Nelson City Council

This is a shorter, easy family walk with plenty of interest for children as well as good views of the Boulder Bank.

Time: 40 Minutes

Area: Atawhai

Note: There is a bus stop in front of the Clifton Terrace School, so if you live in the city it's an ideal excursion for the school holidays.

Start Location: From the bus stop you walk along Atawhai Drive to the starting point. If you drive, park in the loop of Atawhai Drive just past the big green sign pointing to Marybank Road.

Download the Marybank Walk map (151KB PDF)

Route directions

Walk up Marybank Road to the reserve which is signposted as a coastal forest remnant. Partway through the forest is a sloping stretch of lawn which used to be the orchard of the original Marybank homestead. There is a seat and playground and the opportunity to have a look over the fence at the model Dutch windmill, built by a neighbour whose father brought plans out from Holland. The path takes you uphill through nikau, kawa-kawa, ngaio, kahikatea and cabbage trees. Some recent planting around the reserve has been done by the local school children. Carry on up to the top of the reserve where you turn left to rejoin Marybank Road.

Walk on down the hill and turn right into Seaton Street, which follows the contour of the hill past some very attractive gardens.

Take a left turn downhill into Tresillian Ave, where there is a small reserve with a playing area and picnic table on your left. Turn left into Atawhai Dr and take the footpath along in front of the school, through to where it leads behind a strip of flax and ngaio, back to the Atawhai loop where you started.