Mt Campbell

Mt Campbell Road begins at the locked gate at the end of Rocky River Road, which is accessed off Motueka River West Bank Road, 57 km from Nelson. Rocky River Road is unsealed and crosses several small fords, but most vehicles should be able to handle it until the sign that reads “Steep Grade 4WD Access only”. Leave any 2WD vehicle, or any vehicle without low-range gearing and high ground clearance, at this sign. The locked access gate is approximately 1.2 km beyond this sign and 9.7 km up Rocky River Road. Note that the land beyond the gate, including the northern half of Mt Campbell, is private property. The gate has a phone number on it that you can call to ask the landowner for permission to cross their land.

From the gate, the road climbs steadily, and sometimes steeply, up the hillside through scrub and patches of beech forest. At 1150 m elevation the sub-alpine scrub opens up to tussock, and the road zig-zags upward. The road surface here is deep, coarse gravel, which will likely force you to walk your bike in places. At the top there is a picnic table next to the transmission tower. The prominence of Mt Campbell allows amazing views east across Tasman Bay, north into Golden Bay and west toward the Tasman Mountains.

Return the way you came.

Mt Campbell is an alpine environment, so proper preparation is essential to ensure a safe trip. The track reaches a high elevation and is exposed above the tree line. Be sure to check the forecast for Kahurangi National Park; do not rely on the Nelson or Motueka weather forecasts as the alpine conditions are likely to be drastically different. There are no water sources along the way so bring plenty of water with you.

See the Mountain Safety Council website for useful information on preparing for the outdoors.