Walk Details

NZ Walking Routes > Nelson > Mapua > Ruby Bay Multi Choice Walkway

Ruby Bay Multi Choice Walkway

Location

Park just inside the entrance to McKee Memorial Reserve at Ruby Bay.

Description

This is a walk of many variations, taking you through bush clad gullies, a hilltop lookout, grottos that sparkle by night and the beachcomber’s ultimate shoreline wander. The tracks are unsuitable for prams and care should be taken after rain when some parts of the tracks may be damp and slippery.

Park just inside the entrance to McKee Memorial Reserve. It’s a pleasant natural setting with a playground for the kids and plenty of space for a picnic or a swim. The reserve is popular with campers during the summer and has shower and toilet facilities.

Cross the road in front of McKee Reserve, and follow the track through the bush. There are plenty of signs to tell you about various tree species and to let you know where you are. Various groups, especially the Mapua Walkways Group, have helped to clear the area of old man’s beard and banana passionfruit and have created much of the lower walkway making it easy to negotiate. The work has ensured continued enjoyment of one of the district’s few remaining coastal bush remnants which is easily accessible to the public.

There are several track choices here, depending on what sort of walk you’re looking for. You could continue up the gully and take a side path to the Steps Lookout, giving panoramic views right across Tasman Bay and North Nelson to D’Urville Island, or you could take the lower walkway. This takes you to the shrouded grotto, which is equally exciting after dark when the glow worms turn on their lights.

Continue to explore the walkways or take the Luge Track and head up Brabant Drive, each of which gives elevated views out across the bay and shows you some of the interesting homes that grace this area. Alternatively heading back to the beach for a walk toward the cliffs or back toward the village is a pleasant option.

Whichever course you take, you’ll enjoy the contrasts, the smell of the bush and the sight of darting fantails tracking you on your journey.

Duration

1.0 hours

Level

Medium

Amenities

• Birds
• Carpark
• Historical
• Lookouts
• Picnics
• Plant Life
• Playground
• Swimming
• Toilets

Source

www.taslib.govt.nz

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