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Key facts
- Distance
- 4 - 5 km return via same track
- Walking time
- 1 hr 30 min - 2 hr 30 min
- Track grade
- Easy
- Location
- Mount Richmond Forest Park
- Dog access
- Dogs with a DOC permit only. Contact closest DOC office to get a permit. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Checked against official sources on 8 October 2026. Rules and conditions are set by Department of Conservation — confirm with them before you go.
Route overview
Forks/Riverside Walk is in Top Valley, a popular recreational area with swimming holes and picnic and camping areas.
This DOC directory entry covers Forks/Riverside Walk in Marlborough, within Mount Richmond Forest Park. Where DOC groups several walks, times and grades refer to the listed options rather than a single continuous itinerary.
Distance, time and grade
- Distance: 4 - 5 km return via same track
- Walking time: 1 hr 30 min - 2 hr 30 min
- DOC grade: Easy
Access and alerts
Source checked 2026-10-08. This page is a dated snapshot, not a live track-status report. Check current DOC route information immediately before travelling. An absence of listed alerts does not establish that a route is open.
Dog access
Dogs with a DOC permit only. Contact closest DOC office to get a permit. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Description
Riverside Walk
Time: 2 hr 30 min returnDistance: 5 km
This walk follows an old gold miners’ track. You will see old gold tailings and the historic battery site of the Wellington mine.
Forks Walk
Time: 1 hr 30 min returnDistance: 4 km
This track leads to Whiteheads Clearing, where there are stacked river stones from the mining era. From here, a marked route climbs to Old Man Hut (4 hours).
Getting there
The northbank of Wairau River provides access to Mt Richmond Forest Park.
To get to this part of the forest park, turn off State Highway 6, just north of the Wairau River Bridge, 16 km from Blenheim.
There is no scheduled public transport available.
Know before you go
Only light fires in hut fireplaces.
Rivers can rise quickly; do not cross when they are swollen.
Boil, filter, or treat water for drinking.
Always use the intentions books.
The access road from the Northbank Road may be closed due to fire danger or forestry operations. Check if the access roads to Mt Richmond Forest Park are open.
Stay safe when crossing rivers and streams
If you plan to cross unbridged rivers or side streams, know how to cross safely and be prepared for if you cannot cross.
Do not cross if the river or stream is flooded, you cannot find safe entry and exit points or are unsure it’s safe. Turn back or wait for the river to drop. If in doubt, stay out.
How to cross rivers safely
NIWA river flow forecasts: View a video of national followed by regional river flows
Sources and reuse
Route descriptions and practical information reproduced from the Department of Conservation, Crown copyright, under CC BY 4.0, subject to DOC's copyright policy. Formatting has been adapted, including flattening page sections; follow the original DOC page for maps, section-specific layout, current notices and linked documents. Outdoor Next is independent and is not endorsed by DOC.
The accompanying photograph is a licensed general hiking illustration, not a photograph of this route.
