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Tasman · Hiking

Lodestone summit: Walking Guide, Time & Access

A walker seen from behind carrying a grey and orange backpack, with hills in the background.

Illustrative photograph. General backpacking illustration; location unverified. This is not a photograph of the named route or evidence of its terrain, condition or difficulty.

Photo: Cody Black / Unsplash License / Details

Climb to the top of Lodestone (1462 m) and enjoy spectacular views of Tasman Bay and the Arthur Range.

Last checked 8 October 2026 · Department of Conservation

By Outdoor Next Editorial standards

On this page

Location & access

DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route. Check the official route directions before travel.

Official location information
Location source

DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route.

Reference point: -41.18144, 172.74176. WGS84 coordinates retained at the official service's returned precision; decimal resolution is not survey accuracy. Source positional accuracy is not specified.

DOC Maps walking and tramping reference point (WGS84), exact official-page GUID / Department of Conservation. Checked 2026-10-12.

Key facts

Distance
Not confirmed on the checked DOC page; see individual route sections
Walking time
4 - 5 hr return
Track grade
Advanced
Location
Kahurangi National Park / Mount Arthur area
Dog access
No dogs. 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

Climb to the top of Lodestone (1462 m) and enjoy spectacular views of Tasman Bay and the Arthur Range.

This DOC directory entry covers Lodestone summit in Tasman, within Kahurangi National Park / Mount Arthur area. Where DOC groups several walks, times and grades refer to the listed options rather than a single continuous itinerary.

Distance, time and grade

  • Distance: Not confirmed on the checked DOC page; see individual route sections
  • Walking time: 4 - 5 hr return
  • DOC grade: Advanced

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.

  • 4WD recommended to access Flora car park up Graham Valley Road; First published on 13 July 2025. Last reviewed on 29 September 2026.

  • Predator control in Cobb area of Kahurangi National Park; First published on 15 May 2026. Last reviewed on 1 July 2026.

Dog access

No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.

Description

A tramping track leads steeply up the ridge north of the car park. From Lodestone summit return to the car park direct or via Flora Hut.

Flora car park - Lodestone

Time: 2 hrDistance: 2 km

Flora car park to Lodestone - Flora Hut - Flora car park

Time: 4 - 5 hrDistance: 7.5 km

Getting there

Flora car park is 75 km from Nelson and 36 km from Motueka.

The Motueka Valley Highway links Nelson and Motueka. Turn off this road at Ngātīmoti and cross the Motueka River. Turn left onto Motueka River West Bank Road, then right into Graham Valley Road, which climbs steeply to the car park. The last 5.8 km is unsealed and turning a vehicle on the road can be difficult. 4WD is recommended at all times of the year.

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.

Sources & official links

  1. 1.Lodestone summit: official route information— Department of Conservation
  2. 2.DOC walking and tramping directory— Department of Conservation

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