Waiau Uwha River

Access into the Waiau Valley is possible from the St James Walkway, but is faster and easier from Lake Tennyson on the Hanmer to St Arnaud hydro road, via Maling Pass. If you are travelling from Nelson you need a key to the locked gate in the Wairau (http://climbnz.org.nz/nz/si/nelson-lakes/st-arnaud-range/wairau-valley-hrdro-road). From Lake Tennyson walk over Maling Pass (1308m) and down to the Waiau River – about 2 hours. Alternatively, it takes about an hour by mountainbkie, from the Maling car park on Tophouse Road just south of Lake Tennyson.