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Pupu Valley Tramp
| Location: Top end of the South Island |
| Nearest Town: Takaka |
| Nearest City: Nelson |
| Length of tramp: 2.8km |
| Time needed: 2 hours one way |
| Difficulty: Medium |
| Route: One Way |
| Elevation: 55m to 180m |
| Wet Feet: No |
| Toilets: Yes |
| Dogs: No |
| Mobile phone coverage: Yes |
| Date this tramp was last walked: 2007 |
| Track quality: Starts off with a bush track, dirt, stones and tree root. Then onto very flat walking on wooden board walks. |
| Hazards: Long steep drop off |
| Transport: No |
| Water: No |
| Accommodation: See the map below for great accommodation in Nelson |
| Driving Instructions: 30 mins 10.3km. The centre of Takaka drive to Collingwood on Highway (60). When you cross over the Takaka river at (3.6km) take the turn off to the left on to the PUpu Valley Road. At 2.2km you will arrive at a turn off to the left, this is to the Pupu Springs, a place you should visit latter, (we have it listed on our site). Go straight ahead, to the very end of the road and park your car. |
| Camping on track: No |
| Track highlights:
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| Area & Track History: To think from 1901 to 1902, men built the races with pick and shovel and boxes of explosive. Just to use the water to sluice the gold away from the rock and dirt. At 1400 Kilopascals it would have washed away more then gold. Gold mining stopped in 1910. In 1929 golden Bay Electric power board built a small Hydro electric station. |
Map of Pupu Valley Tramp :
This is a dynamic map. You can zoom in and out using the "+" and "-" buttons, drag the map to see surrounding areas and click on the flags to see each position on the map
Accommodation near Pupu Valley Tramp:
This is a dynamic map. You can zoom in and out using the "+" and "-" buttons, and drag the map to see surrounding areas
Detailed track description for
Pupu Valley Tramp:
Pupu Valley Tramp - Start
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There is a brand new shelter at the car park, just for you, in case of rains. The toilet is over to the right of the photo, tucked in the bushes. Walk through the shelter and follow the track. You will come to a turn off to the left.
Pupu Valley Tramp - Point 2
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This leads off to the power house. Go and have a look, this is a working power house with a viewing room; There is a push button by the door, push it to turn on the lights inside the building. If you know a little about power stations, you can look across at the switch board and read the gauges. Also look around the yard, there are interesting pieces of equipment lying around.
Pupu Valley Tramp - Point 3
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Double back on to the track and over the wooden bridge. You are now back on the main track again. From here the track works its way around to the left and then to climbs up the ridge. The track will be a little slippery if wet, it is made up of clay, tree roots and rocks and in some places the track is very washed out. But in all it is not too bad. When the track starts to level out, you will see what is left of the old race. You are now only a few minutes away from the start of the working race.
Pupu Valley Tramp - Point 4
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When you make your way around the shed, and up on to the walk way, you will say wow, but wait when I walk around the corner, you will be stunned. This cannot be real, who in earth would go to all this trouble to build this. The 10th wonder of the world! How about sailing down the wire cable, all the way to the power house. Look above you behind the shed, the bucket for transporting the rubbish back down to the power house is just sitting there.
Pupu Valley Tramp - Point 5
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This part of the walk will take your breath away. Take your time to enjoy the views of the valley and to marvel at the effort of those men who built this causeway. In this section, you need to hold on to your kids. It’s a long drop down in to the valley below.
Pupu Valley Tramp - Point 6
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Pupu Valley Tramp - Point 7
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The race starts from above the water fall. Again all built out of concrete. On the other side of the creek is a service shed and a 4X4 track that will take you back to the main car park, not a lot to see along this walk, double back along the cannel. The river here is quite wide, and open to the sun. Making it an ultimate spot to just sit down in the warmth of sun and listen to the calming sound of the water fall and enjoy your lunch. The walk back always seems quicker than the walk in, so take your time on the way back take pleasure in this marvel.
