You betcha it might be only around 7 km in a direct line to the ministry of works historic hut on the mackay downs, but even with the vaguest track for checking rat tunnels up to the 500 m contour, and the open space for the last half kilometre its intensely demanding. The borders of this beautiful new zealand park have been expanded by 158,000 acres 64,000 hectares, making it the largest addition of land to a. The area includes the western half of the heaphy track in the north, to the owen valley and oparara in the south and west respectively. Golden bay author delves into history of kahurangi area. Anatoki peaks and aorere peak, historic kill devil. The 10 best kahurangi national park hiking trails with. Keiter, the wallace stegner professor of law at the. Kahurangi national park new zealand, kahurangi national. Untracked and without huts, it is suitable for experienced trampers only. It was gazetted in 1996 and covers 4,529 square kilometres 1,749 sq mi, ranging to near golden bay in the north. Mantled by the cloaks of the sky the literal meaning of kahurangi, the mountain of the arthur range guard the eastern flank of the kahurangi national park, due to be officially opened in late 1995.
Located in the kahurangi national park, at the top of the south island of new zealand, the heaphy track is 82km long and normally walked over four or five days. Tales from the tableland the history behind mt arthur by. This category lists locations and geographical features found in kahurangi national park in the northwest of the south island of new zealand pages in category kahurangi national park the following 36 pages are in this category, out of 36 total. Things to do in kahurangi national park, nelsontasman region. Riwaka resurgence in kahurangi national park youtube.
Welcome to kahurangi national park kahurangi blue skies in one of several translations is the second largest of new zealands national parks, and also one of its most diverse. They followed a trail over gouland downs from the aorere to the whakapoai heaphy river and also travelled the treacherous coast north of. Ecologically rich, it was established in 1996 largely because of a new emphasis on preserving biodiversity and geodiversity. New zealand guided day walks with southern wilderness. Kahurangi lighthouse kahurangi national park tinytramper. The most insane days walk in kahurangi national park. Kahurangi national park travel guide at wikivoyage. Gerard hindmarsh building on the success of kahurangi calling, the authors earlier book on this subject, this new volume of stories from the northwest nelson backcountry is a compelling blend of natural and social. Some 50% of all new zealand plant species can be found here. This is for those who enjoy a brush with history, and like to keep their accommodation costs. 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. Formed in 1996, it protects much of the northwestern corner of the south island. This, our th national park, preserves one of the countrys largest tracts.
Local iwi continue to have a strong relationship with this special place, working closely with conservation groups as kaitiaki or guardians of the land. Join a tour in kahurangi national park and enjoy the very best that kahurangi national park has to offer. Operations affecting the heaphy track, oparara and cobb valley. Kahurangi national park guide for backpackers the new zealand national parks 10 places to. Access roads lead into the park from all the main gateway towns. Weaving through the park, is a network of tracks from the easy to the very challenging. New zealand golden bay kahurangi national park youtube. The name kahurangi is an indigenous maori word, with a variety of meanings, including treasured possession. The national park was formed in 1996, although much of. Kahurangi national park trekkinghikingwalking complete. First glimpse of the enormous west coast sand dunes.
This, our th national park, preserves one of the countrys largest tracts of true wilderness. This national park was created in 1996 making it one of new zealands newest national parks, and at 452,002 hectares it is also the second largest. Check with the department of conservation for the latest weather and track conditions before you set out. Kahurangi national park was a location for shooting of the lord of the rings film trilogy. Kahurangi is one of the few national parks where mountain biking is. Kahurangis landscapes range from untouched coastal forests, feral rivers and limestone caves to icy mountaintops and alpine herb fields.
Kahurangi, new zealands second largest national park, includes the famous heaphy. Kahurangi national park includes the tasman wilderness area. The park staged the location for dimrill dale and the outcrop. Kahurangi national park, new zealand guide fodors travel. The full story crystallizes in to conserve unimpaired. The reasons are that kahurangi is situated in the centre of new zealand on a latitude where many species find their southern or northern limits. The diverse landscape of the huge kahurangi national park, to the west of the region offers remote adventure in a pristine environment, including another of. Kahurangi national park new zealands second largest. The kahurangi is a pristine wilderness area and best visited with a guide to point out its many unique features. From an alpine perspective, kahurangi escaped most of the ice sheets during the last ice age, and may well have been a refuge for alpine plant life. The mokihinui addition to kahurangi national park is equivalent in size to abel tasman and paparoa national parks combined and is twice the size of egmont national park.
The flora and fauna of kahurangi national park, tasman. Things to do in kahurangi national park, new zealand. Its most eyecatching features are geological, ranging from windswept beaches and sea cliffs to earthquakeshattered slopes and morainedammed lakes, and. History kahurangi national park was a home to early maori iwi tribes that lived near the golden bay and travelled on selfmade paths towards the west coast of the south island searching for pounamu greenstone. Ray salisbury is raising funds for tales from the tableland the history behind mt arthur on kickstarter. His new book kahurangi stories does exactly that, following on from the first book. Kahurangi national park contains some of the oldest and most diverse landforms in the country that suggest the lands relation to the ancient supercontinent gondwana. This operation is ongoing until 30 april 2020 and is completed in blocks. Kahurangi is a geological dreamscape, riddled with human history, and shelters more than half of new zealands native plant species and 18 species of. Now protected as part of kahurangi national park, this wilderness is sandwiched between the karamea and takaka watersheds, and marks the divide between golden bay and the rugged west coast. Heaphy track kahurangi national park 2020 all you need to.
Not bad for a roadwalk as we walked we were overtaken by a selection of motorbikes, quad bikes and other assorted offroad vehicles. The history of kahurangi and its stories are worth preserving, says golden bay author gerard hindmarsh. Kahurangi national park gathers in a huge area of wilderness in the. When hiking in the kahurangi national park, youll find this spectacular waterfall shortly after reaching the boulder lake hut. A tiakina nga manu operation is underway in kahurangi national park. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the. Theres more to kahurangi national park than the heaphy track. Unique accommodation near kahurangi national park, new zealand. Mantled by the cloaks of the sky the literal meaning of kahurangi, the. The evolution of the national park idea island, 20. Kahurangi is second largest national park in new zealand and is situated in the northwest of the south island. The history of americas national parks the boston globe. Kahurangi national park, in the northwest south island, is one of the most recently established parks and also one of the largest, at 517,335 hectares.
Translated, its name has a number of meanings including treasured possession, an appropriate description of its wonderfully diverse natural and recreational values. This waterfall feeds the boulder river and is best viewed from a vantage point located to the west of the dam wall, which was built by gold miners across the lake outlet stream to sluice gold claims on the quartz range goldfields. Nelson lakes national park to the south offers an alpine landscape with majestic mountains and lakeside walks. Kahurangi national park is near the northwest corner of the south island of new zealand. History as a longtime british colony, many people wonder why new zealand was named after a dutch province zeeland, or zealand, is in the netherlands.
Guide to the huts of kahurangi national park tramping new zealand. This continues into dry road beside the beautiful whanganui inlet. Wilderness, diversity and sanctuarythese are the images that best describe kahurangi national park. Kahurangi calling describes many of the geological, botanical and ecological treasures. We headed over the mountain to takaka, then collingwood on the sh60 then continued up to pakawau, where we swung a left, west onto the pakawau bush road unsealed, narrow and winding but in excellent shape. Explore the nelson lakes, kahurangi and abel tasman national parks in style with four wonderful packages.
Missed by the iceage, there are many plants unique to this park, like the unusual dracophylum. Kahurangi national park history kahurangi national park was created in 1996. The abel tasman national park is not an untouched wilderness due to its history as cultivated land in the 19th century, but its in recovery and offers rich and diverse natural rewards. It was established in 1996 and covers an area of 452,000 ha. If you plan to stay overnight on the track system, make sure you are properly equipped. The parks highest regions contain 80% of our alpine plant species. Doc plans unprecedented 1080 operation in kahurangi. Endless beauty draws visitors in, such as the nature trails of heaphy track that run through kahurangi national park. Much of what was the northwest nelson forest park formed the basis of the new park. Kahurangi national park gathers in a huge area of wilderness in the top northwest corner of the south island, stretching west from nelson in an endless maze of forested mountains and valleys to the rugged and wild west coast, running out from golden bay down to karamea. The 5 best things to do in kahurangi national park 2020. The oldest and the most famous is the heaphy track.
Kahurangi national park is richly endowed with a great variety of vegetation in its dense forests. The abel tasman national park was treasured by mana whenua long before it was first discovered by the europeans, when abel janszoon tasman caught sight of the land back in 1642. Created in 1996, kahurangi is one of new zealands newest national parks, and at 452,002 hectares it is also the second largest. Discover the south islands kahurangi national park aa new. Glampers can book tours to explore honeycomb hill caves and arch, which is truly a sight to behold. Kahurangi national park gathers in a huge area of wilderness in the northwest corner of the south island, stretching west from nelson in a maze of forested mountains and valleys to the rugged and wild west coast, and from golden bay south to karamea. Kahurangi national park located in the northwest of the south island and ranging to near golden bay in north, is kahurangi national park. Translated, its name has a number of meanings including treasured possession, an apt description of its wonderfully diverse natural and recreational values. Kahurangi national park grows by 64,400ha after mokihinui.
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