Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Maitai Cave Track
Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Grunt Factor: 16
Gnarl Factor: 49
11.0km
270m
270m
400m
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Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Grunt Factor: 16
Gnarl Factor: 49
11.0km
270m
270m
400m
Login as a VIP to see driving directions, distance and time.
Front country - easily accessible
Out and Back
Undulating, small hills only
Native bush
Riverside
Gravel Road
Easy Single Track
Technical Single Track
Untracked / Route only
Average Uphill Gradient: +7.9%
Average Downhill Gradient: -7.9%
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2:00
Slow
1:30
Moderate
1:00
Fast
Starting at the Maitai Dam, this trail takes you for 3kms or so along a really runnable, undulating trail - some on single track but a little bit on gravel road. Then you hit a river crossing. This would be impassable during or immediately after heavy rain!
The trail from here on in is very gnarly, lots of tree roots, narrow, greasy and at some points the stream may flow along it. The path climbs following the river through beautiful woodland. After a couple of kms (less than the signs indicated) we arrived at Maitai Cave. You can explore the cave but will need a torch and be reasonably confident underground. There is a steep climb down over greasy, muddy boulders - you can use the rope that is belayed around the rock that wedged across the entrance but I would not rely on it! You land in an ankle-deep stream at the bottom which emerges from a small opening directly ahead. It's possible to get in to where the stream emerges and crawl into a short passage that only goes a few metres. To the right, there is a climb over more boulders to quite a high aven.
Return to the car park via the same route.
Starts at a dam. Maitai Cave is apparently the only place in New Zealand where you can find the very rare ngataana snail.
You can use the first car park just after the Maungatapu Track turnoff, or the second car park a few hundred metres further, on the other side of the dam spillway (note that the gate is closed to the latter car park at 5 pm). Maitai Cave Track forks off Dun Mountain Trail, which is accessed via the pedestrian bridge between the two car parks.
13 km
26 minutes
Unknown
No
Moderate.
Once in the forest over the river, the trail is quite overgrown and so you need to keep an eye out for the markings.
Patchy.
Waterproof leggings, Long-sleeved thermal top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Gloves, Beanie/thermal headwear, Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Survival blanket, Cellphone, Map, Headtorch and spare batteries.
Plenty of access to river water but not drinking water
Extremely muddy after rain.
Some parts could be impassable.
River crossing
Roots
Erosion on some path areas along the river
East Street Eats
Nelson
https://m.facebook.com/Eaststeats/?__nodl&ref=external%3Awww.google.com&_rdr
Awesome Vegan food and very cool vibe
The Boat Shed Cafe
Nelson
https://www.boatshedcafe.co.nz/
Excellent cheese scones and great coffee
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
You and Maitai Cave Track
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Excellent wee track with some runnable sections on coppermine, stream crossings, technical rooty climb and interesting looking cave at the end. Didnt end up going down past the entrance of the cave as it was rainy, muddy and slippery... but will come back to explore when a bit less wet :)
January 9, 2021
These overlap with this trail to some degree. You may wish to combine them but please note that to qualify for FKTs on these runs you should record a separate activity for each.
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