Mäori first settled here at least 800 years ago, the sea, Haast Visitor Centre Introduction coast and navigable rivers providing main points of access. Mäori settlement and activity was centred around Information on the Te Wähipounamu - South West New The Haast area is more than a collection of small gathering, carving and trading precious jade, known as Zealand World Heritage Area, other lands administered by settlements near the main highway or along the road to pounamu (greenstone). Jackson Bay Okahu. It is a diverse region, stretching the Department of Conservation, tracks, accommodation European settlement was attempted at Jackson Bay Okahu from Knights Point to the Cascade Valley and inland to the and advice on recreational opportunities in the Haast area during the 1870s. The pioneers’ attempt to “tame” the forest-lined Haast Pass. The area offers a wide variety of can be obtained from the Haast Visitor Centre at Haast landscape was largely unsuccessful but their efforts left scenery, chances to view wildlife and many recreational (situated on the corner of SH6 and the Jackson Bay Road). a tradition of South Westland residents as being tough, opportunities. Hut tickets, hunting permits, maps, conservation souvenirs resilient and independent. and publications can also be obtained from the visitor The region is famous for it’s dramatic coastline - the This brochure should help visitors find their way around the centre. EFTPOS is available. sweeping curves of beaches, the rugged cliff tops, and Haast area. Displays at the Department of Conservation’s the striking rock formations at Knights Point south of Lake Haast Visitor Centre and at other sites within the World Moeraki. Heritage Area will help people understand and appreciate Walks north of the Haast River Here the visitor can travel through a series of unspoiled what makes this area one of New Zealand’s finest. natural environments, often in a continous sequence, from The main route through Haast, State Highway 6, is part of To Blow Fly Hut the sea through ancient sand dunes, lakes and forests of the heritage highway system. Access to many walks and Part of the Historic Haast - Paringa Cattle Track different types, to the backdrop of the Southern Alps, a scenic attractions is directly off this highway. Time: 3 to 4 hours return mountain chain dividing east from west. This landscape, Walking times are average times and do not include resting Distance: 6.6 km return so wild and remote, lay relatively undisturbed until 1965 or viewing stops. Leads to a large ephemeral lake with fine views of when Haast was finally linked by road to the rest of the granite cliffs at the head of the valley. Dogs and domestic animals are not permitted in National West Coast. Parks or Reserves. Monro Beach Walk It is an area abundant with wildlife. Fiordland crested Time: 1 hour 20 minutes return penguins (tawaki) may be seen at Monro Beach during the Distance: 3.3 km return Look after yourself spring. Forest birds include the threatened kaka, (a large An easy walk through luxuriant coastal forest to the native parrot), Haast tokoeka (kiwi) and falcon (karearea). remote Monro Beach. Between July and December tawaki Although the walks described are recommended to day (Fiordland crested penguin) might be seen in the surf and At the extreme end of the road south on the West Coast visitors, the nature of the West Coast means that weather on the beach. side is the Cascade Valley. Close to the road end is the and track conditions can change dramatically in a short Cascade viewpoint that offers views of the markedly time. Visitors are advised to call at the Department of Kahikatea Swamp Forest Walk different scenery of the Cascade Plateau and the Red Conservation offices or visitor centres to check on current (at Ship Creek Tauperikaka) Hills. This glacier-carved landscape lacks the forest that track conditions. Strong shoes or boots are recommended Time: 20 minutes return dominates elsewhere in the region. Instead it has stark for anyone planning more than a few minutes walk. Be Distance: 1 km return barrenness due to a concentration of naturally occurring prepared for rain at any time of the year. For longer walks A gentle walk following the slow flowing Ship minerals that inhibit plant growth. The abundance of iron in pack a small first aid kit and take some food and drink. Creek Tauperikaka. A creek-side viewpoint allows easy this mineral mix gives the rocks a red colour for which the Insect repellent is recommended to ward off sandflies and observation of the forest plants and wildlife. The track hills are named. mosquitoes. loops through an area of dense swamp forest where This superb diversity of features was recognised nationally Leave your intentions with a reliable contact. stunning specimens of New Zealand’s tallest tree, the with the creation of Mt Aspiring National Park, and kahikatea can be seen. internationally with the establishment, in 1991, of the Te Dune Lake Walk (at Ship Creek Tauperikaka) Wähipounamu - South West New Zealand World Heritage Look after the environment Area. World Heritage status means this part of New Time: 30 minutes loop walk Zealand has been recognised as being among the world’s All native plants, wildlife, natural features and historic sites Distance: 1 km loop foremost natural landscapes. are strictly protected. Please take rubbish away and do not This walk winds through dense coastal forest light fires except where facilities are provided at designated stunted by wind. It opens out to provide manificent photo Haast has always been a place where residents and camping sites. (See also environmental care code printed opportunities from platforms overlooking the dune lake and visitors have been continually challenged and inspired by elswhere in this brochure). the sweep of coastline south-west to Jackson Head. the environment. Department of Conservation Safety Haast Te Papa Atawhai Please pass on any comments about the facilities or Walks and activities The scenic reserves, national parks and other protected walks described in this brochure to the Department of lands in the Haast area are adminstered by the Department Conservation’s South Westland Weheka Area Office in in the Haast area of Conservation as part of the Department’s West Coast Tai Fox Glacier or the Haast Awarua Field Centre located in Poutini Conservancy. the Haast Visitors Centre. If it is a safety issue you may contact: WEST COAST TAI POUTINI Management and conservation work at the local level represented in this document is provided from South Westland Weheka Area Office located at Fox Glacier and Haast Awarua Field Centre located at Haast. Brochures, maps, hunting permits, hut tickets and general information are available from these offices. Further information on the Department of Conservation can Further information be found on the Department’s website. www.doc.govt.nz Track standards Haast Awarua Field Centre/ Haast Visitor Centre Easy access short Department of Conservation walk - wheelchair accessible PO Box 50, Haast Ph 03 750 0809 Protect plants and Fax 03 750 0832 animals Short walk - easy Remove rubbish walking for up to South Westland Weheka Bury toilet waste an hour Te Wähipounamu - South West New Zealand Area Office Keep streams and World Heritage Area Department of Conservation lakes clean Walking track - gentle PO Box 9, Fox Glacier walking from a few Ph 03 751 0807 Take care with fires minutes to a day South West New Zealand is one Fax 03 751 0858 of the great wilderness areas of Camp carefully the Southern Hemisphere. Tramping track - Known to Mäori as Te West Coast Tai Poutini Keep to the track backcountry skills and Wähipounamu (the place of Conservancy Office Consider others experience needed greenstone), the South West Department of Conservation New Zealand World Heritage Respect our cultural Area incorporates Aoraki/ Private Bag 701 heritage Mt.Cook, Westland/Tai Poutini, 10 Sewell Street Enjoy your visit Route - navigation Fiordland and Mount Aspiring Hokitika and high level National Parks, covering 2.6 Toitu te whenua backcountry skills and Ph 03 756 9100 million hectares. (Leave the land experience required. World Heritage is a global Fax 03 756 9195 undisturbed) concept that identifies natural email: [email protected] and cutural sites of world significance - places so special Published by that protecting them is of Department of Conservation concern for all people. West Coast Tai Poutini Conservancy Some of the best examples of Private Bag 701 (photo: P McDonald - DOC) Knights Point animals and plants once found Hokitika on the ancient supercontinent 2008 Gondwana live in the World Crown copyright Heritage Area. 9 421005 173703 > Haast Pass highway walks Jackson Bay Okahu highway walks Other things to see and do Roaring Billy Falls Walk Hapuka Estuary Walk Jackson Bay Shelter Time: 30 minutes return Time: 20 minutes loop walk Interpretation panels tell various stories of the nature and Distance: 526 m return Distance: 1 km history of Jackson Bay Okahu. An easy walk along a track lined with fern, passing This walk takes the visitor into the intertidal zone. Ollivier Grave some fine examples of miro, mätai and silver beech trees. Information panels explain the ecology of the estuary, the The broad gravel bed of the Haast River is in contrast to story of whitebait and the rich birdlife. Photo opportunities Situated on the foreshore at Jackson Bay Okahu near the jumble of huge boulders over which the aptly named abound, especially in the spring when the köwhai is in the start of the Wharekai/Te Kou Walk, this is the earliest recorded European grave site on the West Coast. Roaring Billy cascades. flower and tui, korimako (bellbird) and kereru (native pigeon) are in abundance.