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WALKS
Walking, strolling, hiking, tramping, backpacking. Whatever you call it, there is something to suit your feet within a few minutes of Hokitika. Some say we offer the best range of hikes and rainforest walks in the country.
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LOCATION : Hokitika Beach
EASY
Time: Take as long as you like.
Access: Readily accessible from Beach St, via Weld Lane, Sunset Point Rd and several other access roads (see map).
Features: Wonderful wild beach, black sand and pebbles (including pounamu-jade), driftwood, mountain views, sunsets, sunrise, and starry nights. Walks, picnicking, fossicking for pebbles and driftwood, sandcastles, swimming (for the experienced only), surfing, and surfcasting. Keep your eyes open for the Little Blue Penguin but please respect their space!
LOCATION: Mahinapua
EASY Buggies/Strollers ok
Time: 2 hours (walk) one way. 6 km
Access: 8km south of Hokitika on SH6, or start 3km from Rimu on Rimu-Ross Rd
Features: Follows old logging tramway route through a cross section of West Coast bush history. It crosses a diverse range of landscapes including board walked wetlands, natural terrace rimu forest and regenerating native forest and pine, eucalypt and monterey cypress plantings. Detour to lakeside Picnic Point along fine rimu-forest ridge worthwhile (40 minute return trip detour to Picnic Point). Open to mountain biking as well.
LOCATION : Lake Kaniere
HARD DAY HIKE OR MULTI-DAY
Time: 1-2 days
Access: Access to Mount Brown is off the eastern Lake Kaniere gravel road near Slip Bay.
Features: Steep climb up to amazing views of the Alps, Lake Kaniere and the coast. Mount Brown Hut (4-bunk) was relocated by DOC from the Lower Arahura and that and the track are now maintained by a group of volunteers (Permolat). Hike up to the hut for lunch or stay overnight. Loop available via the Styx River.
See DoC for up to date track and weather information.
LOCATION: Ross
EASY / MODERATE
Time: 1 hour loop.
Access: Walk starts from Ross Visitor Centre.
Features: Follows Mt Greenland Rd up Jones Creek and loops back following water race. Replica miners hut, several dam sites and tunnels. Passes through old Ross cemetery with views overlooking Ross and the Tasman Sea. Goldmining area relics to be seen on walk and at visitor centre.
LOCATION : Hokitika Beach
EASY
Time: 5 minutes walk from town centre.
Access: By foot, along beach, beach track, or Quayside section of Heritage Walk. By road via Sunset Point Rd.
Features: Sunsets, sunrises & starry nights. Hokitika rivermouth & beach. Views of Aoraki Mount Cook & Tasman (Horo Kawau). Tambo ‘shipwreck’. Information panels. Walks, picnicing, beach fossicking, fishing, & whitebaiting.
LOCATION: Awatuna / Golsborough
EASY
Time: 20 minute loop
Access: Signposted on Stafford-Goldsborough roadside with carpark.
Features: Track enters and exits through old goldmining tailrace tunnels and meanders through old gold workings. Passes through regenerating rimu, kamahi and tree fern forest. A great place to see glowworms at night.
LOCATION : Lake Kaniere
HARD MULTI-DAY
Time: 3-4days one way to Whitcombe Pass
Access: Access from Hokitika is via the Kaniere/Kowhitirangi Road travelling toward the Hokitika Gorge some 30 km inland from Hokitika. After leaving the sealed road, cross two concrete bridges (Diedrich and Granite Creeks). A side road to the left some 100 metres past the second bridge leads to the Whitcombe road end. This side road is signposted “Access to Whitcombe Valley”. The road is prone to flooding part way along and is sometimes left impassable to vehicles. A gate part way in is sometimes locked. At this point there is good parking for vehicles. Beyond the gate the road is suitable for 4WD vehicles only.
Features: This is a classic Trans Alpine trail. The Whitcombe Pass Track takes you through the very rugged bush clad valleys of the lower Hokitika and Whitcombe Rivers to the Main Divide for stunning views. Image: Brian Dobble
See DoC for up to date track and weather information.
