Kill Devil Track

Other rides: Barons Flat, Rainbow Valley, Kirwans Track, Blacks Point to Waitahu,
D'Urville Island, Queen Charlotte Track, Tuckers Trails, Chings Trail.



Download a copy of Kill Devil track map.

Kill Devil Track is accessed from Uruwhenua, west of Upper Takaka. From Nelson cross the Takaka Hill and just after crossing the Takaka River at Lindsays Bridge turn left on to Uruwhenua Rd. 2.8km along the road there is a small DoC sign with Kill Devil Track on the left pointing right to what looks a bit like a cow race. The track is an old graded pack track that zig-zags up Kill Devil Spur on to the Lockett Range. These photos were taken at Easter 2006 when Dennis, Liz and Alan rode in to and out from Riordans Hut in 6 hours.
The grade is easy and most of it can be ridden, but there are something like 57 switchbacks packed into the 800m climb to the ridge, some of which are quite tricky. The climb takes one and a half to two hours for reasonably fit riders.
Once on the ridge the track has some quite smooth sections interspersed with rockier sections and one or two places you have to carry a short distance.
The turn off to Riordans Hut is about one and a half hours along the ridge. The first hundred metres of the track to the hut has to be carried, but the rest of the way is rideable.
The hut is an old musterers' hut that was renovated, in keeping with its character, by DoC in 2003. There are 3 bunks, a fireplace and a camp oven, but not a lot of firewood nearby. The hut would be a good place to overnight at then day trip to Waingaro Forks and back.
The ride back along the ridge is technical in places but not difficult. Heaps of fun, and the switchbacks are challenging in places but rideable.