Last Updated: 17th Apr 2024
Nina Valley SH7 to Swingbridge
Submitted by Rebecca Sunderland
Last Updated: 17th Apr 2024
Open
Grunt Factor: 9 ?
Gnarl Factor: 39 ?
6.5km
100m
100m
659m
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Last Updated: 17th Apr 2024
Submitted by Rebecca Sunderland
Last Updated: 17th Apr 2024
Open
Grunt Factor: 9 ?
Gnarl Factor: 39 ?
6.5km
100m
100m
659m
Front country - easily accessible
Out and Back
Undulating, small hills only
Native bush
Riverside
Easy Single Track
Moderate Single Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +4.7%
Average Downhill Gradient: -4.7%
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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
If you know of any public toilets near the trail start or on the route, please login and then let us know so we can update this section.
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
No
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
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
You and Nina Valley SH7 to Swingbridge
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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.
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.
August 30, 2020
Great little taster...so much to explore further up valley too. I must put the Devils Den loop on the directory!
April 15, 2020
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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