I still remember the first time I stood on the skyline behind Nelson, New Zealand and thought, “There has to be a better way for more people to experience this in a single day.” That’s where the idea for the Nelson Skycrest Route first sparked.
Nelson’s overlooked backyard
I’ve been shuttling people out on hiking adventures all over the region for a while now. Nelson is a brilliant base for both multiday and single-day tramping (hiking), and now, with the Nelson Skycrest Route, it’s easier than ever to reach incredible backcountry terrain without needing multiple days.
We’re surrounded by wild country here in New Zealand, and most visitors quite rightly head straight for the big-name national parks, managed by theDepartment of Conservation (DOC). They’re incredible places and well worth the hype.
But there’s another side to Nelson that often flies under the radar: the network of walking tracks and reserves managed by the local council. These local hills sit right behind the city, climbing to over 800 metres, and if you ride a mountain bike you probably already know them well. The same hills that make Nelson a gravity-riding mecca also hide some of the best day walking I’ve ever seen—and the route now links them together.
The secret: access roads = walking gold
What most people don’t realise is that the 4WD and access roads that take mountain bikers up to those dizzy heights also open up some unique options for walkers. A lot of the reserves the Nelson City Council manages are directly linked to the city’s water supply. That means minimal development—no subdivisions, no big structures—because anything that risks contaminating the water is off the table.
In real terms, for walkers, that’s magic. You get meandering trails through relatively untouched native forest, with dramatic views dropping away to the coast. It feels wild, but it’s right on the edge of town—exactly the type of terrain that shaped the route.
A mountain from the Earth’s core
There’s also something pretty special going on under your feet up here. If you look to the skyline behind Nelson, you’ll see a looming, almost barren mountain that stands out from the lush, green hills around it. That’s Dun Mountain.
Unlike the surrounding forested ranges, Dun Mountain is like a time machine to Earth’s molten core. Around 250 million years ago, hot mantle rock rose up along ancient ocean ridges and cooled into dense layers of dunite (named after the mountain itself!!), harzburgite, and pyroxenite. Plate movements eventually shoved all that rock up to where we see it today, and erosion stripped it bare.
The result is a strange, beautiful landscape of unusual rock colours and rare plants that can only survive in the mineral-rich soils here. Walking across it feels otherworldly—like you’ve stepped onto a different planet for a few hours. That geology is one of the many highlights you’ll encounter on the Nelson Skycrest Route.
The problem: amazing trails, awkward days
The tracks that weave through these reserves are outstanding, but there’s a catch. Because of the geography, it’s hard to link the “good bits” together in a single day—unless you’re in the ultra-fit category and happy to smash out big climbs and long distances.
Most people only ever see the fringes: a short loop here, an out-and-back there. They never quite reach the heart of the reserves where the geology gets weird, the views open right up, and the forest feels properly remote. That challenge is exactly what our transport for the Nelson Skycrest Route was designed to fix—making the best of Nelson’s back hills accessible in one satisfying day.
A chat with council and an old 4WD track
So I sat down with the local council, who were just as keen as I was to see more people exploring the harder-to-reach corners of their reserves. After a bit of back-and-forth, we secured access to a very old 4WD route: the Maungatapu Track.
That old track turned out to be the missing piece. By driving people up it, we could get them straight onto the main mountain range—the Bryant Range—behind Nelson. Using vehicle access knocks off around 3 hours of walking and about 600 metres of climbing. Suddenly, what used to be a mission became a realistic, enjoyable day hike—that’s the essence of the Nelson Skycrest Route.
Testing the route
From there, I rounded up a small crew of loyal customers and friends to help trial a walking route that ran from the Maungatapu Saddle through to the Third House Shelter, near the boundary of the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary (predator-free wildlife sanctuary). The route itself was absolutely doable in a day and ticked all the boxes: great views, diverse terrain, and that “in the hills all day” feeling.
The weak point was the pick-up. The access road on that side was rough, slow, and honestly, it just didn’t have the right feel for the end of such a spectacular walk. We needed a finish that matched the quality of the journey—and that became central to perfecting the route.
Enter Fringed Hill: the perfect finish line
The second half of the puzzle fell into place quickly. Fringed Hill sits right at the back of Nelson, with huge views across Tasman Bay. It’s high, open, and feels like a true lookout over the region. As soon as we looked at it properly, it was obvious: this was the place to end the day.
Starting from Nelson, we could meet everyone in Nelson city in the morning, load up any snacks, spare layers, or cold drinks they wanted to leave in the Land Cruiser, and then shuttle them around to the Maungatapu Saddle to begin the hike. At the end of the day, they’d walk back out to that same Fringed Hill high point, where the vehicle—and their treats—would be waiting.
There’s something pretty special about finishing a big day in the hills with the afternoon sun on your face, looking down at the rippling water of Tasman Bay from around 800 metres up, knowing town is just a short drive away. That final moment captures the spirit of the Nelson Skycrest Route perfectly.
The Nelson Skycrest Route is born
With the drop-off and pick-up points confirmed, the idea finally clicked into place. We’d created a route that strings together the very best day hiking close to Nelson: high ridgelines, unique geology, native forest, big coastal views, and a satisfying “through journey” feel from saddle to summit.
You start early, spend your day up high in the hills, then get picked up at a picnic spot in the sky. By the time you’re driven back down into town, there’s still enough of the evening left to grab a shower and head out into Nelson for dinner at a local restaurant. It’s the kind of day that feels full, but not rushed.
That’s how the Route was born—and it’s exactly why I’m so excited about it.
Just the beginning
This is only one of the amazing walking routes tucked away in the hills immediately behind Nelson. There are more lines to draw on the map, more old tracks to reimagine, and more ways to link up the reserves so regular fit walkers—not just ultra-athletes—can experience the best of them.
If you’re keen to walk the full Maungatapu Saddle to Fringed Hill section of the Nelson Skycrest Route, I’ve set up a dedicated hikers’ shuttle for specific dates. You can check out the next shuttle day and all the details at the link at the end of the blog.
Ready to walk above the city?
If you’ve ever looked up at the hills behind Nelson and wondered what’s up there beyond the usual tracks, the Nelson Skycrest Route is your chance to find out.
- Would this be your first time tramping (hiking) in Nelson’s local reserves?
- Are you more excited about the geology, the forest, or the views?
- Are you interested in booking this as custom transport for up to 9 people?
Have a look at the upcoming Maungatapu Saddle to Fringed Hill hikers’ shuttle (Transport for the Nelson Skycrest Route) and if you’ve got questions about fitness, gear, or what the day actually feels like, get in touch—I’m always happy to chat and help you decide if this is the right option for you.
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