Kahurangi National Park

Kahurangi National Park is the second largest national park in New Zealand. It is Kahurangi's heart of wilderness, centred on the Tasman mountains, that symbolises the special character of this national park. Some 570km of incredible tramping tracks span 452,000ha from Golden Bay in the north, south to Murchison and Tapawera, and to the West Coast of the South Island.

Kahurangi is the home of the largest remaining population of Great Spotted Kiwi.  Within this north-west corner of the South Island lie some of our oldest rocks, most spectacular marble and karst land forms and the most intact remnants of the peneplain landscapes that featured in New Zealand around 60million years ago. Another designated Department of Conservation "Great Walk," the Heaphy Track traverses from Golden Bay to Karamea, over craggy ranges, alpine meadows, valleys of tropical native palms, and ruggedly beautiful coastline. A helicopter will give you a bird's eye view of this incredible landscape which includes sites filmed for the Lord of the Rings movies.

Heaphy Track

"Many people consider the Heaphy Track to be the greatest of New Zealand's nine Great Walks, combining alpine environments and a primeval, palm-fringed coastline."

The 82 kilometre track through Kahurangi National Park, connecting the Aorere Valley in Golden Bay with Karamea on the West Coast of the South Island, is a fantastic adventure for moderately fit people of all ages. It is usually covered in around five to six days.

Tramping

Scenically, every day on the Heaphy Track is wonderfully different.

You'll pass through ancient beech forests, expansive alpine tussock country, see giant rata trees, limestone caves and cliffs, cross broad rivers (all with sturdy bridges) and look out over rugged, densely forested mountains as far as the eye can see.