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New Zealand
> National Parks > Kahurangi National
Park
(North-west Nelson National Park)
By Jessica Lloyd
New Zealand’s Newest National Park
Recently created in 1996, this park covers 452,002 hectares and is one of
the largest National Parks in New Zealand. There is everything here you
would expect from a national park of this size, including a network of
tracks which go up and down mountains, through dense bush, and down to
follow the rugged curve of coastlines. The east has beech forest, while in
the west podocarp forest abounds with a thick undergrowth of ferns, vines
and shrubs. There are a plethora of native wildlife species, both endangered
and not so much so, including the smallest of the giant weta, many species
of carnivorous snail, metre-long worms (which are eaten by the carnivorous
snails) and one of New Zealand’s largest birds, the great spotted kiwi.
Accommodation and Food
Moteuka, Takaka, Karamea and Murchison are all nearby towns which have
mostly budget accommodation. There are lodges and cottages available year
round. There is also a range of eats to satisfy the adventurer’s appetite,
and friendly local pubs to quench the thirst for both beer and joviality.
Things to do in Kahurangi National Park
With Motueka, Takaka, Karamea, Tapawera and Murchison gateway towns to the
park, there are a variety of places to stay and interesting things to do,
even before entering the park. Inside, you can walk, climb, ski, fish,
kayak, or go caving. Kahurangi National Park has the most diverse range of
flora found in any national park, so if this interests you, it is an alive
playground. It also has some of the oldest rocks in New Zealand, making it a
geologist’s fantasy. Fossil hunters, cavers, and anyone who enjoys the study
of the earth will be fascinated with the treasures here, with fluted rock,
arches, sinkholes, shafts, and disappearing streams which magically reappear
to keep one trudging around tirelessly with sparkling eyes and full pockets.
Walking and Tramping
With over 570 km of walking and tramping tracks, the park has a lot to offer
walkers. Long walks include the Heaphy Track (this is one of New Zealand’s
“Great Walks”) and the Wangapeka Track. Walks are offered at almost every
road end, so if you can’t choose, just keep on driving. The Tasman
Wilderness Area is not tracked and has no huts, and although incredibly
beautiful, it is rugged and only suitable for experienced trampers. There
are seemingly endless possibilities when it comes to this park, and its
enormity allows adventures unequalled elsewhere. With short and long walks
(and everything in between) all tracks lead to something splendid, however
big or small. DOC has huts in the park that they maintain. The Heaphy Track
has four huts along the way, and the Wangapeka Track has seven. Camping is
permitted, but there are designated spots along the track.
Kayaking and Rafting
The rivers in this park are wild and remote, providing some excellent
(though often thrilling) rafting and kayaking adventures. You can go with
your own group, or get a guided tour.
Fishing
Because there are several big rivers in the park, fishing is good. Rivers
Heaphy, Aoerere and Cobb are great for brown trout, as is the centre of
Karamea and its tributaries, in the south the Little Wanganui, Matiri,
Wangapeka and Mokihinui. There are rainbow trout in the upper Cobb River,
and in the western rivers, eels. The best access to the rivers is in the
east of the park, because the west is a bit wild and requires fitness for
tramping, plus extra supplies. Some of these places (Little Wanganui,
Mokihinui, Karamea and tributaries) have some of the best trout fishing in
New Zealand.
Caving
If getting down under is your idea of fun, you can venture very deep here;
some of the deepest caves in the world are found in Kahurangi National Park.
These are glacial karsts (eroded limestone formations) which have developed
in the rock of the Mt Arthur and Mt Owen ranges, and are the longest and
deepest in New Zealand. Not for the faint hearted or inexperienced! There
are some major karst areas here, like Mt Arthur, Mt Owen, west of
Collingwood, and north of Karamea in the Oparara Valley area.
Wildlife
There is a huge range of wildlife, especially rare and endangered, living in
the park. There are 18 species of native bird, so a walk in the bush will
reward your ears with the beautiful song of the tui, bellbird, and South
Island robins. The New Zealand falcon, rock wren, kaka, yellowhead and blue
duck also call this place home. The calls of kiwi can be heard at night when
they come out to feed. One of the world’s rarest spiders, the Kahurangi Cave
Spider, has a leg span of up to 12cm (5 inches) and is found here. In the
caves there are a number of fauna which only grow here, and it is home to
the interesting cave beetles and wetas which can grow to scary proportions.
Maori History
The coast was a great place for finding pounamu (greenstone) and so was
often inhabited by Maori from the 14th century onwards. It was a well
travelled and scoured coastline. The name Kahurangi translated to English
means “treasured possession”, which accurately describes this park and all
it’s naturally formed beauty.
European History
Charles Heaphy, a draughtsman with a New Zealand Company, and Thomas Brunner
were thought to be the first Europeans to venture across the park to the
coastline in 1846. Tracks were subsequently built to allow easier access to
the first gold fields in New Zealand.
Natural History
With a huge range of geological features, Kahurangi National Park is
complex. There is sedimentary rock, limestone and marble, which all combine
with the water-works and ancient glaciers to carve caves, natural arches,
sink holes, and bluffs. The oldest fossil ever found in New Zealand was
found here. It was 540 million years old.
There are also camp sites available.
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