West Coast
BULLER
DISTRICT
TOP TIP: Relax away a day’s drive at Maruia Hot Springs. Tucked away on Lewis Pass, 10 minutes from Springs Junction. Grab a day pass or dine and stay overnight in a cosy glamping pod.
Off-the-beaten-track Fronting the Tasman Sea, Buller District spans from Punakāiki in the South, to the town of Westport, and over to Karamea, Kahurangi National Park and Reefton. Its under-discovered isolation is a huge drawcard.
Paparoa National Park It doesn’t get more ‘rugged wild west coast’ than this; an explorer’s dream destination, discover coastal forests, limestone cliffs, caves, canyons and underground streams.
Paparoa Track & Pike29 Memorial Track An historyetched Great Walk with 1930s miners’ huts and a century-old quartz crushing battery. Remnants of the past are frozen in time; none more poignant than the memorial site commemorating 29 lost lives of the Pike River explosions.
Paparoa Beach Hideaway Selfcater in a cosy timber house and make full use of beach and bush tracks right outside the door. Tired legs can sink into cedar hot tubs and settle beside the fire pit. The Ballroom Overhang Track A staggeringly huge lick of limestone rock, frozen and suspended mid-air, its colossal overhang provides a safe shelter and epic camping spot. In Paparoa National Park.
when travelling Lewis Pass, get out and stretch your legs at Springs Junction. There are several forest and lake walks to undertake.
TOP TIP: Tackle the Paparoa Track with the pros and book with Paparoa Guided Walks. A well-balanced experience combining advice, meals and lessons on local history, flora and fauna.
Lewis Pass Connecting the east of the South Island to the west, LEFT: Maruia Hot Springs © West Coast Tourism ABOVE: Paparoa Track © Adobe Stock
TOP TIP: Karamea makes a great base for embarking on the four to six-day Heaphy Track Great Walk, especially if you’re continuing south afterward.
Ōpararā Arches, Karamea © Fraser Clements
Karamea Beach Calm and serene, this beach is almost always empty. Home to beautiful scenery and equally stunning birdlife.
The Karamea Centennial Museum Opened in 1974 to celebrate Karamea’s settlement a century earlier, the museum displays many artefacts from the area’s rural heyday. Open by request only – contact Karamea Information Centre. See Map Section - pages 109 to 122
Karamea The Ōpararā Basin and Rainforest Karamea is the nearest large settlement for exploring the Ōpararā Basin’s famed limestone arches and caves. Forty-five minutes north of town, explore pristine forest and the rich gold mining heritage of the Fenian area.
SEDDONVILLE
open fires and tons of character. It’s close to the beach, too.
Ōpararā Guided Tours These
Historic Hotel In the heart of
cover the entire Karamea region including Ōpararā Basin and Honeycomb Caves. Walk 13km of underground passages and see why 'Honeycomb' is aptly named.
town, Karamea Village Hotel is a restored landmark building with accommodation, pretty gardens,
TOP RIGHT: Ōpararā Arches, Karamea BOTH: © West Coast Tourism
Westport
TOP TIP: Easily Karamea’s best-kept secret , the Honeycomb Caves conceal a full-size, perfectly preserved moa skeleton. Prisoner for eternity. Entry is only permitted with a certified guide.
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