Short walks - Wainui Track

Walk: Wainui Track (Canaan Downs to Birds Clearing)

Distance: 13km / 3.5 – 4hr walk

Difficulty: Moderate

Terrain: The terrain is an undulating gradient across private farmland and national park, following the Wainui River along the valley floor. Large sections of the track are rough and rooty, requiring careful footwork. The track zigzags across the Wainui River, necessitating shoe removal (or wet feet).

Access/parking: Logistical planning is required, as the drive between the start and finish is 61km. The track runs from Birds Clearing (at the top of Bird Road) to Canaan Downs (Canaan Road carpark) and is a similar elevation regardless of direction. The roads at either end of the track are narrow, unsealed, and best attempted with a 4WD. Parking is plentiful at either end of the track.

Tips and tricks: The track is marked in both directions with orange triangle markers; do not follow blue or pink markers as these denote biodiversity and traplines. The track is not safe to traverse after heavy rain, as the river level rises.

Starting from the Birds Clearing carpark, the track roughly follows the Pikikirunga Range (which translates as “land to be climbed over”) on the western side of Abel Tasman National Park. The first couple of kilometres winds uphill through farmland and low vegetation with magnificent views across the Bay. It then crests the ridgeline and enters a densely vegetated native forest (predominantly beech). The track undulates downwards across uneven, rooty ground for several kilometres to run parallel with the Wainui riverbed, with multiple river crossings required. After about 6.5km you will reach a junction connecting the track to the Abel Tasman track (left) or to Wainui Hut (straight ahead).

Half a kilometre further, there is a large grassy clearing housing the Wainui shelter (recently downgraded from hut status), which comprises four bunks, an open fire, toilet, and (river) water. You may notice a concrete pad that in recent times housed an aviary, utilised by DOC and Project Janszoon to house kākā and kākāriki prior to release into the Abel Tasman.

Departing the clearing, the track continues upwards through similar terrain for 2.5km to reach Wainui saddle, emerging from the beech forest into lower-lying native bush, rolling meadows, and interesting rock formations. From here the track widens and turns into a farm track, winding downhill. With about 1km to go, you will see the famous Rameka Track snaking its way into the beech forest on your right and glimpses of the carpark to your lower left. At the Canaan Downs carpark there are toilets and water. If time allows, Harwoods Hole makes for a spectacular side trip (6km return).

What the trampers say: tramping enthusiasts Nicola Hill and Ailsa Andrew thoroughly enjoyed their day out. Says Nicola, “The bush in the middle was amazing – totally unexpected. We also loved coming across the shelter near the halfway point; it was so lovely coming into the clearing and seeing it. A perfect time for a break.”