The Maungatapu Track runs from Nelson’s Maitai Valley through to the Pelorus Bridge in Pelorus Valley on SH6 and passes through through native bush and is the route for electrical power lines from Nelson to Marlborough which are buried in the ground. You may see the powerlines showing through the track in places. It is also famous for being the site of the Maungatapu Murders committed by the notorious Burgess Gang in 1866.
The Nelson end is gated to keep vehicles out but it’s easy enough to ride around the gate via banks into the adjacent paddock. At the summit of the track there may also be a chain link strung across the track. If so the chain is usually loose enough to lift and push bikes underneath it.
The ride up the Nelson side is bumpy with a couple of steep sections and small river crossings. Recently (May 2015) the road hasn’t been very well maintained and has quite a few large water ruts and loose rocks on the track. The Marlborough side isn’t as steep and the road is generally better with one small river crossing near where the murders were committed. Part way over there is also a short sidetrack leading to an abandoned house.
Maungatapu Track is officially closed to vehicles as 4wd’s were degrading the track and exposing the power cables and a 4wd accident resulting in a death a few years ago, however motorcycles are tolerated and you may still encounter mountain bikers on the track.
Contributed by: @roger-irwin
Track type: Dirt Track
Track composition: Bumpy, Loose, Steep
Slippery when wet? Yes
Suitable for bikes <650cc? Intermediate
Suitable for bikes >650cc? Experienced
River crossings? Yes
Dr Reprazent…yellow frame even….ooosh O.G waaat
Whats the deal with the gate and sign saying it closes at 5:30 on the Nelson side? I’ve been over a few times at night but usually just to the gate closer to the lake and then back home to Picton so didn’t even notice itRead more on AdventureRidingNZ.co.nz
Wasn’t locked when we went thru it early May. I closed it for this photo. I don’t think you’d get a bigger bike under or around it.
I’ve never seen that gate locked. Has anyone?
They wouldn’t spend all that money on it to not ‘use’ it though. Maybe they’ll lock it for part of winter, who knows.
I just hope the one at the bottom is open when I quietly fang through after 6 tonight XD
Sure you can ride past the 5PM gate. I remember thinking that it would be easy enough last time I went past it.Read more on AdventureRidingNZ.co.nz
I am surprised that they didn’t have sort of mechanism for holding it open, i.e. it could be closed by some oik like myself.
That would make sense.
I hope so but chances of getting moist are pretty high! Hope the Roller Derby and beers are worth it haha
It’s getting to be a fcukin long “temporary closure”…
Holey crap, have they replaced that steel wire with that thing?
Posted by Nelson City Council on 27 October 2009
Following the weekend tragedy along the Maungatapu Track, Council is temporarily closing the through road (Nelson-Pelorous) to all traffic to assess damage caused to the Read more on AdventureRidingNZ.co.nz
Yeah bottom gate is easy as to get around. Bit moist.
That looks like the top of the hill though?
Yes, There are 2 gates. That one at the top that is unlocked and another by the turn off below the caretakers house. This is closed at 5pm.
Top one was wedged wide open, fresh 4×4 tracks. Ended up coming back over just before 2. Other than being slippery on the wet rock she’s still an easy 3, and spooky as hell that time of night haha.Read more on AdventureRidingNZ.co.nz
I have just been to the top from the Pelorus side, after the floods the track is fairly rough, big ruts and rocks, I didn’t have time to go down to Nelson so unsure if that side is passable. I was hoping it might be a bike detour when the main road is closed 1st November for 7 weeks, just have to check out the Nelson side.
Did anyone do this track recently from Pelorus side all the way down to Nelson? I was wondering if it is passable at the moment?
I went through to the lake from the Pelorus side a week ago, its rough and rocky, hard work on a 650, no problem on a dirtbike.
Cheers for the heads up ljhfarm, looking to ride it in the next week or so,
Thanks a lot!
I went in from the Nelson side beginning of December. The first gate was open, the second one seems permanently closed, but it is very easy to go around. I went past the lake and up the track a good part, but then decided to turn around, as I’m on an 850 GS and it did not seem like a good idea to do it with that alone. I plan to give it a second try on Sunday (Dec 25th). In case anyone would be up to join (going in from Nelson side), let me know!
Has anyone been through here recently.. or since last rains..?
cheers
Dr Reprazent…yellow frame even….ooosh O.G waaat
Whats the deal with the gate and sign saying it closes at 5:30 on the Nelson side? I’ve been over a few times at night but usually just to the gate closer to the lake and then back home to Picton so didn’t even notice itRead more on AdventureRidingNZ.co.nz
Wasn’t locked when we went thru it early May. I closed it for this photo. I don’t think you’d get a bigger bike under or around it.
I’ve never seen that gate locked. Has anyone?
They wouldn’t spend all that money on it to not ‘use’ it though. Maybe they’ll lock it for part of winter, who knows.
I just hope the one at the bottom is open when I quietly fang through after 6 tonight XD
Sure you can ride past the 5PM gate. I remember thinking that it would be easy enough last time I went past it.Read more on AdventureRidingNZ.co.nz
I am surprised that they didn’t have sort of mechanism for holding it open, i.e. it could be closed by some oik like myself.
That would make sense.
I hope so but chances of getting moist are pretty high! Hope the Roller Derby and beers are worth it haha
It’s getting to be a fcukin long “temporary closure”…
Holey crap, have they replaced that steel wire with that thing?
Posted by Nelson City Council on 27 October 2009
Following the weekend tragedy along the Maungatapu Track, Council is temporarily closing the through road (Nelson-Pelorous) to all traffic to assess damage caused to the Read more on AdventureRidingNZ.co.nz
Yeah bottom gate is easy as to get around. Bit moist.
That looks like the top of the hill though?
Yes, There are 2 gates. That one at the top that is unlocked and another by the turn off below the caretakers house. This is closed at 5pm.
Top one was wedged wide open, fresh 4×4 tracks. Ended up coming back over just before 2. Other than being slippery on the wet rock she’s still an easy 3, and spooky as hell that time of night haha.Read more on AdventureRidingNZ.co.nz
Unfortunately they have graded most of the Maungatapu track. All the ruts and bumps have gone and been replaced with 4WD tracks and sections of very slippery mud. Hopefully all the mud will be washed away after the next dump of rain. Possible that they are getting ready to reopen it.
I went through on Sunday and didn’t really find it any more slippery that what it was so I’d say the rain has already done the trick. Worst section (wet) is still the rocks near the bottom of the Nelson side. They’ve filled in the crevices/washouts on the Pelorus side which is a good move (instead of the bare cable….).
A few small ruts where they didn’t pack the fill down, only 2 small sections and you can blat though the middle of em all good for now.
Starting to have a look at more of the side tracks. Some fun stuff to ride up there. Walker at summit getting a ride back from farmer after getting lost when I was heading back over at 7pm…
Can anybody give me an update on the Maungatapu Track please?
I went through last week, the ruts have been filled on the Pelorus side and it was dry and hard, Nelson side same as always but nice and dry so heaps of grip.
Hi, So its open on the Nelson Maitai side? No locked gates? Need permission? Thanks
Went through a few months ago .No probs on the crf450l but a little mission getting the tiger battletruck through the gate up near murders rock.Could get round the end of the gate but had o remove panniers etc.There is a sign at
Rai Valley end saying road closed.Only people we encountered were a couple of mountain bikers on the Nelson side of the saddle.Dont know if your meant to get official permission or not sorry
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/126930420/injured-man-winched-from-maungatapu-track-flown-to-nelson-hospital
Rode Through on the 11th.Track was good up until Murders rock then it was really horrible up to the gate.Pretty much fist sized shale all the way and it was raining and I was solo .After the gate it was a lovely ride out to Nelson. probably wouldn’t do it solo again with the track in current condition
Anyone been through in the last couple of months? How’s the track?
Maungatapu Track is now very rough, rutted & loose rocky particularly on Pelorus side. Top gate is closed but most bikes can squeeze past. Challenging for bigger bikes, quite rough enough for me on a KLX250.
No permission required for 2 wheelers.
I will be heading through here in the middle of November. I tried to find track information everywhere and the best I found was a YouTube video from August 2023 (recently). Track looks open and nice and rutty.
as of 25/10/2023 the Maungatapu track is closed to motorvehicles INCLUDING motorcycles due to track conditions, and is expected to be closed for several months.
WOW. This is a track that I often rode on a Honda XL185 way back in 1978 or 1979 when I was going to Polytech in Nelson. Might have to do it again some time on my BMW G650GS Sertao..
Did the Mangatapu today. Two of us average riders on T7’s. Pretty nuggety and a high risk of things to go wrong…so was really good. It is open to bikes. Good luck and enjoy.