THE TRIP

Getting there & around

Daily flights operate between London Heathrow and Christchurch with a number of airlines, including Etihad Airways (etihad.com), Air New Zealand (airnewzealand.co.uk) and Singapore Airlines (singaporeair.com). Flight time is around 25 hours with a stopover en route; returns from £550pp. Daily flights to Hokitika (the nearest domestic airport to the track; one hour’s drive from Blackball) from Christhurch are available with Air New Zealand; travel time is 45 minutes and returns cost from NZ$120 (£61). Once there, a hire car is recommended. All the usual companies can be found at the airports.

Walking the trail

The Paparoa Track is 55km one way, not including the optional detour down the Pike29 Memorial Track, which adds a day or can be done separately from a car park at the Interpretation Centre. The trail will officially open on 19 April 2019 and there are plans to offer a shuttle service from Blackball to the start of the track and from Punakaiki (the end) back to the start, so you can collect your car. Tickets and registration will be required to walk the Paparoa Track; these can be booked online at greatwalks.co.nz/paparoa or in person at the DOC offices from March 2019. All supplies must be carried with you, including camping mat, sleeping bag, clothes and food for three days.

Accommodation

At the start of the trail, the recommended stay is at Formerly The Blackball Hilton (blackballhilton.co.nz), to get a real glimpse into the small town’s mining past and to meet the lovely owners. B&B doubles are from Nz$55pp (£28); note that rooms currently have shared bathrooms but this may change.

Both official huts on the Paparoa Track will open in April 2019; they can be booked on the DOC website (see ‘Walking the trail’) and at any office in person. Both sleep 20 and have bunks, mattresses, heating, gas hobs, toilets and water (no showers). Prices are to be decided but, as a gauge, the nearby Ces Clark Hut charges Nz$15pn (£7.70), though it has no cooking facilities.

At the end of the route there are several overnight options (hostel, resort, campsite) in Punakaiki, including Hide & Seek BNB (hideandseek.net.nz), which has B&B doubles from around Nz$285pn (£146).

Food & drink

Pick up any supplies pre-walk at Greymouth. The West Coast is famous for whitebait – small freshwater fish that can be found as patties and even on pizzas. In general, expect to pay around NZ$20 (£10) and up for a meal in a decent restaurant.