Each week, we highlight our fave tramping trails in New Zealand for day and multi day hikes across Nelson Tasman (and beyond!)
Diamond Lakes Loop, Cobb Valley
Starting from Sylvester Hut track carpark, Cobb Dam Road, Tasman 7073.
A 4WD is recommended to reach this car park, especially in ice and snow.
Once you set off, you follow the marked track until the end then follow a well worn trail to Iron Lake with some cairns to follow, continue following cairns heading towards the ridgeline near Iron Mountain.
The views are epic as you head up there, through an incredible rock garden. From this point you can look down into the Cobb Valley towards Fenella hut and to the lakes. From here you need to navigate yourself. You follow the ridge line until you get to the spur on your map to begin dropping down into the back left of Diamond Lake.
Its open grassland, and bush, with some small screes so visibility is great, so easy nav beware of the giant spear grasses everywhere, grasses are slippery so you will take a fall or 2 and getting bluffed out. It’s slow going. Once at Lake edge navigate left around the lake bush bashing a little until you reach the beach and camping spot.
You can walk out the next day via a privately marked track to Lake Lockett then out towards the Quarry and back to the carpark.
Expect 6 -8 hours to Diamond Lake and then 3-4 hours return via the quarry.
Thanks @nicolekwalker06 and Gregg for these photos and info on your trip! ❤️🙌😌