DESTINATIONS / INTERNATIONAL
THE PAPAROA GREAT WALK The West Coast of New Zealand is the home to the spectacular Haast World Heritage Area including five each national parks and marine reserves.
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he first new great walk unveiled in 25 years, Paparoa Track is a multi-day walking track opened in 2019. The tenth Great Walk to be constructed in stone cliffs, beech forest and glades of subtropical nīkau palms at one end, on the climbto a unique alpine setting with incredible views out to the Tasman Sea. The Paparoa Track is of significant meaning to the locals and will act as a tribute to the 29 Pike River miners who lost their lives in the 2010 disaster. The West Coast community has been preparing to welcome visitors
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February March 2020 2020 Tourism Tourism India India
to their precious part of the world since the announcement of the track in 2017. Locals, or ‘Coasters’ as they are colloquially known, are well known for their hospitality and extremely passionate about their home. The West Coast is home to the spectacular Haast World Heritage Area, five of New Zealand’s 14 national parks and five marine reserves. Conservation and sustainability are important to the West Coast, where 86 per cent of the land is administered by the Department of Conservation (DOC).
The Paparoa Track was officially opened in an event in Blackball on 30 November 2019 before the first walkers and bikers took the maiden trip on December 1. Due to a recent land slip in the middle section of the track, the Great Walk was only partially opened until December 22. But Walkers were able to reach the Moonlight Tops hut from the east or the Pororari Hut from the west. Commenting on the newly launched track, Hamish Seaton, Track Router – MTB Specialist, “I don’t think any other track in the country has had such a high focus
