Kahikatea Track
Grampians Reserve
Kahikatea Track is a walking track on the southern side of The Grampians. The track climbs through native bush and provides the opportunity to see a magnificent kahikatea tree (the track’s namesake).
| Details | |
| Length | 1 km |
| Time Required | Allow at least 1 hr to create a circuit with other Grampians tracks |
| Trail Type | Walking track |
| Physical Difficulty | Moderate |
| Uses | Walking and trail running |
| Start Elevation | 85 m |
| Finish Elevation | 305 m |
10 min from central Nelson
Kahikatea Track begins at the small car park on the left side of Market Road, in Bishopdale (same as Mahoe Track).
Immediately uphill of the car park Mahoe Track splits off to the left, while Kahikatea Track continues straight up a gully, zig-zagging upward through lush native bush. After 600 m the track becomes a short boardwalk as it crosses the roots of a 39.4 m tall kahikatea tree, estimated to be 400 years old. There are also several other impressive matai and pukatea specimens along the track.
At 305 m elevation Kahikatea Track meets Kānuka Track. You can follow Kānuka Track left as it continues sidling the hillside briefly before intersecting Tawa Track and connecting to Mahoe Track a little further on. You can reach Grampians Saddle or the summit by following either Tawa Track or Mahoe Track.
Alternatively you can turn right and follow Kānuka Track around the eastern side of The Grampians (the signpost refers to this as heading to Brook St).
