Canvastown: Gold History and the Wakamarina Track

Canvastown can be understood through its gold-mining history and the excursions in the surrounding area. The tent town established during the Wakamarina Gold Rush was called Canvastown; a mountain bike route also runs from Onamalutu Reserve to the town. The Wakamarina Track and the Doom Track are nearby, too. You can therefore consider local history, walks and a longer bike ride as different focuses for your stay.

Gold History in Canvastown and the Surrounding Area

In July 1864, about 2,800 gold prospectors were working in the area between Doom Creek and Canvastown. Gold prospecting therefore extended across the area between the two named places. A gold prospector’s hut is among the completed works in the township. Along with the recorded name of the tent town, it points to different aspects of the area’s past: Canvastown’s origins during the Gold Rush and the work carried out in the township.

The Doom Track is also connected to earlier mining. It follows an old water race that supplied water to the quartz-crushing plant at the Golden Bar Claim near Deep Creek. This offers a specific indication of how water was used to operate the plant. From the end of the route at Wakamarina or Butchers Flat, you can reach the Doom Track with a short walk; the return walk takes two hours. As conditions at stream crossings can change, check them before setting out.

Walking and Cycling on the Wakamarina Track

The Wakamarina Track is used by experienced and less experienced walkers, families and mountain bikers. It is also suitable for an easy weekend trip with an overnight stay at Devils Creek Hut. The overnight stay is part of the tour plan described; check hut and route arrangements before setting off. This distinguishes the weekend trip from the shorter outing to the Doom Track, without combining the two tracks into a single route.

For mountain bikers, the Wakamarina Track runs from Onamalutu Reserve to Canvastown. The route is 45 kilometres long and can be ridden in one to two days. Check both the stated distance and access conditions before riding. The Wakamarina Track is in Mount Richmond Forest Park in Marlborough and crosses the Richmond Range between Wairau Valley and Wakamarina Valley. This gives the route a different time commitment from the two-hour return walk to the Doom Track.

Landscape and Wildlife Along the Track

The canopy along the Wakamarina Track consists of tall red and silver beech, rimu and kamahi. Below, there are pepperwood shrubs and dense crown fern undergrowth. The description therefore covers several layers of vegetation: trees shape the canopy, while shrubs and ferns grow beneath it. This variety of plants is part of the route’s character and complements the historical signs of gold mining with a view of the landscape.

The wildlife is also diverse. Many long-tailed mohous (tomtits) and wekas are among the birds described along the Wakamarina Track. You may also see carnivorous native Powelliphanta land snails there. The snails are protected; a sighting is not guaranteed. So if you want to appreciate the wildlife, allow time for the track itself rather than expecting to encounter a particular species.

Compare Excursions by Time Required

For planning purposes, the activities mentioned span different timeframes: the walk to the Doom Track is listed as a two-hour return trip, the trip with an overnight stay at Devils Creek Hut is described as a weekend outing, and the 45-kilometre mountain bike route takes one to two days. These details make it easier to compare whether a short outing or a longer activity is a better fit for your stay. For the weekend trip, check hut and route arrangements; for the bike ride, check the distance and access conditions.

Discover more destinations: Havelock, Rai Valley, Kenepuru Head, St Omer, Grovetown, Raetihi, Te Rawa, Portage.

For the regional travel overview: Marlborough District.