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West Coast Walks

Take your time. breathe in the deep, earthy scents of a West Coast rainforest, listen to the calls of native birds, feast on the sights of nature in all its abundance, and get some exercise at the same time!

Experience all the beauty and history of the West Coast on the many guided or unguided walks and hiking trails.  A small selection of walks is listed below.  For more details and information about track conditions before embarking on your hike, please refer to the Department of Conservation (www.doc.govt.nz) or a local Visitor Information Centre.

KARAMEA

HEAPHY TRACK

Time 3 nights, 4 days
Grade moderate
Features Coastal forest, beaches, high-country plateau, overnight huts

OPARARA & MORIA GATE ARCH
Time Each 45 mins return from Oparara Basin car park.
Grade moderate
Features Gigantic limestone arches with river underneath, mossy creeks, beautiful northern forest terrain.

WANGAPEKA TRACK
Time 4 to 5 nights
Grade difficult
Features Beautiful steep bush walk. Follows river most of the way, renowned for its excellent trout fishing.
 
WESTPORT AREA

CHARMING CREEK WALKWAY
Time 3 to 5 hours
Grade easy
Features Waterfalls, spring, railway tunnels, gorges, mining, saw milling relics.

DENNISTON WALKWAY
Time 3 hours up, 2 hours down
Grade difficult
Features Remains of the old township, cable controlled railway and Denniston incline.

CAPE FOULWIND WALKWAY
Time 1.5 to 3 hours
Grade easy
Features Seal colony, coastal views.
 

REEFTON

BIG RIVER TRACK

Time 1 night, 2 days
Grade moderate
Features Beech forest & mining remnants within Victoria Forest Park to the historic Big River gold mining township.

BOTTLED LIGHTING POWERHOUSE WALK
Time 40 minutes
Grade easy
Features Site of hydro station for the first public supply of electricity in the southern hemisphere. River views.

REEFTON GOLDIELDS JOURNEY
Time 3 to 5 days
Grade moderate
Features Victoria Conservation Park with beech forest & mining settlements of the past. Including Waiuta, Big River & Murray Creek goldfields.
 
PUNAKAIKI

PANCAKE ROCKS & BLOWHOLES
Time 20 minutes
Grade easy
Features Pancake Rocks and Blowholes.

PORORARI RIVER TRACK
Time up to 2.5 hours
Grade easy
Features Pororari River, limestone cliffs, subtropical forest.
 

GREYMOUTH AREA

CROESUS TRACK

Time 1 night, 2 days
Grade moderate
Features Gold history, rainforest, alpine tussocks. Pub at each end! (Blackball/Barrytown)

POINT ELIZABETH WALK
Time 3.5 hours
Grade moderate
Features Walk with coastal views
 

GREY VALLEY

NELSON CREEK

Time 40 minutes
Grade easy
Features Swing bridge, old tailraces, dams and beech forest.
 

LAKE BRUNNER

VELENSKI WALK

Time 20 minutes
Grade easy
Features Views of Lake Brunner.

MT TE KINGA
Time 3 hours return lookout
Grade moderate
Features Podocarp forest, spectacular views overlooking Lake Brunner and surrounding environment.
 

HOKITIKA

HOKITIKA HERITAGE TRAIL

Time 2 hours and 15 minutes return
Grade easy
Features Town clock, police.

LAKE KANIERE WALKWAY
Time 8 hours return
Grade moderate
Features Picturesque bays, numerous forest streams and lush lakeside forest.

MAHINAPUA WALKWAY
Time 4 hours return
Grade easy
Features Native bush and wetlands. Access to lake beach front
 

ROSS

ROSS GOLDFIELDS WATER-RACE WALK

Time 45 minutes
Grade moderate
Features Rainforest, gold history, relics, old cemetery.
 

FRANZ JOSEF

DOUGLAS WALK - PETERS POOL

Time 50 minutes
Grade moderate
Features Glacial landforms formed between 1600AD and 1750AD by advances of the glacier, forest and Kettle Lake.

ALEX KNOB TRACK
Time 8 hours return
Grade moderate/difficult
Features Rimu forest, kettle lake, birdlife.
 

FOX GLACIER

LAKE MATHESON

Time 20 minutes to 1.5 hours round trip
Grade easy
Features Bush walk with reflections of Aoraki (Mount Cook) and Mount Tasman in the lake.

FOX GLACIER VALLEY WALK
Time 1 hour
Grade easy
Features Glacial valley formations and glacier views
 

LAKE MOERAKI

MUNRO BEACH

Time 1.5 hours return
Grade easy
Features Tree ferns, native fuschia (kotukutuku), shoreline and large boulders
 

HAAST AREA

SHIP CREEK TAUPARIKAKA WALKS

Time 20 minutes
Grade easy
Features Views of NZ's tallest tree, the Kahikatea.  Kahikatea Swamp Forest Walk.

HAPUKA ESTUARY WALK
Time 20 minutes round trip.
Grade easy
Features Kowhai trees, birdlife, views of Open Bay Islands Tumaka and Popotai

SMOOTHWATER BAY TRACK
Time 2 hours
Grade moderate
Features A varied landscape following an old pioneer's track.  Smoothwater Bay has amazing tranquility and is well worth the walk.
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