Last updated October 2026
The Forks/Riverside Walk is a pair of easy walks in Top Valley, a popular recreation area in Mount Richmond Forest Park with swimming holes, picnic areas and camping areas. It is about 24 km from Nelson in a straight line, but you reach it from the Marlborough side, off State Highway 6 near the Wairau River Bridge.
The Department of Conservation (DOC) grades both walks as easy to intermediate, taking 1 hr 30 min to 2 hr 30 min return. Both follow traces of the area’s gold mining past. DOC notes that the access road from Northbank Road may be closed due to fire danger or forestry operations, so check DOC before you go.
Track Facts
Tracks can close at short notice for slips, storm damage or maintenance. Check DOC's current alerts for Forks/Riverside Walk on the day you walk.
Current alerts on DOCTrack facts and line: Crown Copyright, Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai 2026, CC BY 4.0. Elevation: LINZ (LiDAR), CC BY 4.0.
Practical Information
- Start
- Top Valley, reached from Northbank Road off State Highway 6, just north of the Wairau River Bridge
- Distance from the city
- About 24 km from Nelson (straight line); 16 km from Blenheim to the turn-off
- Walking time
- 1 hr 30 min – 2 hr 30 min return
- Track length
- 4–5 km return via the same track
- Grade
- Easy to intermediate walking track
- Dogs
- Dogs with a DOC permit only
- Track type
- Walking and tramping track
- Managed by
- Department of Conservation
- Status
- Open when checked on 18 October 2026. Check DOC before you go.
About Forks/Riverside Walk
DOC splits this into two separate walks, each a there-and-back from Top Valley. Together they make a good half day for anyone interested in the gold mining history of Mount Richmond Forest Park.
Riverside Walk
The Riverside Walk is the longer of the two, about 5 km and 2 hr 30 min return. It follows an old gold miners’ track, and along the way you pass old gold tailings and the historic battery site of the Wellington mine.
Forks Walk
The Forks Walk is about 4 km and 1 hr 30 min return. It leads to Whiteheads Clearing, where stacked river stones from the mining era still sit. From the clearing, a marked route climbs on to Old Man Hut, which DOC times at 4 hours, so the Forks Walk is also the start of a much bigger tramp.
Top Valley is a popular spot for swimming, picnicking and camping, so the walks suit families and anyone looking for an easy outing on the Marlborough side of the forest park.
Getting There
DOC says the northbank of the Wairau River provides access to this part of Mount Richmond Forest Park. Turn off State Highway 6 just north of the Wairau River Bridge, 16 km from Blenheim. There is no scheduled public transport.
The access road from Northbank Road may be closed due to fire danger or forestry operations, so check that the forest park access roads are open before you set out.
Track Conditions and Safety
Rivers can rise quickly, and DOC advises not to cross them when they are swollen. If in doubt, stay out. Boil, filter or treat any water before drinking, use the intentions books, and only light fires in hut fireplaces. Check DOC before you go and tell someone your plans.
Where to Learn More
Department of Conservation: Forks/Riverside Walk: track information, alerts and status. Track information: Crown Copyright: Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai 2026. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Department of Conservation: Mount Richmond Forest Park: access roads, huts and other tracks in the forest park.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long are the Forks and Riverside walks?
DOC gives 2 hr 30 min return (5 km) for the Riverside Walk and 1 hr 30 min return (4 km) for the Forks Walk.
How hard are they?
DOC grades both as easy to intermediate walking tracks.
Can I take my dog?
Only with a DOC permit. Contact the closest DOC office to get one.
How do I get to Top Valley?
Turn off State Highway 6 just north of the Wairau River Bridge, 16 km from Blenheim, and follow the northbank access into Mount Richmond Forest Park.
Is the access road always open?
No. DOC says the access road from Northbank Road may be closed due to fire danger or forestry operations, so check before you go.
What will I see?
Old gold tailings and the historic battery site of the Wellington mine on the Riverside Walk, and stacked river stones at Whiteheads Clearing on the Forks Walk.
Can I carry on to a hut?
Yes. From Whiteheads Clearing, a marked route climbs to Old Man Hut, which DOC times at 4 hours.
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