New Zealand’s newest Great Walk has opened and it is expected to attract many visitors to the west coast of the country.
In response to the growing popularity of hiking, the country’s Department of Conservation (DOC) decided to expand its existing family of nine Great Walks. The 55km Paparoa Track has been designated the tenth Great Walk, spanning from Blackball on the eastern side of the Paparoa Range to Punakaiki on the western side. It is designed for both mountain-bikers and walkers, integrating 14km of existing trails with 41km of newly constructed paths.
The Paparoa Track was built in conjunction with the Pike29 Memorial Track, which guides walkers and riders to Pike Valley’s memorial site and interpretation centre. This project commemorates the lives of the 29 miners who perished in the 2010 Pike River Mine Disaster. New Zealand Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage stated that these tracks will “create a lasting legacy and a significant new recreational and economic opportunity for the West Coast.”
The Great Walks offer premier tracks that traverse through diverse and breathtaking scenery, making them well-formed and easy to navigate. They showcase native forests, lakes, rivers, rugged mountain peaks, deep gorges, and vast valleys. While independent exploration is popular among many hikers, guided trips are also available. The Great Walks are conveniently located near major towns, serviced by local operators providing accommodation and transport. DOC offers accommodation in huts on all ten Great Walks.
“With its stunning landscapes, forests, and views, we expect this to be a really popular choice for visitors,” says Paul Carberry, founder of New Zealand In Depth. “More than 6600 nights have already been booked into the huts, out of the 8500 available in the next 12 months – so it’s wise to plan ahead for this one.”
New Zealand In Depth is offering a trip that includes international flights, twelve nights’ accommodation, two nights in huts on the Paparoa Track, car hire, track transfer, and Tranz Alpine train information, available here. For additional details about the newest Great Walk, please refer to here.
