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Hike the Pike 29 Track
Day 1 - Drive to Blackball
Drive to Blackball and arrive at your accommodation, we have the lovely ‘Blackball Connection’ here. A lovely 2 bedroom house built for the purpose of hosting hikers and bikers on the Pike 29 and Paparoa Tracks. Have a meal at either one of Blackball’s great eateries, the Blackball Inn or Hilton. Then settle in for the night, do some final packing for tomorrow begins the great adventure.
Day 2- Smoke-ho to Moonlight Tops Hut
Time: 6-8 Hours
Distance: 19.9km
Leave your car at the Smoke-ho carpark, we will pick it up shortly after. This will be stored inside back at the Blackball connection ready to bring round to Pike carpark on your walk out.
The track begins at its southern end at Smoke-ho Carpark near Blackball, about a 45-minute drive from Greymouth. Beginning on the existing Croesus Track, with remnants of the area’s goldmining history, the track ascends through beech and podocarp forest before crossing alpine scrub and tussock. You will be rewarded with expansive views of the Grey River/Māwheranui to the east and the Tasman Sea to the west. Moonlight Tops Hut provides spectacular views across the Punakaiki River headwaters to the Pike Stream escarpment and north to the Paparoa National Park.
Day 3 - Moonlight Tops Hut to Pike 29 Memorial Track Carpark.
Time: 6.45-8
Distance: 17km
Open tops give way to alpine forest stunted by the harsh environment. Along this section of the track, you meet the junction of the Pike Ridge with the main Paparoa Range. Here the Pike29 Memorial Track to the Pike River Mine site begins. This 12km of track was built by the Nelmac crew from Nelson, you can read more about the mission they endured here. From the turn-off the first 2km of the Pike 29 Memorial Track will take you east along Pike ridge gradually inclining through Goblin forest till you get to the highest point. Once you pass the highest point it is all downhill from
here, gradually descending through constant changing forest. Following the 8.5km of Downhill you will arrive at the Pike 29 Memorial Track carpark. Explore the interpretation centre (still in construction) and pay your respects and the mine portal.
Congratulations! You made it! Your car will be waiting in the carpark. Stay another night in Blackball, enjoy a well earned beer and feed at the Blackball pub you didn’t get to experience on your first night and put your feet up!
