ROAD TRIP: A journey to Karamea

Westport to Karamea via SH 67 & Karamea Hwy - 1hr 29min, 95.7km

SIDE TRIP: Westport to Buller Gorge Swingbridge via SH 6 - 1hr 10min, 82.3km

SIDE TRIP: Karamea to Oparara Basin via Karamea-Kohaihai Rd & Mccallums Mill Rd - 32min, 24km

Oparara Arches, Karamea © Fraser Clements

Nature is in its element on the West Coast. The land is treasured; there’s more protected land here than in any other part of the country.

Although it’s only 100km, travelling on SH 67 between Karamea and Westport can take up to two hours to drive. The road is sealed all the way, but it does twist and turn over the Karamea Bluff – a high point that gives spectacular views of the area.

You will want to stop often to take photos of the incredible views of the Tasman Coast, especially at sunset, or the surrounding towering mountain ranges. There are also plenty of opportunities to stop and go for short walks into the ancient rain forests.

Whether you are a hiker, caver, birdwatcher, geologist, stargazer, hunter or fisherman, this incredibly dramatic and unspoiled area of the West Coast is for you.

Cape Foulwind, Westport © Miles Holden

HIGHLIGHTS

HEAPHY TRACK

This is one of the most popular walks in the northern part of the South Island. You could spend up to six days hiking the trail from Kohaihai just north of Karamea across to Brown Hut in Golden Bay,but even just 30 minutes on the track will delight.

DENNISTON MINE

Denniston has a rich mining history and the surrounding area, known as the Denniston Plateau was once the country’s largest producing coalmine. Gain a unique insight into the mine’s rugged life and remarkable feats of engineering.

Denniston coal wagon © Getty Images

THE OLD GHOST ROAD

This former gold miners’road is now a mountain biking and tramping trail, and offers 85km of pure wilderness.

KARAMEA

With just under 400 residents, this quaint township is far removed from the tourist track. It also tickles the edges of the Kahurangi National Park.

CAPE FOULWIND

Sure it’s blustery, but it’s worth it to see the seal colony.

SCOTT’S BEACH

A sandy cove enveloped by cliffs, jagged rocks have tumbled off the bluff and are now stationed on the beach.

Cycling along the Old Ghost Road

Sven Martin

WESTPORT

Westport’s history is steeped in the mining and timber industries. Fortunes have been made and lost in gold, coal and wood. Today’s Coasters have diversified with fishing, tourism and dairy farming taking their place alongside mining.

Westport Must-Do's

> Coaltown Museum

> Cape Foulwind

> Nine Mile Beach

> Charming Creek Walkway

> Whitebait Festival

> Tauranga Bay

As you’d expect from the largest town in the region, Westport has a full range of services from restaurants and supermarkets to 24/7 fuel and a range of accommodation options from budget to luxury. It has a micro-brewery, a multi-screen and live theatre complex, an all year round recreation and conference centre with a full gym and pools, a links golf course and a huge choice of activities to enjoy.

The largest river on the West Coast, the Buller, sweeps through Westport making it the country’s biggest river port.

Whitebait patties © www.curlytreewhitebait.com

SIDE TRIP: Oparara Basin

With incredible limestone arches, caves and chasms, moody streams and untouched ancient rainforest, this is heaven for photographers.

A 45-minute drive north of Karamea, in the Kahurangi National Park, the Oparara Basin boasts impressive limestone formations. The surrounding rainforest is home to the Honeycomb Hill Caves that are world-famous for their collection of moa bones and other extinct bird species. Bring a torch so you can explore them properly. Because of the fragile environment, access to the caves is restricted but guided tours can be arranged. These are 13km of underground passages that takes around two hours to walk. The tours are suitable for all ages but involve moderate walking and exertion.

Karamea Oparara Arches © Tourism West Coast

SIDE TRIP: Buller Gorge Swingbridge

Attention thrillseekers!

East on SH 6 between Murchison and Westport is the Buller Gorge and the Buller Gorge Swingbridge Adventure and Heritage Park. As the coast’s largest river, the Buller River is wild but handsome, and suspended 19 metres above its thrashing waters, at 110 metres in length,is the Buller Gorge Swingbridge: the longest in Aotearoa. If you’re not content with simply walking over the river, why not try an exhilarating 160-metre-long zipline? Known as the Comet Line, fly at screamish speeds over the water. You can even ride tandem and take a friend. You can also pan for gold at the park, enjoy several walks and venture to historical gold workings.

RIGHT: Buller Gorge Swingbridge © AA Tourism

TOP WALKS

THE FENIAN Left behind by the gold miners of the 1860s, several easy grade tracks weave through beech and podocarp forest, averaging 3-6hrs return.

BRITANNIA TRACK Find a (mostly) intact five-head stamper battery. The machine operated between 1925 to 1937 and was used to crush quartz in the gold extraction process. 2hr, 6km one way.

CHARMING CREEK Follow an historic bush tramway all the way to the Charming Creek Coal Mine. Cross the Ngākawau River Suspension Bridge for views of Mangatini Falls. 3hr, 9.5km one way.

COALBROOKDALE WALK This gravel road behind Denniston follows much of a track that miners used to carry coal from the mine to the top of the Denniston Incline. 30min, 1km.

DENNISTON BRIDLE PATH A pleasant but steep walk with lots of intrepid creek crossings. 3hr, 4.2km one way.

Charming Creek © Miles Holden

Looking for a place to stay? Find a huge range of accommodation options, including discounts for AA Members, at travel.aa.co.nz