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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 : Kumara
EASY
Time: 10 min one way
Access: Turn off SH73, 1 km east of Kumara onto a metalled road running alongside a water race
Features: Walk passes through stone-fields of old goldmining tailings & manuka forest to huge glacier-deposited boulder, too big for the early miners to move or break.
LOCATION : Lake Kaniere
HARD MULTI-DAY
Time: 4-5 days
Access: Turn off the Kokatahi/Lake Kaniere circuit road at the sign post “Access to Toaroha Valley”, cross the bridge over the Kokatahi River and follow the road as far as your vehicle will allow. Farm gates should be left as they are found. Permission to cross the farmland must be obtained from the leaseholder, Terry Sheridan, telephone +64 3 755 7967. Alternatively access can be gained from the Whitcombe Valley Road (Hokitika Gorge Road) and the route walked in the reverse order to that described below.
Features: This is a classic West Coast trail. This route traverses rugged river valleys and crosses two alpine saddles. The alpine sections demand experience and good route finding skills in other than fine weather conditions. Throughout winter and into late spring the alpine areas will have a cover of snow.
See DoC for up to date track and weather information.
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: Ross
MODERATE / HARD
Time: 7 hours return. 18 km
Access: Start from the Ross Goldfields carpark, along the DOC track from the left hand corner which joins the Mount Greenland 4WD road.
Features: Rough unmaintained road to the top of Mount Greenland. Old miner’s pack track through tall rimu with cover of sub-alpine vegetation at top (905m). 360 degree views on a good day. This is a long tramp and good footwear is essential. NB: The road continues steeply downhill to the site of the old mining village at the back of Mt Greenland. This will add several hours to the journey and is therefore not recommended as a day walk.
LOCATION: Hokitika Town
EASY – Buggies/Strollers ok
Time: 30 min for quayside and central town features, longer if you want to see the whole thing.
Access: From i-Site and Museum, or any point along the walk.
Features: Goldrush and river-port town historic heritage sites, buildings and statues. Brochure and information panels bring history to life. Many sites included on the Town Centre Points of Interest Loop. Request a brochure showing the whole walk from the Visitor i-Site.
Hokitika History Walk with Ann.
Join me in a 1.5 hour guided walk of Hokitika Town. Here we’ll view the buildings the goldrush created. You’ll hear how Hokitika’s port was a main entry point into New Zealand and how life was from the 1860s onwards.
Contact me directly phone 0276589088
e: [email protected] or book via the Hokitika i site.
Tours are on demand. Minimum of 2 people.
Located on the State Highway 6 roadside at the northern town entrance. Parking available but can be walked to from town.
A 50 meter track leads to Glow-worm Dell – 5 minutes return. Buggies/Strollers ok. Free viewing of glow-worm colonies. Please note that Glow-worms can only be seen at night! Flashlight recommended.
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.