GETTING TO GREATNESS ON THE PAPAROA
It’s been 30 years since the Department of Conservation (DOC) created the legendary Great Walks of New Zealand, designed to safeguard the precious environs they pass through. Today, there is much to be celebrated about these well-loved multi-day walks that provide unparalleled access to some of the country’s most incredible natural landscapes, wildlife and cultural heritage
On a slice of pristine West Coast wilderness, a track gently meanders through rainforest; a swirl of mist lingers on the top of nikau palms, there’s an earthy smell of moss in the air and the sing-song calls of tui provide a quintessentially Kiwi soundtrack. This is the Paparoa Track, one of New Zealand’s iconic Great Walks.
The Great Walks concept was first developed by the Department of Conservation 30 years ago to provide special protections for walks that were becoming wildly popular, and is now a popular drawcard for both domestic and international visitors. These uniquely New Zealand trails are not only one of the most immersive ways to experience our awe-inspiring natural landscapes, but thanks to the efforts of DOC and many others, we can be assured that what makes them so special is being protected and conserved for future generations. Through a partnership with Air New Zealand, DOC has achieved more than 43,000 hectares of sustained pest control along six of the Great Walks. This, along with bird surveys and health checks, has benefitted 13 threatened bird species and more than 28 other species of wildlife – including
Paparoa, where DOC works with Paparoa Wildlife Trust to maintain a pest-control trapping network across 15,000 hectares of land, protecting species such as whio, kiwi, lizards and invertebrates.
In conjunction with the 12.5-hectare pest-proof kiwi crèche on the Atarau Plains and the Paparoa Great Spotted Kiwi/Roroa Project, kiwi birds and many other species are now prospering. In fact, a survey of whio in the Punakaiki River in February located six pairs. To ensure this incredible landscape remains the biodiversity hotspot that it is, Nga Ngāti Waewae, a hapū (subtribe) of Ngāi Tahu, are also involved as the kaitiaki guardians of the area’s native species and ecosystems.
While all the Great Walks are popular and come with the kind of breathtaking scenery we’ve come to expect from these legendary treks, the good news is that Paparoa, Heaphy, Rakiura and Abel Tasman Tracks tend to have more capacity at some huts and campsites during the season.
Paparoa is the newest of these, opened to the public in 2019. It’s the first Great Walk purpose-built for both mountain bikers and walkers. Three huts provide overnight shelter on this 55-kilometre trail, which runs between Blackball and Punakaiki across the Paparoa Ranges. Whether tramping or cycling, you’ll traverse alpine tops, limestone karst landscapes and witness soaring views.
Along with nature at its best, Paparoa has history to share, too, with remnants of the gold-mining days of the West Coast evident on a side trip to Garden Gully. The Ces Clark Hut is popular for one-night stays, base yourself here and you can explore nature and history. The section of the track between Pororari Hut and Punakaiki also follows historical routes, dating back to 1867. More current events are also integral to the Paparoa Great Walk: it was the families of those connected with the 2010 Pike River Mine explosion who proposed the walk as an enduring memorial to the men who lost their lives, and as a means to bring lasting economic benefit to the West Coast. They also saw it as a thank you to the community for the support the families received in the wake of the mine tragedy. A 10.8-kilometre Pike29 Memorial Track, currently under construction, will connect the Paparoa Track to the site of the former Pike River Mine.
Bookings for the Paparoa Great Walk opened 6 May for the July 2022-June 2023 season. Or if you’re keen to test your mountain bike skills (note, e-bikes are not allowed) you can hire a bike at any of the local operators in Greymouth. Note, you’ll need accommodation the night before your walk in Greymouth, Punakaiki or Blackball and need to arrange transport to and from the Paparoa Track with one of the many operators.
History, community and nature – experiencing the Paparoa. And indeed any of the other Great Walks, thanks to 30 years' of work from DOC and many others, is a uniquely New Zealand
Ces Clark Hut
experience that we can all be grateful is being preserved for generations to come.
Book your spot on the Paparoa Track at www.doc.govt.nz/get-togreatness
Before starting your adventure, please check current traffic light settings and adhere to the Government guidance provided at covid19.govt.nz.