Onamalutu Scenic Reserve Walks

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Marios Gavalas

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Wairau Valley, Marlborough

Camping near Wairau Valley

Information

under 1 km return | 5 -20 minutes return

This is a great spot for a camping trip with the kids. Grassy flats for games, forest for fossicking and a creek for swimming. The track leads to Birdlip Stream, with an inviting swimming hole.

Walking Track

Access

From SH6 Kaituna, 6km north of Renwick, head west along Northbank Road. After 4.8 km keep right along Onamalutu Road. 7.2 km further, just after the turnoff to Mount Riley, Onamalutu Scenic Reserve is signposted over the bridge to the right.

Track

It’s a wide open grassy clearing with campsite, toilets and picnic table. A ring of kahikatea encircles the southern end of the reserve, while to the north the peaks of Mount Richmond Forest Park, including Mount Riley, poke through the forest.

A network of short walks weaves in and out of the podocarp forest behind the bollards.

Geology

The reserve covers the alluvial flats formed by the Onamalutu River. Material washed down from the upper watersheds of the Richmond Range periodically deposit fertile silt and mud, aiding the growth of the vegetation.

Flora

The podocarp forest is the only remnant of the valley floor forests which once covered the Wairau Plains. Kahikatea, matai and totara are the main representatives and tower over you nearly 50 metres. Beneath these emergent trees are black beech, wineberry, putaputaweta and broadleaf. Shrubs are mostly coprosmas with some tutu, mingimingi and horopito.

Details

Feature

Value

Info

Organisation

DOC Marlborough

Central government organisation

Location

South Island ▷ Marlborough ▷ Wairau Valley

Categories

Walking
Free

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-41.4590189652173

173.705871009827

Latitude
-41.4590189652173
Longitude
173.705871009827

Feature	Value	Info
Track Length	From 500m to 1km Track Length What is the physical length of this track? From 500m to 1km	Track Length What is the physical length of this track? From 500m to 1km
Track Duration	10 to 30mins Track Duration How long does it take to walk this track on average? 10 to 30mins	Track Duration How long does it take to walk this track on average? 10 to 30mins
Track Difficulty	Easiest walk Track Difficulty Considering the track's terrain, safety, facilities - how hard is this walk to complete? Easiest walk	Track Difficulty Considering the track's terrain, safety, facilities - how hard is this walk to complete? Easiest walk
Payment Requirement	Free access/participation Payment Requirement Is there a cost for this experience or is it free? Free access/participation The experience costs no money to access or take part in.	Payment Requirement Is there a cost for this experience or is it free? Free access/participation The experience costs no money to access or take part in.
Large Vehicle Access	Large vehicle accessible Large Vehicle Access Can large vehicles such as motorhomes, housebuses and caravans gain access? Large vehicle accessible The site is accessible with large vehicles such as motorhomes and 5th wheelers.	Large Vehicle Access Can large vehicles such as motorhomes, housebuses and caravans gain access? Large vehicle accessible The site is accessible with large vehicles such as motorhomes and 5th wheelers.
Track Accommodation	Campsite Track Accommodation What type of accommodation is available on this walking track? Campsite At least one campsite is available on this track to stay at overnight.	Track Accommodation What type of accommodation is available on this walking track? Campsite At least one campsite is available on this track to stay at overnight.
Disabled Access	No disabled access Disabled Access Does this location provide disabled access? No disabled access This location does not provide access for wheelchairs.	Disabled Access Does this location provide disabled access? No disabled access This location does not provide access for wheelchairs.
Crowd Factor	Lesser Known Crowd Factor How crowded is this place usually? Lesser Known Usually has less people visiting but busier over summer holidays	Crowd Factor How crowded is this place usually? Lesser Known Usually has less people visiting but busier over summer holidays
Track Managing Organisation	DOC Managed Track Managing Organisation What type of organisation operates this walking track? DOC Managed This track is managed by the Department of Conservation. DOC is a New Zealand government organisation.	Track Managing Organisation What type of organisation operates this walking track? DOC Managed This track is managed by the Department of Conservation. DOC is a New Zealand government organisation.