Know Before You Go

Road transfers to and from the Nydia track

We provide our own road transport for pick-ups/drop-offs for walking the Nydia Track. Depart Havelock at 9:30am from the Havelock Marina. Meet outside our ‘On The Track Lodge’ sign on the Mail Boat shed (next to the Slip Inn Café). Our driver will drive you by road to Kaiuma Bay where you start the 4hr 30min walk to On the Track Lodge in the beautiful Nydia Bay. Relax in the Hot Tub and enjoy a peaceful rest at the Lodge (for one or more nights). Start walking at 10am to arrive in Duncan Bay / Tennyson Inlet (5h walk). Be collected by our driver at 3:30pm to return to Havelock by road for 5pm. Please note; as our transport is done by road (not water taxi) we cannot deliver your luggage to the Lodge and you need to carry what you bring.

Conditions: The cost of our road transport is $100 per person and a minimum of 2 people are required for the transport. Please contact us if you are alone as we might have another booking already.

Travelling in a group?  Contact us to discuss discounted rates.

Self drive to the Nydia Track

Some people arrange their own transport to walk the track. You can either park your car at one end, walk in, stay the night and walk back the same way to your car – or – arrange for two cars to park at each end of the track, meet at On the Track Lodge, stay the night, exchange keys and walk the second half.

Directions from the Southern End (Kaiuma Bay) – From Havelock, follow State Highway 6 towards Nelson for 5 mins, and then turn right onto Te-Hoiere Road (unsealed). Then cross 2 single lane bridges. After the second bridge, turn right to Kaiuma Bay and drive for another 14km (approx. 30min Drive) to reach the start of the Nydia Track.

Directions – Northern End (Duncan Bay, Tennyson Inlet) – From Havelock follow SH6 towards Nelson and turn right onto Ronga Road, just north of Rai Valley Township. After 1 min drive, turn right again following the sign to Tennyson Inlet. It is 27 km from here to Tennyson Inlet over the Opouri hill. The car park is at the end of the road in Duncan Bay for the track (approx. 1hr drive, 56 km from Havelock to Duncan Bay).

Car Services Relocation from Duncan bay to Kaiuma Bay

If you have your own vehicle, you can arrange to drive into Kaiuma Bay 30 mins from Havelock where the Nydia Track starts/ends to meet the owners of Pelorus Water Taxi Road Shuttle at their home. They can drive you in your vehicle to Duncan Bay, Nydia Track start/end, 1hour 30 mins from Kaiuma. They then drive the your car back to Kaiuma, so its safe and secure waiting for you when you finish the track. This means there are no time restraints and you can make your way back to Kaiuma Bay at your leisure.

Pelorus Water Taxis
https://www.pelorussoundwatertaxis.co.nz/nydia-track-transport-for-bikers-and-walkers

MailBoat

Mail Boat departs the Havelock Marina at 10 am on Wednesdays (bookings are essential). The Mail Boat arrives into Nydia Bay at 11am, it is a 15 minute walk on the Nydia Track from the jetty to the lodge. To depart Nydia Bay by Mail Boat you can jump on at 11am on Wednesdays and spend the day delivering Mail arriving back in Havelock late afternoon.

On the other days of the week, you can catch ‘The Spirit’, a small boat run by the same company which ferries guests from Havelock to various lodges including On the Track Lodge.  The boat departs Havelock at 8.30 am and reaches On the Track Lodge around 10 am, on the return trip it comes back to Havelock around noon.  Cost is $50 per adult ($30 for children 5-15 years).

Contact the Mail Boat
www.themailboat.co.nz
E-mail: bookings@themailboat.co.nz
or phone 03 5741088.

Water Taxis

Book a water taxi to come and stay with us. Five companies offer this transport service. Prices vary and it pays to contact more than one company to see if they have other bookings heading in the same direction at the same time.

Pelorus Sound Water Taxi
Can transfer up to 20 people. Price on application
www.pelorussoundwatertaxis.co.nz
Phone: 0508 428 35625
Email: info@pelorussoundwatertaxis.co.nz

Havelock & Sounds Water Taxis
Can take up to 10 people, cost is $280- each way ie $560 for a return trip Havelock to Nydia Bay
www.havelockwatertaxis.co.nz
Phone: 021 221 0808
Email: skipper@havelockwatertaxis.co.nz

Te Rawa Water Taxis
Can take 6 passengers to or from Havelock to Duncan Bay for $380. On Mondays, Wednesdays Fridays (and Sundays from Dec 27) when the Mailboat stops at Te Rawa Lodge. Te Rawa 1 can provide a water taxi connection from Te Rawa to Duncan Bay or from Duncan Bay to Te Rawa for $180. This works out as a cheaper option for groups of 4 or fewer, when compared to chartering a water taxi to take them the whole distance. For a chartered trip from Havelock to On the Track Lodge (or from your Lodge to Havelock) the price would be $250. The Te Rawa 1 services are available from late October until Easter and must be booked at least 3 days in advance. Availability is limited during peak holiday periods and early bookings are recommended during these periods.

Te Hoirere Water Taxis
Can take 11 people pick up and drop offs anywhere guests wish to go. Prices are all on where guests would like to go. To pick up and drop off from Havelock to Nydia Bay Lodge would be $350 whether its 2 people or 11 people.  To be picked up at other end of track in Duncan Bay and taken back to Havelock would be $450 same if there are 2 or 11 people.
Phone: Jesse Fenton on 035765691.

Own boat/mooring

We have moorings for you to use, but please contact us so that we can discuss the details of your boat and where/when we can meet you to show you the mooring.

Kayaking

Keen kayakers can spend a day crossing the waters from Ohingaroa Bay, Mahau Sound to Nydia Bay. You need a good quality sea kayak and a reasonable level of skill. Kayaks can be hired from Sea Kayak Adventures and delivered to your starting point. https://nzseakayaking.com/

Sturdy footwear, rain jacket, sun-hat; water-bottle, personal items (e.g. toiletries, extra clothing), bathing costume.

We provide all bedding, towels, soap, complimentary hot drinks. We can provide evening meals, breakfast and packed lunches. You are welcome to bring your own food and beverages, if you are happy to carry these in.

If you are arriving by boat, please note that there is a 15 minute walk to the lodge from the jetty and you will need to carry your own bag/luggage.

When booking through the calendar you will be asked to pay by credit card or by internet banking. You can pay for consumable after your stay. We accept cash, eftpos and credit cards. Please note there is a 3% charge on all credit cards. Guests can also ring or email to discuss their bookings.

Phone: +64 3 579 8411
Email: stay@onthetracklodge.nz

Check in/Check out times are 3 pm and 10 am

If you arrive before the official check in time of 3 pm – we will make you feel welcome with coffee and cake and you can while away the time sunbathing, reading, walking, swimming or playing board games before your room is allocated.

If you are arriving by boat, please note that there is a 15 minute walk to the lodge from the jetty and you will need to carry your own bag/luggage. Please note our lodge and the path to the lodge is not set up for people with mobility issues. Please ring us to discuss if you have any questions. +64 3 579 8411

There is plenty of safe car parking at the Havelock Marina. They charge $7 per day. If staying in accommodation in Havelock, you can ask your accommodation provider if you can leave your car or extra luggage with them.  Alternatively there is safe street parking at Kaiuma and Duncan Bay.

Yes, it is possible to bring the family dog on holiday with you.

Well-behaved dogs are welcome at the lodge and on the track. We do not allow dogs inside the lodge but can arrange comfortable canine accommodation in a nearby building (please contact us to discuss).

You will need a Department of Conservation license to walk your leashed dog on the Track itself.

Contact the Nelson DoC office – Whakatū / Nelson Office
Phone: 03 546 3298
Email: nelson@doc.govt.nz

The Nydia Track is a Grade 4 track best suited for experienced bikers as it technically challening. In wet weather it can be very slippery.

If your group needs transport to the track we suggest you contact either BlueMoon Backpackers or Pelorus Water Taxis. Both offer the option to start at Opouri Saddle and ride the Opouri Bridle Track for an extra bit of technical downhill riding or head straight into Duncan Bay and start from there.

For more details check out this article from New Zealand Mountain Biker published in 2020 (the Nydia Track content starts a few paragraphs in).

https://www.nzmountainbiker.com/post/story-destination-marlborough-pt-2-presented-by-pirelli

Pelorus Water Taxis
https://www.pelorussoundwatertaxis.co.nz/nydia-track-transport-for-bikers-and-walkers

BlueMoon Backpackers
https://www.bluemoonhavelock.co.nz/

Electric mountain bike hire possible from https://nzseakayaking.com/