Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Getting There & Away
Golden Bay Coachlines
( 03-525 8352;
www.goldenbaycoachlines.co.nz
)
Runs twice daily from Takaka
to Collingwood (25 minutes).
TOP OF CHAPTER
Kahurangi National Park
Kahurangi - 'blue skies' in one of several translations - is the second-largest of NZ's na-
tional parks, and also one of its most diverse. Its most eye-catching features are geologic-
al, ranging from windswept beaches and sea cliffs, to earthquake-shattered slopes and
moraine-dammed lakes, and the smooth, strange karst forms of the interior tableland.
Around 85% of the 4520-sq-km park is forested, with beech prevalent, along with rimu
and other podocarps. In all, more than 50% of all NZ's plant species can be found in the
park, including more than 80% of its alpine plant species. Among the park's 60 birds spe-
cies are great spotted kiwi, kea, kaka and whio (blue duck). There are creepy cave weta,
weird beetles and a huge, leggy spider, but there's also a majestic and ancient snail known
as Powelliphanta - something of a (slow) flag bearer for the park's animal kingdom. If
you like a field trip filled with plenty that's new and strange, Kahurangi National Park
will certainly satisfy.
The best-known walk in Kahurangi is the
Heaphy Track
. The more challenging
Wangapeka
and remote
Leslie-Karamea
are less frequented, but these form just part of a 650km network
of tracks. Excellent full-day and overnight walks can be had in the
Cobb Valley
and
Mt Ar-
thur/Tablelands
. See
www.doc.govt.nz
for detailed information on all Kahurangi tracks.
Heaphy Track
The Heaphy Track is one of the most popular tracks in the country. A Great Walk in every
sense, it traverses diverse terrain - dense native forest, the mystical Gouland Downs, se-
cluded river valleys, and beaches dusted in salt-spray and fringed by nikau palms.
Although quite long, the Heaphy is well cut and benched, making it easier than any oth-
er extended tramp found in Kahurangi National Park. That said, it may still be found ardu-
ous, particularly in unfavourable weather.
By walking from east to west, most of the climbing is done on the first day, and the
scenic beach walk is saved for the end, a fitting and invigorating grand finale.
