HEADS UP - Some links on Breeze Around The World are affiliate links. This means if you choose to make a purchase through one of the links I provided, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. These earning help me keep the blog going, thank you for your support!
Finding a day hike that isn’t boring, too long or too far away can be a real challenge when you’re trying to explore a new area!
I’ve spent nearly a year living in Nelson New Zealand; I’ve hiked everything from the 4 day Abel Tasman Track to 10 minutes on the Great Taste Trail. I’ll be honest, not every hike in town is award winning…
That’s why I’ve compiled this list of the 5 best day hikes in Nelson New Zealand…. That are actually worth doing. Browse through these hikes to find one that suits you. I’ve included the length of the hike, difficulty, distance from town and the payoff! #4 is a hidden gem!
Regardless of which hike you choose, you’re sure to enjoy the beautiful scenery in the Nelson/Tasman district.
Nelson Quick Tips
Weather: Average yearly temp 50 – 70 F
My Top Hotel Pick: Grand Arden Hotel
Best Lunch Spot: Nham Thai Fusion
Getting There: 2 hours from North Island Ferry, 5.5 hrs from Christchurch
Great Taste Trail
Length: 125 mi / 200 km
Time: Customizable
Difficulty: Easy
Distance from Nelson: 0
The great taste trail is a great option for day hiking because the trail spans over 100 miles of relatively flat and well grated terrain.
I would recommend anywhere along the costal section of the trail. This day hike starts in Nelson and continues along the coast to Motueka. It’s perfect because you really can hop on and off anywhere you like along the trail!
The trail does partially go by the highway between Nelson and Richmond, which is why my favorite coastal section is over in Motueka.
You can also drive to Rabbit Island, park, walk to the small passenger ferry and take a 3 minute ferry ride over to Mapua to continue on the trail.
There is no grand payoff or secret view reserved only for the finish. This is an easy and scenic walk the whole way.
Richmond Fire Lookout
Length: 5.5 mi / 8.8 km
Time: 4 hours
Difficulty: Hard
Distance from Nelson: 20 minutes
You can start from either Jimmy Lee Creek, Easby Park or Barnicoat. We started from Easby Park!
This is a very well maintained trail that starts in some native forest and then pops out into the open! The whole hillside has been replanted with native vegetation!
This is a shared track – watch out for bikers!
This track is pretty much straight up, which makes it a hard hike on the way up! We also found it a bit slippy, so make sure you’ve got proper footwear. Bonus is that there is a bathroom on the way up!
But once you reach the summit, there are amazing 360 views! Seriously you can see for miles! It’s pretty epic!
Hacket Hut Track
Length: 7 mi / 11 km round trip
Time: 4 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance from Nelson: 40 minute drive
This is one of my favorite hikes in town because it gets you into the beautiful Richmond mountain range. Not to mention if crosses paths with the Te Araroa trail (which spans the length of New Zealand)!
The track has been damaged by recent storms, so be aware of some slips in the track. I hiked this track about 2 weeks ago and everything was manageable!
I love this track because it’s single track through a beautiful wooded area, but you also pass by the river for a lot of it which is a nice feature. The hike “ends” at the Hacket Hut but you could continue further into the backcountry from there!
Whispering Falls Track
Length: 4.6 miles / 7.4 km round trip
Time: 2 hours
Difficulty: Easy track but challenging due to “closed” status
Distance from Nelson: 40 minutes
This is my favorite hike I’ve done in the area! The waterfall at the end was so cool and unexpected – it really wowed me! But it came at a price… the track is temporarily closed!
I’m writing this up in the round up in hopes that the track is soon officially reopened.
The fact that’s it’s closed is certainly not stopping locals! We passed several other groups on the whispering falls track when we did it this spring.
From the Hacket Hut carpark, start on the Hacket trail until you hit a turn off that says “temporarily closed.” Yep, you’re gonna walk right by that sign.
Almost immediately after there will be a non bridged river crossing. DO NOT cross this river if it seems treacherous or after heavy rains! We went during a sunny week and it was still nearly thigh deep on me! So please use you best judgement when crossing.
The trail continues up to the right and there’s a short scramble to get back up onto the trail. From there it’s an easy walk to the bridge. After the bridge (which boasts unique views) you’ll pop into the forrest.
You can check out some cool caves along the way and enjoy the forested section. About 15 minutes after the bridge you’ll come upon the whispering falls!! The main viewpoint is a sheer cliffside with trickling water running down the side.
I thought this was so cool! I’ve seen a lot of big powerful waterfalls in my day and the fact that this was different really stood out to me! They really were whispering falls rather than roaring falls!
Of these 5 best day hikes in Nelson, this one is my favorite! And the fact that it’s “closed” makes for a fun adventure and a quiet trail.
Maitai Caves
Length: 6 mi / 10 km return
Time: 3 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance from Nelson: 20 minutes
Last but not least, the unique Maitai Caves!
This track starts at the Maitai Dam carpark and follows a shared mountain biking track for the first 45ish minutes.
After the Maitai Cave track breaks off from the mountain biking track, you’ll enter a beautiful beech forrest. This is where the track gets more technical as there are many roots and rocks along the way.
The forrest looked like it could have been an elven forrest from Lord of the Rings! It was so beautiful!
The last 15 minutes is up a small hill but then you’re at the limestone cave entrance!
The entrance to the cave is small, but thankfully still large enough to pass through comfortably. If you choose to go into the cave make sure you are okay getting muddy and that you have a headlamp! There are ropes someone has installed to help guide you in. The cave opens up into a beautiful cavernous room once you’re inside.
Please remember to practice “leave no trace” principals in the cave as this type of environment takes thousands of years to form. Enjoy this unique payoff before you head out along the same track.
There you have it! The 5 BEST day hikes in Nelson New Zealand that are close to town and not too strenuous! I hope you enjoy you’re time in one of New Zealand’s sunniest cities! Happy trails!
Ahoy! I’m Bree and I’ve started this blog to help you plan your next great outdoor adventure. With a background in marine science, I’ve got an aptitude for all things ocean, but you’ll find land based adventures here too! Everything you see here is based on my own travel experience and paid for myself. I hope you stick around!