Kahurangi National Park

Caving and Cave Diving

There is a spectacular network of caves beneath the park, and under Mt Arthur in particular. New passages are still being discovered and the cave systems at the northern end of Kahurangi join up with those under Abel Tasman. The Pearce and Riwaka rivers, on the western side of Mt Arthur, are both well-known cave-diving spots with well-defined resurgence caves. The Riwaka resurgence is popular with scuba enthusiasts; again, a local guide is essential.

Helicopter or Fixed Wing Plane

Because of the vastness of Kahurangi, helicopters are used extensively to ferry trampers and rafters to remote rivers and tracks, to get trout fishermen to their favored spots, and for general sight-seeing. A helicopter flight up the winding Karamea River gorge is a particularly good option, and if the pilot throws in a circuit round the Garibaldi Ridge, so much the better. Some operators also fly fixed wing planes.

Tramping

The five-day Heaphy Track is one of the country's Great Walks, running down the western side of the park, between Collingwood and Karamea. Other challenging walks are available, but shorter easier tracks are available from the Flora Carpark to the bush line, and to the Cobb Valley north of Takaka.

White-water Rafting and Kayaking

The Grade V Karamea River offers some of the country's best white-water rafting and river kayaking. Access is often by helicopter and rafting trips can last up to a week and include camping. The best white-water action is found on the West Coast near Karamea, but there is also good white water on the Buller River near Murchison, which forms part of the southern boundary of the park. Local knowledge is essential on these trips so use a local guiding company of good repute.

Eco-Stays

Twin Waters Lodge, to the west of Collingwood in Golden Bay, is often a first-night stop for trampers off the northern end of the Heaphy Track. Built on a finger of land jutting out into the Pakawau Inlet, it is a favored stopover for bird-watchers, who come to view the wading and migratory birdlife on the sand flats off Farewell Spit. Only 10 years old, the lodge features local timbers and uses a sound approach to ecological waste disposal, respecting its fragile coastal and estuarine setting. It is self-sufficient in water and uses solar heating for hot water throughout. It is an easy kickoff point for the western Kahurangi Park, Farewell Spit and the wild unspoiled waters of the Westhaven Inlet.