Mt Malita (959 m) is located near the head of the Aniseed Valley. Forestry road access to within short distance of the summit allows it to be climbed by foot or bike. The summit provides great views across Tasman Bay.
| Details | |
| Length | 10.6 km return |
| Time Required | 4-5 hr return walking; 2-3 hr return running and MTB |
| Trail Type | Forestry road |
| Physical Difficulty | Hard |
| Uses | Walking, trail running and MTB |
| Start Elevation | 180 m |
| Max Elevation | 959 m |
| Dog Access | Dogs are prohibited in Roding Water Reserve |
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Mt Malita Road does not connect to any other official tracks. Experienced parties may continue along the ridge from the summit to Mt Meares and further to Te Araroa Trail (south of Rocks Hut). There is also an unofficial route that follows the spur southwest from the summit, toward Whispering Falls (and Hacket car park).
40 min from Nelson
Head south from Richmond along State Highway 6 and turn left onto Aniseed Valley Rd at Hope. Go over Aniseed Hill, and continue the entire way up Aniseed Valley Rd until you reach the Roding car park. After the Hacket car park turnoff the road is unsealed. The track starts on the other side of Roding River, which must be crossed via the concrete ford. This is also the starting point for Champion Mine Circuit.
The track may be closed during forestry operations of times of high fire risk.
Once over Roding River head right on Summit Rd. After 1.2 km Old Malita Rd forks off to the right. Continue on Summit Rd as it climbs through pine forest for 2.5 km to 575 m elevation, at which point it reconnects with Old Malita Rd. Summit Rd continues to a skid site at 725 m elevation, where the road splits three ways; Burridge Rd heads left, Spar Rd heads right, but to get to the summit, head up the middle road, which climbs straight up the spur. The road dips briefly into a low saddle that marks the end of the forestry block, and then climbs again through regenerating native bush. The 4WD road ends and a walking track climbs steeply up the bank on the left, heading straight up the grassy hillside, upon which are scattered limestone outcrops, and long-dead tree trunks and stumps. The summit is fringed by beech forest and is marked by a survey pipe in a limestone outcrop. Just south of the summit there is a locked two-bunk hut (owned by Nelson City Council) next to the tree line.
Just below the summit there is a small concrete platform built in 1962 to support a telescope housed in a shelter. This was used by the University of Pennsylvania to investigate the suitability of Mt Malita as a site for an astronomical observatory. Too much light pollution from Nelson and Richmond prevented this from becoming a reality, and instead Mt John near Lake Tekapo was selected as a more appropriate location.
Return the way you came.
Mt Malita (959 m) is located near the head of the Aniseed Valley. Forestry road access to within short distance of the summit allows it to be climbed by foot or bike. The summit provides great views across Tasman Bay.
| Details | |
| Length | 10.6 km return |
| Time Required | 4-5 hr return walking; 2-3 hr return running and MTB |
| Trail Type | Forestry road |
| Physical Difficulty | Hard |
| Uses | Walking, trail running and MTB |
| Start Elevation | 180 m |
| Max Elevation | 959 m |
| Dog Access | Dogs are prohibited in Roding Water Reserve |
40 min from Nelson
Head south from Richmond along State Highway 6 and turn left onto Aniseed Valley Rd at Hope. Go over Aniseed Hill, and continue the entire way up Aniseed Valley Rd until you reach the Roding car park. After the Hacket car park turnoff the road is unsealed. The track starts on the other side of Roding River, which must be crossed via the concrete ford. This is also the starting point for Champion Mine Circuit.
The track may be closed during forestry operations of times of high fire risk.
Once over Roding River head right on Summit Rd. After 1.2 km Old Malita Rd forks off to the right. Continue on Summit Rd as it climbs through pine forest for 2.5 km to 575 m elevation, at which point it reconnects with Old Malita Rd. Summit Rd continues to a skid site at 725 m elevation, where the road splits three ways; Burridge Rd heads left, Spar Rd heads right, but to get to the summit, head up the middle road, which climbs straight up the spur. The road dips briefly into a low saddle that marks the end of the forestry block, and then climbs again through regenerating native bush. The 4WD road ends and a walking track climbs steeply up the bank on the left, heading straight up the grassy hillside, upon which are scattered limestone outcrops, and long-dead tree trunks and stumps. The summit is fringed by beech forest and is marked by a survey pipe in a limestone outcrop. Just south of the summit there is a locked two-bunk hut (owned by Nelson City Council) next to the tree line.
Just below the summit there is a small concrete platform built in 1962 to support a telescope housed in a shelter. This was used by the University of Pennsylvania to investigate the suitability of Mt Malita as a site for an astronomical observatory. Too much light pollution from Nelson and Richmond prevented this from becoming a reality, and instead Mt John near Lake Tekapo was selected as a more appropriate location.
Return the way you came.
Mt Malita Road does not connect to any other official tracks. Experienced parties may continue along the ridge from the summit to Mt Meares and further to Te Araroa Trail (south of Rocks Hut). There is also an unofficial route that follows the spur southwest from the summit, toward Whispering Falls (and Hacket car park).
Updated 29 June 2024