Mananui Tramline Track

Mananui Tramline Track (Māhinapua Walkway)

The Mananui Tramline Track (Māhinapua Walkway) is an easy 6 km (one-way) walking and biking track about 8 km south of Hokitika between the Woodstock Rimu Road to the east and the SH6 to the west. The track follows an old logging tramline and also forms part of the West Coast Wilderness Trail, a multi-day bike trail between Ross and Greymouth.

If you don’t fancy the full walk there is a shorter option from the Woodstock end to Picnic Point on Lake Māhinapua which is 4 km return.

Lake Māhinapua has an interesting history and is a sacred site for Māori. A significant battle happened here over two hundred years ago. During European times a tram line operated here from 1914 to 1957 when the lowland forest was logged and trees transported on carts to the Mananui Mill located at the western end of the walk.

Today starting from the Woodstock side you walk through native bush in the Māhinapua Scenic Reserve to an exotic forestry block then on to a boardwalk across the beautiful wetland. Apparently, the wetland track often floods so take care in wet weather. The tramline track was in great condition, well graded with just a slight incline, and the track to Picnic Point was more of a tramping track with stones and tree roots underfoot.

Timings

DOC classifies the Mananui Tramline Track (Maninapua Walkway) as an easy walking track. Check out the details on their website.

• DOC (walking) time: 2 – 2.5 hrs one way
• My (jogging/walking) time: 1 hr 55 mins return including the side trip to Picnic Point.

The Mananui Tramline Track

The air was cold when I parked up at the start of the walkway and a dusting of fresh snow covered the Southern Alps in the distance. I donned my hat and gloves. Surprisingly, I was the only car in the car park on such a great day. I read the information board and checked out the ‘log bogie’ – the cart logs were rested on and pulled by the locomotive to the sawmill in the old days. I started a slow jog up the track at 11.25 am.

This was the first run I’d done in months and it felt great on this beautiful, easy track. Initially, I didn’t hear anything except the distant roar of the waves on the coast beyond the lake, but as I got into the bush I heard birdsong.

Being a tramline track, most of it was long and straight. There were a few points of interest along the line and within a few minutes, I was at the first. A ‘borrow pit’ where the earth was taken to build up areas of the track and make an even gradient for the tramlines.

To Picnic Point

After about ten minutes and up a very gentle incline, I arrived at the turnoff for Picnic Point. I stopped to take off my gloves and jumper. The track to Picnic Point was more of a tramping track. Not difficult, but uneven with tree roots and rocks. After the rain we’d had, it was quite muddy.

As I stopped to make a note for the blog I heard a giant splat beside me. I looked up to see the fluffy underside of a hefty kererū (NZ wood pigeon) in the branches above me. Thank goodness I hadn’t been standing just to the left! Ten minutes later I reached the beach at Picnic Point. There was a very pleasant mossy flat area, a small beach and great views across Lake Māhinapua. It was nice to get into the warmth of the sun.

Note there wasn’t a toilet at the car park or Picnic Point, so if you’re bringing the family, you might want to make a toilet stop before you come.

The Plantation Mananui Tramline Track

By 11.55 am (thirty minutes into the run/walk) I was back at the Tramline Track. It continued with barely a bend and just a slight downhill. Bridges crossed small streams and water trickled merrily down the ditches to the sides of the track. Markers displayed the kilometre points for the Wilderness biking trail.

At midday, I arrived the plantation area. Over fifty species of exotic (non-native) trees were planted here as a forestry experiment in the 1920s and 30s. The information board told me that most of it was logged in the 1970s and 80s. Some eucalyptus remains. At some point, there were a series of bends in the track – worth a mention because there hadn’t really been any yet.

The Wetland Mananui Tramline Track

By 12.20 I reached the wetland. A long boardwalk stretched ahead of me. If you’re biking, the signage tells you to walk this part, and if you’re running I’d also recommend walking this part because it’s so beautiful. I crossed a couple of bridges and stopped to watch the aquatic plants slowly swaying in the current. The track led to the site of the old Mananui sawmill which has some old workings and a great information board.

A little further along was a lovely wooden bridge crossing Māhinapua Creek, and just across the other side was a car park. I crossed the bridge at 12.30 pm and checked the topo map. I didn’t think I’d be missing much if I didn’t run the last kilometre to the SH6 (which crosses private farmland).

Return

On my return journey, I walked the boardwalk and into the bush. Out of the sun, I got cold again and put my jumper and gloves back on. I ran again from kilometre 110km, was at the bends by 1 pm and back at the car by 1.20 pm.

During my outing, I only saw one other jogger and a couple of people biking. I imagine in summer it’s busier though. I will definitely be back to run it again. If you’re spending some time around Hokitika or if you’re passing through and feel like stretching your legs, it’s a lovely option.

Click the links below to check out some of my other walks on the west coast:

• Myra’s Track, Westport – day walk
• Buckland Peaks, Westport – overnight
• Inland Pack Track, Punakaiki – overnight 
• Camp Creek to Mt Alexander – overnight
• The Point Elizabeth Walkway, Greymouth – half-day walk
• Alex Knob Track, Franz Josef – day walk
• Roberts Point Track, Franz Josef – day walk
• Ōkārito Coastal Walk & Three Mile Pack Track – half-day walk