Jenkins Hill

Jenkins Hill is a prominent hill on the Barnicoat Range, rising to 776 m elevation. The summit can be reached from Marsden Valley via Jenkins Hill Road, which runs along the top of the range. Jenkins Hill forms the southern boundary of the Brook-Waimarama Sanctuary, and the pest-proof fence that protects it provides an access corridor between Marsden Valley, Brook Valley and Dun Mountain Trail.

Jenkins Hill is named after Alfred George Jenkins, who opened a coal mine called Enner Glynn at the base of the hill in 1858.

 

The most straight-forward way to access Jenkins Hill is via Marsden Valley. All Barnicoat Range and Marsden Valley tracks begin at the end of Marsden Valley Road, which is only a 5 min drive from Stoke. At the end of Marsden Valley Road there is a small car park on the right, just before the quarry. Here you will find an informational panel with a map and details on trail times and distances. There is also plenty of room to park alongside the road. Jenkins Hill Road can be reached via Glider Road, Barnicoat Walkway, Involution, or Scout Track. Jenkins Hill is ideal for combining as part of a longer route, such as Marsden Valley to Brook Valley via Third House.

 

Jenkins Hill Road begins near the paragliding area at the top of Glider Road and follows the crest of the range northward (the road is sign-posted). The gravel road begins as a wide firebreak and soon narrows as the forest transitions from pine to beech. You will see a couple of 4WD roads that branch off to the left to link with Barnicoat Walkway. After 1.9 km you will reach the turnoffs to Widdershins and Involution.

The road goes up a series of short, steep climbs as it heads along the range. In some places the road surface is rutted and covered in loose rock. At 830 m elevation a three-way junction is reached as Jenkins Hill Road meets the 4WD road runs alongside the Brook-Waimarama Sanctuary fence. The pest-proof fence traces the ridge around the top of the Brook Stream catchment, and the road alongside it allows easy travelling northwest into Brook Valley and east to Third House. This is the highest point on the track, though unfortunately there are no great views to be had given that the hill crest is relatively flat and covered in beech forest. You will notice that large patches of the beech forest are still regenerating from a strong wind event in 2008 that caused significant treefall.

 

To reach Third House and Dun Mountain Trail, head right at the junction and follow the fence road eastward along the ridge. The open fence corridor allows great views east toward Wooded Peak and you can catch glimpses through the trees of the Richmond Ranges further afield. The road along the fence has essentially replaced the tramping track that originally traversed the ridge. The trail undulates steeply, though is overall descending. There are some extremely steep parts where the road deviates from the fence line; it would be wise to follow the road rather than the fence in these sections, as the loose rock on the fence line track can make for genuinely dangerous descents. At Third House you can follow Dun Mountain Trail back to Brook Valley.

 

To reach Brook Valley turn left at the junction and follow the fence road northwest. This will take you past the true summit of Jenkins Hill, which is along the ridge to the northwest (and 55 m lower in elevation than the junction) and down a long spur. Note that the road down the spur is extremely steep in places and loose pebbles on the surface make it slippery and genuinely dangerous. The steepness of the spur does allow fantastic views north toward central Nelson. The fence road reaches the valley floor next to the Brook-Waimarama Sanctuary Visitor Centre.

 

 

History of the Brook-Waimarama Sanctuary

M.R. Johnston, Historic coal mining on Jenkins Hill, Journal of the Nelson and Marlborough Historical Societies, Vol 1, Issue 5, October 1985