NELSON TRAILS

Tawa Track

Grampians

Tawa track sidles the western slopes of Grampians before climbing to Grampians Saddle. It is one of the longest tracks on Grampians and traverses a variety of vegetation. Tawa Track can be combined with several other Grampians tracks to form a longer loop.

Details
Length 3.8 km (Van Diemen St to Grampians Saddle)
Time Required Allow at least 1 hr to create a circuit with other Grampians tracks
Trail Type Walking track
Physical Difficulty Moderate   
Technical Difficulty Intermediate   
Uses Walking, trail running and MTB
Direction Either
Start Elevation 55 m
Finish Elevation 350 m

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Access and Description

  5 min from central Nelson

 

The main access point to Tawa Track is on Van Diemen St, next to Fairfield House. There is a small parking bay on the Trafalgar St side of Fairfield Park (just round the corner from the track start). There is also direct access off the end of Endeavour St. Tawa Track can also be accessed via any of the other Grampians tracks it links with.

 

The beginning of Tawa Track is signposted on Van Diemen St, next to Fairfield House. The track zig-zags upwards for a few hundred metres then sidles the hillside. A few minutes in, the short loop track, Tawa Loop, climbs around the back of Fairfield House and connects with the bottom end of Grampians Walkway. After a further 5 min Ronaki Track branches off uphill to the left. Tawa track continues along the side of the hill, passing through a variety of exotic tree plantings which are particularly attractive in autumn, when the leaves of the trees give the hillside bright yellow and orange hues. Openings in the trees allow good views across the city. Lower Grampians Traverse connects steeply on the right, then after rounding the head of a gully you will reach the junction with Mamaku Track (which connects with Grampians Walkway on top of the ridge). Another branch of Lower Grampians Traverse connect on the right 5 min further on.

 

Further on there is an increasing amount of climbing, including a couple of short steep sections. The track continues around the southern aspect of Grampians, where a firebreak branches to the left (continuing steeply up to the lookout platform). A short distance later you’ll reach Mahoe Track, after which Tawa turns uphill, climbing to Grampians Saddle (350 m) via a wide grassy corridor.

 

Once at Grampians Saddle there are a number of ways you can return (see map).

Short Walks

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Day Walks

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Tramping

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Biking

Tawa Track
Grampians

Tawa track sidles the western slopes of Grampians before climbing to Grampians Saddle. It is one of the longest tracks on Grampians and traverses a variety of vegetation. Tawa Track can be combined with several other Grampians tracks to form a longer loop.

Details
Length 3.8 km (Van Diemen St to Grampians Saddle)
Time Required Allow at least 1 hr to create a circuit with other Grampians tracks
Trail Type Walking track
Physical Difficulty Moderate   
Technical Difficulty Intermediate   
Uses Walking, trail running and MTB
Direction Either
Start Elevation 55 m
Finish Elevation 350 m
Access and Description

  5 min from central Nelson

 

The main access point to Tawa Track is on Van Diemen St, next to Fairfield House. There is a small parking bay on the Trafalgar St side of Fairfield Park (just round the corner from the track start). There is also direct access off the end of Endeavour St. Tawa Track can also be accessed via any of the other Grampians tracks it links with.

 

The beginning of Tawa Track is signposted on Van Diemen St, next to Fairfield House. The track zig-zags upwards for a few hundred metres then sidles the hillside. A few minutes in, the short loop track, Tawa Loop, climbs around the back of Fairfield House and connects with the bottom end of Grampians Walkway. After a further 5 min Ronaki Track branches off uphill to the left. Tawa track continues along the side of the hill, passing through a variety of exotic tree plantings which are particularly attractive in autumn, when the leaves of the trees give the hillside bright yellow and orange hues. Openings in the trees allow good views across the city. Lower Grampians Traverse connects steeply on the right, then after rounding the head of a gully you will reach the junction with Mamaku Track (which connects with Grampians Walkway on top of the ridge). Another branch of Lower Grampians Traverse connect on the right 5 min further on.

 

Further on there is an increasing amount of climbing, including a couple of short steep sections. The track continues around the southern aspect of Grampians, where a firebreak branches to the left (continuing steeply up to the lookout platform). A short distance later you’ll reach Mahoe Track, after which Tawa turns uphill, climbing to Grampians Saddle (350 m) via a wide grassy corridor.

 

Once at Grampians Saddle there are a number of ways you can return (see map).

Updated 25 July 2020