Nicholls Track to Swampy Ridge

Dogs Unknown

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There's a picnic table, somewhat improbably, at about 450m altitude.

In wet weather the top section can be very wet, and the steeper MTB routes quite slippery but the main track is gravel all the way to the picnic table

Start at the small parking area by Nicholls Falls (a good place for glow-worms when dark). The MTB track ascends gently and is excellent underfoot. There are a number of tracks as the climb ascends though the native bush, but if in doubt go gently uphill. At a grassy fence line it is possible to follow the fence and cut off a long ascent through the zig zags, but this is considerably steeper. There is also an access track for the MTB track workers which is more direct but muddy in places. Keep working uphill until the 460m contour just beyond a surprising but welcome picnic table on a flat grassy area, where the track dives right into native bush again. This upper section has been turned into an excellent MTB track and again gently climbs to 500m before opening out into a rocky area of tussock and rock tors. Follow the obvious track and find the old fence line again. From there it is easy ground out to the main Flagstaff to Swampy Track. Turn right for Swampy, left for Flagstaff. There are plenty of options to return to the start.

The usual birds of the native bush (fantail, piwakawaka; kereru, silvereye), plus some eastern rosella in the lower areas. Glow worms in the lower creek (when it is dark!)