Kahurangi is a geologically complex area. The Heaphy Track is the park’s most famous and accessible treasure, followed by more than 4000 walkers each year. Ray Salisbury 20 March 2020 20 Mar '20. On the surface, fluted rock, arches, sinkholes, shafts and disappearing/reappearing streams give the landscape exceptional character. Note - this is not an official event. See our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy to understand how you can manage cookies. Aug 6, 2015 near Takaka, NZ. Add Your Photos. Kahurangi National Park, New Zealand Created in 1996, Kahurangi National Park is one of New Zealand's newest national parks. The Department of Conservation looks after many hikers' huts(opens in new window) in the park. The national park was formed in 1996, although much of the area was part of a forest park … It is a self-supported adventure. For hundreds of years the route was used by local Maori tribes on their way to the pounamu (greenstone) resources of the west coast. On the surface, fluted rock, arches, sinkholes, shafts and disappearing/reappearing streams give the landscape exceptional character. Deep in the wild heart of northern Kahurangi is a subalpine tableland that rises to 870m. As well as giant land snails, you may encounter giant weta - don't hurt them, they're precious. We have reviews of the best places to see in Kahurangi National Park. Kahurangi National Park accommodation directory, New Zealand. The two trampers missing in the Kahurangi National Park have been found alive. Your browser does not support iframes. Most of Kahurangi National Park is wilderness, but there are plenty of areas that are accessible by the multitude of walking tracks. These giant snails are carnivorous, feeding at night on worms that grow up to a metre long. The summit of 1490 meter Trident Peak, Kahurangi National Park, Department of Conservation | Te Papa Atawhai, https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/nelson-tasman/places/kahurangi-national-park/. Westhaven is one of the largest and least modified estuaries in New Zealand. The Department of … See the forecast as a table or graph. Keep browsing if you're happy with this. In the Maori language, Kahurangi means 'treasured possession', a clue to the attractions of New Zealand's second largest national park. The Karamea River is prized internationally for its trout fishing. tramping new zealand. Help us improve the DOC website on mobile in less than 5 min. Visit the Lord of the Rings film locations. Take a scenic helicopter tour for the ultimate Lord of the Rings experience, and you can even double up to ensure you don’t miss the site of the “South of Rivendell” on Mount Olympus too! Check at a DOC office for latest information on weather and track conditions. The most popular walks include The Heaphy Track in Kahurangi National Park, The Coastal Track in the Abel Tasman National Park as well as the Travers Sabine Circuit and Mt Angelus Alpine … Take a tour of the New Zealand conservation areas that provided locations for Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy. Hikers following the Wangapeka Track will find seven huts along the way. Motueka, Takaka, Karamea, Tapawera and Murchison are the park's gateway towns. It was gazetted in 1996 and covers 4,529 square kilometres (1,749 sq mi), ranging to near Golden Bay in the north. Kahurangi National Park Tourism: Tripadvisor has 181 reviews of Kahurangi National Park Hotels, Attractions, and Restaurants making it your best Kahurangi National Park resource. Exposed to the Tasman Sea, the winter may bring heavy snowfall. Mar 14, 2020 near Westport, NZ. Kahurangi is the second largest park in New Zealand. Created in 1996, Kahurangi is one of New Zealand's newest national parks, and at 452,002 hectares it is also the second largest. Kuhurangi National Park was a location for Dimrill Dale and the outcrop south of Rivendell in the Lord of the Rings film trilogy. Motueka, Takaka, Karamea and Murchison are the park's gateway towns, providing a range of mostly budget accommodation. Parts of Kahurangi were occupied by Maori from the 14th century and the coast was much travelled by those seeking pounamu (greenstone). A 1080 operation in the remaining Wangapeka area (39,735 ha) would be undertaken in the coming weeks. The park is home to our largest cave spider and the smallest of our giant weta - a flightless insect a bit like a grasshopper. Translated its name has a number of meanings including ''treasured possession" or blue skies. It was formally protected in 1994 with the creation of the Westhaven (Te Tai Tapu) Marine Reserve and the Westhaven (Whanganui Inlet) Wildlife Management Reserve. If you go caving, keep an eye out for the Kahurangi Cave Spider, one of the world's rarest, which has a leg span of up to 12 centimetres. Its formation came after years of lobbying by conservation groups, seeking an internationally recognised status for the area which would better protect its natural values. Start your discovery of wetlands with this brochure, highlighting 40 of New Zealand's best wetlands you can visit. If you plan to stay overnight on the track system, make sure you are properly equipped. At 4,520 km² it is the second largest of New Zealand's 13 national parks. Ministry of Works Historic Hut, Kahurangi National Park. The park is also home to the smallest of our giant weta (a flightless insect a bit like a grasshopper). The park staged the location for Dimrill Dale and the outcrop south of Rivendell. Enjoy the tracks as you explore the park. The vegetation cover changes markedly from one side of the park to the other and from the coast to the tops of mountains. Located in the Nelson/Tasman and West Coast regions, Kahurangi National Park brochure (PDF, 593K). Find what to do today, this weekend, or in December. Located in the northwest corner of New Zealand's South Island, Kahurangi is New Zealand's second largest national park. Caving expeditions usually involve the use of helicopters to transport equipment, supplies and cavers to the entry point. In the east, beech forest is dominant while to the west you will see native forest with a rich under storey of ferns, vines and shrubs. A great variety of native animals and plants live in this vast national park, the second largest in New Zealand. Guide to the huts of Kahurangi National Park, in the South Island: images, DoC category, hut fee, bunks, booking, heating, water, etc. Share with friends. The beautiful Heaphy Track is a 3 to 5-day walking experience that explores a diverse range of forest, beaches and tussock downs. Aug 6, 2015 near Takaka, NZ. See our large range of places to stay in Kahurangi National Park. Heavy rainfall may flood Kahurangi's waterways. The weather may change rapidly and particularly at high altitudes. The bus service through to Christchurch can also drop people at a number of access points into the park. Its forests, mountains, and coastline contain immense geological and vegetational variety. It was established in 1996 and covers an area of 452,000 ha. Let us show you the best of New Zealand on other platforms by selecting 'On' and allowing us to share data from your visit(s) with our partners. Photo by russellstreet Geology The park covers a geologically complex area. Due to the varied landscape numerous different habitats have been created which support many different creatures. Occasionally there may be snow in winter along the ridges, Dragons Teeth/Anatoki Peak, or on the south side of Waingaro Peak, but it … New Zealand’s oldest fossil – 540 million years old – was found in the park. Kahurangi National Park in the northwest of the South Island of New Zealand is the second largest of the thirteen national parks of New Zealand. Visit Mount Arthur area, Cobb Valley or Oparara Basin. There are also companies in most of the local towns that offer an on-demand shuttle service. There are toilets and an information centre. View the accommodation images, contact the hosts or book your room directly online. We also use cookies to show you the best of New Zealand on other platforms. Rat abundance in Kahurangi National Park due to … Several threatened species survive here from the diminutive rock wren to one of New Zealand's largest birds - the great spotted kiwi. In places it is an untracked wilderness, elsewhere a wonderful network of tracks lets you explore wild rivers, high plateaux and alpine herbfields, and coastal forests. Welcome to the West Coast of New Zealand Oparara Guided Tours – Karamea. This was our first ever great walk and what an absolute beauty!At night … In the east, beech forest is dominant while to the west you will see podocarp forest with a rich understory of ferns, vines and shrubs. The Karamea River is known for good trout fishing. Kahurangi National Park Guided Tours. MTB Project is built by riders like you. Always check the weather forecast before tramping. In places it is an untracked wilderness, elsewhere a wonderful network of tracks lets you explore wild rivers, high plateaux and alpine herbfields, and coastal forests. In addition to above, we use other cookies and analytics to provide a better site experience. Kahurangi National Park contains some of the oldest and most diverse landforms in the country that suggest the land's relation to the ancient supercontinent Gondwana. 80% of New Zealand's alpine species can be found in the high reaches of the park. 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