Posted by Where: Trig Track, Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve, Nelson
Distance & Time: 5km, 2-3 hours
Take: Camera, sunscreen, water,
Amenities on route: Bathrooms at the start of the walk, and a cafe + information boards at the campsite
Cost of the walk: Free, but fees to stay at campsite
The Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve is a stunning spot off the main road between Picton + Nelson. It’s a well provisioned campground, with lots of shade and flat spots for tents and campervans, hot showers, a gorgeous clear river for swimming, and numerous walks. Plus a cafe for those who urgently need their caffeine or ice cream fix each day!
The Trig Track is one of the longer walks in the reserve, a loop track that heads up to a viewpoint before making its way back down to the valley via waterfalls and river views.
The start of the track doesn’t ease in, it’s straight into switchback mode heading up – if you were cold at the start of the work you’ll soon work up a sweat! It’s an easy track to follow, with a well maintained path. The bush is beautiful, with lots of large beech trees to provide shade while walking.
It didn’t seem to take too long until we reached the trig, which was not in a great state and had some damage done to it! Hopefully it’s been fixed now, but the view from the trig is lovely, taking in the surrounding bush, forest and farmland.
Following the loop back down there is the option to do a couple of very short side trips to waterfalls, with the incredibly imaginative names of 1st Waterfall, and 2nd Waterfall. Actually! Someone was obviously running low on creativity the day they were named.
The first waterfall we came across (which is misleadingly named 2nd Waterfall as we walked the Trig Track clockwise) had a pond that you could have a quick swim in to cool off, but don’t want until the second waterfall to have your dip as it isn’t possible! The next waterfall doesn’t have any space for swimming, but don’t worry too much as the walk soon comes out to the river, where there are plenty of spots to stop and have a refreshing swim.
The signs at the start of the walk say this takes four hours, but I think you’d have to be walking incredibly slowly and taking lots of breaks to make this walk take that long. If you’re lucky, you may even be able to do the entire loop without coming across any other walkers, which is exactly what happened to us!
Thank you for coming and having a look around my site! If you like what you see, or you have found it informative, please consider buying me a coffee – thank you, and enjoy getting out for your next walk!
The photos were taken by Paul + I!
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