Best of the West day walks

Go North: Ōpārara Valley Track, Karamea

5 hr / 14 km one way

Karamea — the West Coast’s best kept secret — is the gateway to some of New Zealand’s most amazing outdoor adventures including Kahurangi National Park and the underground wonders of the Ōpārara Basin.

The Ōpārara Valley Track is a stunning new full day walk through ancient rainforest, along the Ōpārara River. Highlights include ancient stands of rimu and kahikatea cloaked in mighty rata vines, prolific forest birds (kākā, kea, tomtit/miromiro, robin/kakaruai, parakeet/kākāriki), historic goldfields and a suspension bridge. This walk requires a reasonable level of fitness, as there are some challenging ups and downs. 

The track begins or ends at either the Ōpārara carpark (25 km north of Karamea) or Fenian carpark (15.5 km north of Karamea) and includes the Fenian Track — a heritage gold mining trail. For a one-way walk, organise a pickup at the other end; alternatively, walk to the Sunshine Flat Shelter (1.5 hr from the Ōpārara Basin or 3.5 hr from the Fenian car park) and back to your starting point.

For detailed information visit the DOC website.

Go To The Top: Mt French Track, Lake Brunner

8 hr / 7 km return

Lake Brunner is a popular holiday spot, famed for its alpine reflections and big brown trout. There are lakeside camping grounds, motels, hotels, holiday homes and classic bachs to rent around the lake and the TranzAlpine scenic train stops at the tiny settlement of Moana on the northern lakeside.

The lake and alpine views here are lovely from just about any point, and walkers and hikers have a selection of easy tracks and trails to follow. For more experienced trampers, the hike up Mount French (1305 m) is a full-day excursion that passes through mixed rimu forest to reward with spectacular views of Lake Brunner and the Southern Alps.

Lake Brunner is inland from Greymouth via Kumara to the southern end of the lake (45 km / 45 min). 

For detailed information visit the DOC website.

Go Back In Time: Ross Historic Goldfields Walk, Mount Greenland

7 hr /18 km return

The hills around the little mining town of Ross once bristled with gold miners seeking their fortune. New Zealand’s largest gold nugget — known as the Hon. Roddy — was uncovered here in 1909. The miners are mostly gone now but there is one spot where you can still fossick for gold, a little museum (with a replica of the famed nugget) and an historic miner’s cottage.

Relics of the gold rush are apparent throughout the Ross Historic Goldfields area. Discover these on several shorter walks or, for a full day out (medium to good fitness level), the hike up Mount Greenland follows an old miner's pack track. It passes through tall rimu forest and varied vegetation changes before finishing on the tussock covered top of Mount Greenland with sweeping views in every direction. 

Ross township is 30 km south of Hokitika on SH6. Walks start from Ross Goldfields Information and Heritage Centre (Aylmer Street) where you can check for up-to-date track conditions.

For detailed information visit the DOC website.

Go Panoramic: Mt Tuhua Track, Lake Kaniere

7 hr / 7.6 km return

Lovely Lake Kaniere, enclosed on three sides by mountains, stands out among the West Coast’s many beautiful lakes. It’s popular in warmer months for camping and boating, year-round for fishing, mountain biking, walking and hiking.

Starting from Hans Bay on Lake Kaniere, the Mt Tuhua Track is a steep tramp recommended for fit trampers. The track climbs to the open, tussocky peak of Mt. Tuhua (1125 m), and exceptional panoramic views of the Southern Alps, Lake Kaniere, and the coastal plains all the way to Hokitika. 

Lake Kaniere Road is 19 km east of Hokitika, and the entrance to the Mt Tuhua Track is from Hans Bay via Dorothy Falls Road on the eastern lakeside. 

For detailed information visit the DOC website.

Go Spectacular: Robert Points Track, Franz Josef Glacier

5.5 hr / 12.3 km return

In the glacier country of Westland Tai Poutini National Park, there are many walking tracks and hiking trails. And it’s not unusual in stable winter weather to experience clear blue skies revealing perfect mountain views.

The Roberts Point Track— 5.5 hours' return from the Franz Josef Glacier car park — requires a good level of fitness but rewards with outstanding views of the glacier. It’s an uphill climb through the glacier valley via a rocky track, over mountain streams and multiple swing bridges to a spectacular viewpoint high above the glacier. 

Highlights include historic Hende's Hut and Hende’s Gallery, named after the blacksmith in the original early 1900s track-building teamin the early 1900s. The rusted corrugated hut built in 1906 to shelter workers also included a blacksmith’s forge used to form iron supports for the spectacular cliff-side structure known as Hende’s Galley — a compelling photo stop.

The track traverses splinter faults (part of the Alpine Fault), culminating at Roberts Point for wide views of the lower levels of the glacier, cascading waterfalls and mountain peaks. 

Access to Roberts Point Track is from the Franz Josef Glacier carpark, just south of Franz Josef Waiau township.  

For detailed information visit the DOC website.

Go Glacial: Alex Knob Track, Franz Josef Glacier

8 hr / 17.2 km return

Classed as one of the best full day walks in the glacier region, the 4-hour uphill hike to Alex Knob is well worth the panoramic views of Franz Josef Glacier, the Southern Alps and the Tasman Sea.

The historic track — named for early mountain guide and hotelier Alexander Graham — is undergoing upgrades which will make it more accessible but is recommended for experienced trampers. 

There are several different viewpoints along the way as the track steadily zigzags and climbs through rain forest to sub-alpine scrub, alpine meadows and tussocks to a bird’s eye view of the glacier, the Main Divide and Tasman Sea. 

Access to the Alex Knob Track is from the Franz Josef Glacier Access road, just south of Franz Josef Waiau township.  

For detailed information visit the DOC website.