Walks in the Hokitika Area, from Kumara to Ross Brochure
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WEST COAST Nau mai, haere mai, Walking and tauti mai cycling trails in the Hokitika area Welcome The Hokitika area extends from the Taramakau From Kumara to Ross River and Kumara in the north to Ross in the south, and inland to the Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri o te Moana. It covers popular spots such as Lake Mahinapua (known locally as Lake Canoe Cove Photo: Shellie Evans Mahināpua), Lake Kaniere and the Hokitika Gorge, and offers a range of walking and other recreational opportunities. Know before you go The Hokitika landscape has been affected by several periods of glaciation, the most recent 14,000 years ago. Retreating Dogs and domestic animals are not permitted at glaciers left behind rich floodplains, wetlands and moraine Lake Kaniere, Lake Mahinapua or Hokitika Gorge terraces of glacial mud and gravel, and deposited fine gold scenic reserves. Permits for dogs at all other areas can particles and pounamu (New Zealand jade or greenstone) be obtained at the Hokitika DOC office. from the Southern Alps. No unauthorised drones on conservation land. Forests in the area offer a range of environments, from old Note that drone use is unlikely to be authorised for growth bush in the mountains to remnant lowland forest on the scenic reserves or near campsites. Contact the the coastal plains. These ecosystems support birds such as Hokitika DOC office for information on how to apply. pīwakawaka/fantail, tūī, korimako/bellbird and kererū/New Zealand pigeon, and less-common species such as weka, Mountain biking is permitted on certain trails near kākāriki/parakeet and kōtuku/white heron. lakes Kaniere and Mahinapua. Look for the mountain biking icon next to track descriptions. Cyclists should Human industry over the years has left its mark. Kumara, take care and respect others on the track. Goldsborough and Ross all reflect their gold-rush heritage, and historic logging is highlighted in the Lake Mahinapua area. Gold fossicking is permitted at the Goldsborough This brochure outlines walks managed by the Department of campsite and Jones Creek near Ross, subject to certain Conservation (DOC) within the Hokitika area from Kumara to rules. Know the rules before you pan. Ross. Walking times range from 2 min to 7 hr. This brochure Search for ‘gold fossicking’ on the DOC website also briefly describes the West Coast Wilderness Trail for more information. (jointly managed by local councils and DOC) and identifies opportunities for camping, gold fossicking, swimming, boating, bird watching, picnicking and sites of historical interest. There are many backcountry huts and tracks for experienced trampers and hunters. Check the DOC website for more information. 1 1 West Coast Wilderness Trail Track grades 2 Londonderry Rock Walk Walking and tramping 3 Goldsborough (Shamrock) Track Easy access short walk: Suitable for people 4 Goff's Track of all abilities, wheelchairs and pushchairs. Shantytown w R iv S hantytown Ne ver Walking shoes required. 5 German Gully Pack Track Dunganville CCamerons amerons Marsden Short walk: Well-formed track with easy 6 Tunnel Terrace Walk walking for up to an hour. Suitable for most abilities and fitness levels. Walking 7 Kaniere Water Race Walkway Kumara JJunction unction shoes required. 8 Kahikatea Forest Walk Walking track: Easy-to-moderate 9 Lake Kaniere Walkway walking from a few minutes to a day. KKumara umara Track is mostly well formed; some 10 Canoe Cove Walk Awatuna SSEE E E 2 sections may be steep, rough or muddy. GOLDSBOROUGH Dillmanstown 11 Mount Tuhua Track WALKS Walking shoes required. 6 5 4 Taramakau River River Tramping track: Challenging day or 12 Dorothy Falls Big Hohonu RiverRiver A ra Goldsborough multi-day tramping/hiking. May have steep h u 3 ra (Waimea) 13 Hokitika Gorge Walk R grades. Suitable for fit, experienced and iv ve r adequately equipped people. Tramping Mananui Bush 14 HokHokitika itik a boots required. Turiwhate 15 Mananui Tramline (Mahinapua Walkway) Turiwhate SSEE E E Kaniere KKANIERE AN IE R E Biking 16 Picnic Point SSEE E E WALKS MAHINAPUA Grade 2 (easy): Mostly flat, smooth K Wainihinihi WALKS K an WoodsWoodstock tock iere 7 Jum Michel Track R iv track with some gentle climbs and 17 Mananui RRimu imu er 14 15 easily avoidable obstacles such as rocks Hokitika River Hokitika 18 Bellbird Walk River Hokitika 19 10 and potholes. 17 Milltown B 8 Milltown ig W RuatapuR uatapu a 19 Swimmers Beach ain Grade 4 (advanced): Track may be 18 ihin 16 nihi R iver 11 narrow and/or have poor traction and Ross Water Race Walkway 1 ADVANCED 20 Kokatahi 9 have a mixture of long, steep climbs, 12 and obstacles that are difficult to avoid 21 Ross Historic Cemetery 1 Arahura R iver r e or jump over. It is generally exposed at iv 22 Mount Greenland R ra ta the track’s outer edge. Some sections are o T H Kowhitirangi o easier to walk. k K o r i ka x R iver t ta S tyx i hi k R iver a R Grade 5 (expert): Technically i v e 20 21 r er EXPERT challenging. A narrow track with giant Ross iv R os s T R o n a a r climbs and numerous hazards, including o K m r h o r a 22 a k a H R o H t dangerous drop-offs, sharp corners and i a SSEE E E v h e i RROSS OS S r R i difficult obstacles. Expect walking and v MikonuiWALKS e r some bike carrying. RRiver iver 13 N 0 5 10 km PublicPublic conservation conservation land WalkingTramping track track StateSealed highway road SealedCCar ar PPark ark road Campsite SShort hortShort walk walk TrampingState highwaytrack MetalledToilets road Toilets Car park WalkingWest Coast track Wilderness Trail Metalled road CCampsite ampsite RR201477 201477 4 Goff's Track W 45 min, 1.5 km one way N aim e a C Signposted from the campsite, this walk branches off the Cr A ee L k L longer Goldsborough Track about 15 min from the start. It joins 6 A G the Scandinavian Hill Road after a 30-min climb. Combine this H A N walk with German Gully Pack Track for a 90-min loop walk. 5 4 S ST Goldsborough R A O FF S 5 German Gully Pack Track O Campsite ham A RD roc D LO k C 30 min, 900 m one way OP ree RO k Goldsborough AD This track, signposted from the campsite, climbs out of the (Waimea) valley and emerges on the Scandinavian Hill Road. It passes S T A several old gold workings. Combine this walk with Goff's Track F F 3 Goldsborough (Shamrock) Track O for a 90-min loop walk. R 3 D L 4 Goff's Track O 6 O Tunnel Terrace Walk P 5 German Gully Pack Track R 20 min, 700 m loop O A D 6 Tunnel Terrace Walk 0 250 500 m This a great option for kids with lots to keep them interested. Entry and exit points are via miner’s tail-race tunnels. The track Public conservation land Tramping track Sealed road Shelter Car park meanders through old gold workings. Take care as a small section of trail requires walking along the road to loop back to Walking trackPublic conservation landMetalled road Tramping trackToilet Sealed roadCampsite CampsitePicnic table Car park R201477 the car park. Walking track Metalled road Toilets Shelter Picnic table Access: Walk starts off Stafford Loop Road, about 2 km north west of the Goldsborough campsite. Goldsborough (Waimea)/Kumara area 2 Londonderry Rock Walk (see main map) 20 min, 540 m return Goldsborough, between Kumara and Hokitika, was once a thriving town of over 6,000 people – all in search of gold. A short walking track passing through tailings and old gold The town is gone but the gold is not. Today, you can base workings to view Londonderry Rock – a surprisingly huge yourself at the campsite and picnic area, explore history on the boulder that was too large for miners to move or break. walks and even try your luck in the public gold fossicking area. Access: Turn off SH73, 1 km east of Kumara onto a metalled road running alongside a water race. Follow the signs to the car park. Stay on the tracks as there are old mine shafts throughout the bush. 3 Goldsborough (Shamrock) Track 4 hr, 8 km one way Access: From SH6, turn onto Stafford Loop Road about 8 km The track can be tramped from either end but is easier from north of Hokitika. The Goldsborough camping and picnic area the old Callaghans township, finishing at Goldsborough. is about 8 km along the road. From SH73, turn onto Stafford From Callaghans, the track follows several steep ridgelines Loop Road at Dillmanstown. The Goldsborough camping and and water races, dropping down to the Shamrock Creek valley picnic area is about 9 km along the road. where the grade is easier for the final 1.5 km. The track passes historic features like mining tunnels, dams, sluice faces, tailings and water races. Access: Callaghans Road turnoff is 5.5 km towards Dillmanstown from the Goldsborough campsite. Arrange transport for your Photo: Tony Thrupp return trip before departing. Tunnel Terrace Lake Kaniere Scenic Reserve 7 Kaniere Water Race Walkway Mountain biking: The section from the Landing to Wards Road Walk: 3 hr 30 min – 4 hr (with a 1 hr option), is part of the West Coast Wilderness Trail, an easy (grade 2) Lake Kaniere is one of the most beautiful lakes in New Zealand 10 km one way ride.