Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(or start) of the Heaphy and Wangapeka Tracks, and the magical Oparara Basin. With a
friendly climate, and a take-it-easy mix of locals and chilled-out imports, the Karamea
area is a great place to jump off the well-trodden tourist trail for a few lazy days.
Sights & Activities
Hats off to the Karamea community who have established the very pleasant
Karamea Estuary
Walkway
, a long-as-you-like stroll bordering the estuary and Karemea River. It features
plenty of birdlife and is best walked at sunset. Ask a local for directions, follow your nose,
or pick up a leaflet from the Karamea Information & Resource Centre (
Click here
)
. While
you're there, pick up the free
Karamea
brochure, which details other walks, including
Big
Rimu
(45 minutes return),
Flagstaff
(one hour return) and the
Zig Zag
(one hour return).
Longer walks around Karamea include the
Fenian Track
(four hours return) leading to
Cavern Creek Caves
and
Adams Flat
, where there's a replica gold-miner's hut; and the first leg
of the
Wangapeka Track
to Belltown Hut. The Wangapeka Track is a four-to-six-day back-
country trip suitable for experienced trampers only.
Other local activities include swimming, fishing, whitebaiting, kayaking and mountain
biking. Your best bet for advice on these is to ask a local and use common sense - espe-
cially when it comes to the watery stuff. Flexible and friendly
Karamea Outdoor Adventures
(
03-782 6181;
www.karameaadventures.co.nz
;
Bridge St; guided kayak/riverbug trips from $60, kayak hire 2hr $30,
bike hire 2hr $30)
offers guided and freedom kayaking and riverbug trips on four West Coast
rivers, plus mountain-bike hire, and advice on local excursions.
Heaphy Track
The West Coast road ends 14km from Karamea at
Kohaihai
, the western trailhead (and most
commonly, the finish point) of the Heaphy Track, where there's also a
DOC campsite
(Depart-
ment of Conservation; adult/child $6)
. A day walk or overnight stay can readily be had from here.
Walk to
Scotts Beach
(1½ hours return), or go as far as the fabulous new
Heaphy Hut
(huts/camp-
sites $32/14)
(five hours) and stay a night or two before returning.
This section can also be mountain-biked, as can the whole track (two to three days)
from May to September; ask at Westport's Habitat Sports (
Click here
)
for bike hire and
details.
