Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023

Beginner

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Nina Valley SH7 to Swingbridge

Hanmer Springs, Canterbury

Submitted by Rebecca Sunderland

Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023

Beginner

Save Trail Save

I've done it Done

Open

Grunt Factor: 9 ?

Gnarl Factor: 39 ?

6.5km

100m

100m

659m

  

  

  

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Trail Map

Type of Run

Front country - easily accessible

Out and Back

Undulating, small hills only

Native bush

Riverside

Run Makeup

5%
95%

Easy Single Track

Moderate Single Track

Average Uphill Gradient: +4.7%

Average Downhill Gradient: -4.7%

Trailhead

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Estimated Times to Run

1:20

Slow

1:00

Moderate

0:40

Fast

A perfect little run to break the journey between Christchurch and Nelson. Cross the Lewis River via the swingbridge and follow the true right bank for a short section before climbing briefly onto a terrace. The track then heads northwest away from the river and sidles through beech forest above the Nina River. The track continues up the true left of the river to where the Nina swingbridge crosses it. There are plenty of signposts to point the way at junctions plus the usual orange DoC triangles on trees to mark the way. The track it is relatively flat but can be rough and muddy in places and has several stream crossings.

Swingbridge at start and turnaround point of run. Area also habitat for Kiwi, Kaka and Blue Duck

There is a car park in front of Palmer Lodge (private lodge owned by New Zealand Deerstalkers' Association). Leave vehicles at your own risk.

61 km

44 minutes

Unknown

No

Easy.

Just keep following the signs to Nina Hut and you can't go wrong!

Non-existent.

Windproof jacket, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone.

There is a river at the start and turn around point of this run so no need to carry any if you can go 20-30min without drinking!

Very muddy after rain

Lots of roots along most of the way so pick your steps with care. Also logs over muddy patches and rock crossings in small streams can be quite slippery.

Trail Legend

Raewyn Peters

Raewyn Peters

has completed Nina Valley SH7 to Swingbridge once in the last year.

Learn about Trail Legends.

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Trail Reviews

Beautiful beach forest with a mix of technical (roots, rocks) and easier, more open trail. As above, a great option to break up a long drive - just be sure to have some dry shoes handy for the rest of the trip, as you will get wet and muddy! Easy to extend your run by continuing on towards Nina hut, approx 4km further on.

Sarah Coxon

December 6, 2020

Beautiful forest, lots of gnarly tree roots and rocks along the track. Picked my way carefully and jogged the flatter open sections.

John OConnell

August 30, 2020

Great little taster...so much to explore further up valley too. I must put the Devils Den loop on the directory!

Tony Sharpe

April 15, 2020

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