Each week, we highlight our fave tramping trails in New Zealand for day and multi day hikes across Nelson Tasman (and beyond!)
An excellent local mission: Gordon’s Knob is perfect on a stunning Nelson day to tuck in to a picnic lunch and laze in the sun on the summit ☀️Navigating in poor visibility is tricky up here, so we highly recommend waiting for good weather!
Distance: 6.5km one-way
Elevation: +807m -255m
Just a 55 minute drive from Nelson, the track starts at Inwood Lookout (a fire lookout station) and heads towards Hunter’s Hut. The marked route starts in beech forest and pops out onto the tops after about a kilometer. The trail follows the ridge through tussock, and then starts to climb gradually.
At approximately 1350m (near some big boulders) you’ll spot a large cairn, indicating where the track up to Gordon’s Knob splits off to the right from the main route. This can be difficult to see in low visibility - keep your eyes peeled! From here your way is well-cairned and it is super obvious where to go.
After another undulating climb the track pops out on the grassy slopes of Gordon’s tops, and the knob is just a short downhill stroll away. There is also an unnamed peak (1685m) to the south-east which is worth the visit while you’re up there!
Take a picnic lunch and really soak in the well-earned views of Tasman Bay, the stunning Red Hills and even all the way to Lake Rotoiti and the Inland Kaikoura Ranges!
Getting There 🚗
After a mandatory stop at the Wakey Bakey, continue on to Wai-Iti Valley Road (the road to St Arnaud). Turn left onto Wai-Iti Road - a 4WD track that winds up through pine forest. The road is in good condition so a 2WD vehicle will make it!
