The Grove Scenic Reserve Walk is a short walk through limestone blocks into a quite eerie cavern shaped by water.

This loop trail will take you 20mins on a good walking track and makes its way to a viewing platform. Nīkau palms are also a feature of the reserve. There is a picnic area to the left of the car park.

Quick Facts about this walk

  • Location: Takaka, Nelson/Tasman region, South Island
  • Distance: 650m
  • Time needed: 20 minutes
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Wheelchair Access: No
  • Route: Loop track
  • Elevation: 300m
  • Wet Feet: No
  • Toilets: No
  • Dogs: No
  • Mobile Coverage: No
  • Last Updated: June 2021

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Summary points about this walk

Walk Highlights

NZ Rata and Pohutukawa trees growing on top of large slabs of limestone rock. The Grove Scenic Reserve is a program to save the NZ Rata and Pohutukawa trees.

Track Quality

Average, some mud after light rain.

Hazards

Slipping over in the mud.

Transport

You'll need to drive yourself there.

Water

No

Driving Instructions

Before you drive in to the town of Takaka, turn right on to Motupipi St. At 1.1 km turn right on to Abel Tasman Drive. Yes the same road that takes you out to Abel Tasman National Park. At 9.4 km you should be approaching Clifton township. Turn right on to Clifton Rd, drive 260m, turn to the right, and then hard left on to Rockland Rd. Now as you drive around the corner 50m away is the car park. Not a flash car park but it will do.

Shops & Restaurants Nearby

In Takaka

Area & Trail History

Usually, northern rātā begins its life in accumulated forest debris high in the branches of a tree. At the Grove, however, sufficient plant material is available on the limestone blocks for rātā to take a hold there. As the rātā trees get bigger, they send roots down to the ground, enveloping their rocky hosts like a giant hand.

Map Location

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Points of interest along the walk​

The Grove Canyon Walk - Start
The Grove Canyon Walk - Start
The Grove Canyon Walk - Start

Point 1: The Grove Scenic Reserve Walk – Start

The car park can be a little muddy after a light rainfall. There is a picnic area to the left of the car park, the day we were there the area was a mess. The walk into the cavern was quite eerie, as you walk around a corner, you expect to bump into a sabre tooth tiger. Surely this area must date back a few thousand years.

The Grove Canyon Walk - 2
The Grove Canyon Walk - 2
The Grove Canyon Walk - 2

Point 2: The Grove Scenic Reserve Walk

It had just stopped raining when we arrive at the grove. When we walked into the cavern, the rocks were still running with water. Water was running through the green silky moss that coved the cavern walls. Is it alive? The clouds blocked out most of the sun turning mid-day into evening, it was very eerie. When you walk out onto the lookout, it was like another world. If you look true north Farewell Spit is only 34 km away.

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