Gibbs Hill Track from Tōtaranui

From the camp office, take the avenue past Ngarata Homestead and follow the Coast Track toward Anapai Bay. About 1.4 km in, just past a concrete bridge, turn left onto Gibbs Hill Track. Cross a ford, then climb for about 3 km, with steep sections. At the ridge intersection, turn right for the short, narrow spur to the summit. Return the same way; this is an out-and-back, not the longer Wainui circuit.

This is an advanced tramping track, with a ford and a sustained climb of roughly 400 m. The tread can be slippery when wet. Filtered water is available at Tōtaranui, but no drinking-water source is identified on the hill route, so refill before leaving. Dogs aren’t allowed. From May through September, the shared inland section is also open to mountain bikes; groups are limited to eight.

The summit is 405 m above sea level. On a clear day, look across Golden Bay toward Farewell Spit, then back toward Tōtaranui. The bush around the viewpoint makes a useful foreground for the bay and the forested ridges below.

The hill recalls William Gibbs, who acquired land between Tōtaranui and Wainui and held grazing rights toward Awaroa. The historical account records that he drove cattle across these hills to stock his farm. It’s a good reason to think of this ridge as working land as well as a viewpoint.

The approach passes the old homestead grounds and their avenue. Hannah Gibbs and Jimmy Perrot planted alternating plane and macrocarpa trees there in 1856, so the first stretch has a bit of history before the steep part begins.