more stats
1.8 miles
Distance
659 ft
Climb
-1,236 ft
Descent
00:16:42
Avg time
-577 ft
Altitude change
868 ft
Altitude min
1,445 ft
Altitude max
1,445 ft
Altitude start
868 ft
Altitude end
-6.058%
Grade
-56.94%
Grade max
49.237%
Grade min
3,180 ft
Distance climb
1 mile
Distance down
281 ft
Distance flat
00:16:42
Avg time

Great Expectations Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    The Rameka
    Takaka
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue Rate
  • Local Popularity
    55 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 80 in Trail Running
    • 5 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #60609 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #82031 in Trail Running
    • #125060 in Hiking
  • Hiking SAC Scale
    T2 Mountain Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    XC
  • Direction
    Downhill Primary
    Popular Direction Shown
  • Climb Difficulty
    Blue
  • Physical Rating
    Easy
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • Ride in Rain
    Yes
  • Land Owner
    Project Rameka

This great addition to the Rameka Experience has been built by the volunteers and helpers of Project Rameka in conjunction with the Golden Bay MTB Club. This is the start of a planned network of trails in the area.

Great Expectations takes you down to Rameka Creek 3.5km's from Pack Track.

Access Info

In short the Project Rameka is a "Carbon Sink" project to help get our world back into the shape it should be So... with that in mind. It may be worth noting that people living, or based in Golden Bay often park beside the big Totara at the bottom of the Rameka Gorge (4 km out of Takaka) and ride up the Rameka Creek Road and then down Great Expectations. Others do the same and ride up to Canaan Downs and back doing the entire Rameka Track both ways! Both are greener options than using shuttles to and from the top!

Trail Supporters
Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 11 rides
  • 12 miles avg distance
All
  • 58 rides
  • Last: Oct 13, 2006
c1c2c3c4
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Great Expectations Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Apr 16, 2025 @ 3:45pm
Apr 16, 2025
 Awesome!
Jan 3, 2024 @ 3:42am
Jan 3, 2024
Dec 15, 2023 @ 12:09am
Dec 15, 2023
 Riding well up and down.
Jul 19, 2021 @ 7:17pm
Jul 19, 2021
 Lots of debris after the storm. A couple of trees down - can climb and scramble around them.
Jan 12, 2021 @ 8:10pm
Jan 12, 2021
Trail has been Brush cut and cleared and pruned by Alpine shire mtb Crew
more »
Status:
on Apr 16, 2025
Ideal
Avg: 4.06 (8 votes)
Your vote: 0

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  • Snow Groomed
  • Snow Packed
  • Snow Covered
  • Snow Cover Partial
  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
  • Icy
  • Prevalent Mud
  • Wet
  • Variable
  • Ideal
  • Dry
  • Very Dry
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        Directions to great-expectations trailhead (-40.910470, 172.848610)

        Photos

        2 more »
        144 |
        Jan 12, 2021 @ 9:41pm
        Jan 12, 2021
        131 |
        Jan 12, 2021 @ 9:41pm
        Jan 12, 2021

        Videos

        2 more »
        Great Expectations - The Rameka, Canaans Down,...
        10:53 | 234 | Feb 16, 2023 , Takaka
        Milk and Honey - The Rameka, Canaan Downs,...
        2:48 | 171 | Feb 16, 2023 , Takaka

        Routes with this trail

        22
        Rameka track
        14 miles • 1,667 ft • 4 • Point to Point •
        This is a well known and classic MTB track Featuring some stunning scenery and and native bush. Linking...
        34
        Big Rameka ride
        15 miles • 1,399 ft • 8 •
        Rameka tracks with additional tracks

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        Nearby Trails

        The Rameka

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        Frequently Asked Questions About Great Expectations

        ▼ Where is Great Expectations located?
        Great Expectations is located in The Rameka, Takaka, New Zealand. It is part of the The Rameka trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates -40.91047, 172.84861.
        ▼ How hard is Great Expectations?
        Great Expectations is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Easy. The average grade is 6.058%. The climb difficulty is rated Blue.
        ▼ What is the elevation gain for Great Expectations?
        Great Expectations has 659 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 1,236 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 868 ft to 1,445 ft.
        ▼ Is Great Expectations a point to point trail?
        Great Expectations is not a point to point trail. The direction is Downhill Primary. The trail type is singletrack.

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