The craft behind creating a new track

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December 2025

Samantha studied law but is now a journalist. She collates Walk Shorts and freelances for Wilderness and other publications.

By Samantha Mythen

A dual-use tramping and mountain bike track connecting Reefton township with the Globe Progress Mine site in Victoria Forest Park has been opened.

The 11km track winds steadily uphill through Ngāi Tahu forestry land, with sweeping views of Reefton and the Inangahua River, before continuing into native beech forest.

Six new tracks have been created and opened across the motu in the last year, four of them at Globe Hill. Visitor advice manager at the Department of Conservation Lynnell Greer said DOC rarely builds new tracks.

DOC partnered with OceanGold to build the Globe Hill tracks. This is compensation for the recreational opportunities that were previously inaccessible in the area due to mining.

About the author

Samantha Mythen

Walk Shorts writer Samantha Mythen is currently adventuring around the world, writing, hiking and cycling. She studied law but is now a journalist. She has worked for RNZ and freelanced for global publications, including Japan Today.