re heading south) of Korere-Tophouse Road, 62 km south of Nelson (6.9 km south of Kikiwa and 6.5 km north of the State Highway 63 junction). The turnoff is in a tricky location on a sweeping left bend in the road. Look for the DOC sign and make a sharp left turn onto the gravel road that leads to the car park. There is a closed gate (unlocked) that you will need to open.
Beeby’s Knob 4WD Road and Wots Up Doc: Tophouse Road
Turn left onto Tophouse Rd and follow it for 3.3 km until you see the green DOC sign on the left. There is no formal car park, but there is space to park beside the gravel road.
For details on beginning on Tophouse Road, see here.
Beeby’s Walking Track
From the car park, the Beeby’s Walking Track climbs and sidles the hillside through beech forest, reaching a wide saddle where mature beech forest and moss-covered logs carpet the forest floor. The track steepens as it climbs the side of a broad spur, and once on the crest, the gradient lessens. As the track progresses up the spur, the beech trees gradually become shorter and thinner.
The track connects with Beeby’s 4WD road at the top of the range. Turn left here and follow the road as it soon reaches the turnoff to Maitland Ridge Track at the tree line. The road continues along the range through open tussock and alpine herbs. The summit is 1.8 km beyond the Maitland Ridge turnoff. It is not signposted, though the summit is obvious, marked by a trig and a group of transmitters on top of a rounded knob, a short detour off the road.
The 4WD road continues for quite a distance along the range. Beeby’s Hut is a further 1.8 km beyond the summit, located alongside the bush edge on the eastern side of the range.
| Beeby’s Hut | |||
| Hut Type | Standard Hut | Capacity | 6 |
| Bookings | Not required; first in, first served | Elevation | 1320 m |
Beeby’s Knob is a highly-exposed alpine environment, so proper preparation is essential to ensure a safe trip. Check the Nelson Lakes alpine weather forecast before you go; do not rely on the weather forecast for Nelson or Blenheim, as the alpine weather in the Richmond Ranges is likely to be very different. Make sure you carry plenty of water with you as there are no water sources on the way up.
See the Mountain Safety Council website for useful information on preparing for the outdoors.