Jordan Miller has spent countless hours exploring the tracks around the Top of the South. He speaks with Nelson Magazine about some of his top picks and what led him to create one of the most comprehensive websites on walking and mountain-bike tracks in the area, Nelson Trails.
Growing up in the region as part of an active family Jordan was introduced to tramping at a very young age. This sparked a lifetime of love and appreciation for the outdoors and ultimately led him to create a goldmine of information about the tracks in the region.
“As a family, we went on lots of weekend walks and were taught to appreciate and respect the bush. I spent a lot of my time mountain-biking and tramping with mates, and discovering new places. For as long as I can remember, I have found physical geography and natural landscapes fascinating, so I guess it was a natural fit.”
Jordan's website has been a labour of love since 2015. It has progressed to being a leading online source of information for tracks and trails in the Nelson Tasman region and provides the most detailed, accurate, and informative resource for all trails in the region.
“In my teens, I used to contribute track descriptions to other tramping websites. I used to imagine that one day there would be a website that provided detailed information and maps for every track you could think of, irrespective of whether you were walking, running, or biking. One day, I was searching online for information on a particular track and couldn’t find anything. So that’s when I decided to do it myself. It seemed like a productive way to combine my interests in the outdoors, writing and maps, while at the same time learn a new skill.”
“The Top of the South is the most geographically diverse part of the country. We’re well-known for our National Parks and our popular trails like the Abel Tasman Coast Track, Heaphy Track and Coppermine Trail, but the Nelson Tasman region also has thousands of km’s of other lesser-known walking, biking and tramping tracks, many of which are easily accessed from the city.”
The website now has close to 100,000 visitors each year and as the database thrived Jordan naturally felt a growing responsibility to ensure the information that he supplies is correct. “The likelihood of someone having a terrible time or hurting themselves due to me underemphasizing the length or difficulty of a track became greater. Use of subjective terms like ‘steep’ and ‘easy’ required more care!”
Jordans says his geospatial background helped immensely with creating the website but guidance from friends and family was also a big help. “I make maps for a living, so that side of things wasn’t a problem. Regarding learning the technical stuff, I had to start from scratch. I generally only add new tracks when I have my own photos for them; that’s been my main handbrake, as I’ve done many more walks, rides and tramps than what is currently on the website, but prior to making the website I never used to take photos. But this approach forces me to re-do tracks which means I can write about them more accurately. The hardest part is finding the time to do it. I’ve recently had the help of Martin Johnson, developer of the Nelson App, to make the website faster and more stable.”
Jordan lists Parapara Peak, in Kahurangi National Park, and Dun Mountain Circuit, in Mt Richmond Forest Park, as his favourite local day walks, rating both of them as physically challenging with amazing views. “Parapara Peak has an interesting variety of native bush and the best views of Golden Bay, in my opinion.” Dun Mountain’s “fascinating mineral belt landscape” and close proximity to central Nelson make it a perfect day walk for Jordan.
Fenella Hut in Kahurangi and the Heaphy Track are his top picks for multi-day tramps in the region. “Fenella Hut is an easy walk up the Cobb River valley with good views along the way and interesting geology. It is a good base for day walks to Lake Cobb and Kakapo Peak. The Heaphy Track is probably the most botanically diverse tramp in the country. It is the only place where you can hear, and sometimes see, kea, kaka, kiwi and takahe in one place. The coastal section from Heaphy Hut to Kohaihai is a brilliant way to finish a tramp.”
Taupo Point in Nelson’s stunning Abel Tasman National Park is a real gem on Jordan's short walk list. The historical significance and beautiful coastline, which is perfect for swimming, are the key factors in his top choices for those looking to get into beginner walks.
On the Nelson Trails website, short walks are defined as taking three hours or less to complete and are based on an average walking speed. Day walks are defined as taking more than three hours and multi-day trips are trips that span two days or more with overnight stays at DOC huts or campsites. For site-creator, Jordan, his list of top walks to check out this summer are:
Appletree Bay in the stunning Abel Tasman National Park. “A popular short walk, but for a reason,” says Jordan, “beautiful bush, trees and swimming spots to enjoy! A smooth, easy track with lots of places to stop, and the option to continue to Anchorage and catch the water taxi back.”
The Grampians in Nelson’s backyard is high on the list of short walks with a variety of possible loops to explore. “All tracks have a degree of uphill but it's not too difficult if you take your time. There are amazing views of the city and it is located right next to the city centre.”
At Wainui Falls, 20km northeast of Takaka, you will find one of the largest and most accessible waterfalls in Golden Bay. “It is an easy, smooth track with plenty of swimming spots.”
For family walks, he suggests the Maitai Cave and Brook- Waimarama Sanctuary in Nelson are both well-worth looking at.
“Maitai Cave in the upper Maitai Valley is close to the city and as well the cave, has impressive ferns and beech-podocarp forest. It is a good introduction to a rougher grade of track. Brook-Waimarama Sanctuary has native birds, pristine native bush, loops of varying length and difficulty to choose from, is educational and worth the cost of the admission.”
Pupu Hydro Walkway in Golden Bay is only a short drive from Takaka and is a short walk through beautiful native bush retracing an old gold mining water race. “The historic hydro scheme is an impressive and interesting piece of engineering and the water race is a real novelty. It is enough of a climb to provide a challenge but not too strenuous.”
Overnight tramps are a huge hit over the summer months and Jordan's recommendations cover all three of the region’s surrounding national parks. “Wharawharangi Hut from Totaranui via Gibbs Hill and Separation Point, in Abel Tasman National Park is a beautiful walk with beaches, seals and seabirds and the historic Wharawharangi Hut.” This is the northernmost hut on the Abel Tasman Track, built around 1896 the historic hut was restored in 1980.
Located in Kahurangi National Park, Jordan says the Dry Rock Shelter walk via Flora Track and Gordon’s Pyramid showcases an amazing karst landscape of Horseshoe Basin and Tableland. “You can experience sleeping beneath a rock overhang at Dry Rock Shelter and if you’re lucky you will see Whio/Blue Duck on Flora Stream or one of its tributaries.”
Finally, Angelus Hut via Cascade Track and Robert Ridge located in the stunning Nelson Lakes National Park are a popular destination ‘in a spectacular and craggy alpine environment.’ “Cascade Track is a good challenge for trampers with a bit of experience, and you can climb Angelus Peak if conditions allow. Alternatively, you can take the Speargrass route if the conditions are unsafe for Robert Ridge.”
For more information on any of these tracks, and more, go to nelsontrails.co.nz and enjoy getting amongst nature’s playground in the beautiful Nelson Tasman region this summer.
