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DOC Land
Altitude: 12m to 181m. Gain: 318m. Loss: 354m . Gradient: 6 deg (Flat)
Skills:
From Tantragee Saddle, it is possible to walk to Botanical Hill reserve in central Nelson via a combination of walking paths along the Maitai River.
At the saddle, follow the wide gravel road and descend slightly, past several small water reservoirs. In early 2026, there were walker access signs posted in this area directing walkers to use a QR code to sign a health and safety form online for access, but the website linked to the code was no longer online.
Turn left and take the track that goes slightly uphill, following the small creek north of Pt. 172. This path puts out near the Maitai Camp, where there is a swimming hole and a bridge over the river. Continue on the TL of the river.
Walk north towards the public golf course. At one point, the track turns to the left and rises slightly to sidle the flank of a low hill — it looks like there is a shortcut path that goes straight ahead and will reunite with the track. Do not take this shortcut; the path soon deadends into overgrown scrub and long grass near the river. Too proud to turn back, I scrub-bashed in the right direction until I ended up with the golf course between me and the track. I had to hop the golf course fence and walk across a fairway to get back on the right course.
From the golf course, the wide, easy track continues along the TL of the Maitai River until it goes under a road bridge. After the bridge, walk alongside the road until the entrance to Botanical Hill reserve. (There is a public toilet here.) Follow signs to the Centre of New Zealand.
This route was how I chose to finish my Southern Alps traverse from Te Waewae Bay to Nelson in the summer of 2025-26.