Westport to Karamea
A scenic costal drive from Westport brings you to Karamea. Until the road was built in 1915 the only way to come was by steamer from Westport.
Karamea
Kahurangi National Park, host to the Heaphy and Wangapeka Tracks and the Opera Basin.
Oparara Basin Walks
25 km north of Karamea, the Basin is home to impressive limestone formations surrounded by bush.
Moria Gate Arch
1 hour return - easy
Start: Take the small footbridge at the carpark.
Walk through rainforest to the arch stretching over the Oparara River.
Oparara Arch
45 min return - easy
Start: Take the left hand track before the Oparara bridge and follow the river upstream to the large limestone arch.
Crazy Paving and Box Canyon Caves
30 min return - take your torch with you!
Start: 2.5 km past the arch carpark
Two caves to explore. Box Canyon Cave is a large open cave with limestone passages off to the side.
Honeycomb Hill Caves and Arch
The cave has a system of over 15 kilometres. There are Moa bones and other extinct bird species at the cave. Contact the Karamea Information & Resource Centre for guided tours as you can't get there on your own.
Heaphy Track
4 days
The 82km long Track takes you to Collingwood at Golden Bay. It leads through Tussock covered downs, river flats, lush forest and of course along the scenic Westcoast.
