Karamea Must Do's

10 'Must Do's' for Karamea, West Coast

KARAMEA 'MUST DO's'!

With a population of just 650, Karamea is one of the last unspoilt corners of New Zealand, sandwiched between the Southern Alps and the Tasman Sea, surrounded by Kahurangi National Park. The end of the road, top of the West Coast, start or finish of the Heaphy Track.

From Westport, State Highway 67 winds over the coastal bluffs and introduces both the temperate climate and the air of isolation! The perfect place to get off the grid but with sealed roads, a well maintained aerodrome and even a nine hole golf course.

This is where the valleys of farmland leads to Gondwana-like tropical forests and limestone cave systems, millions of years in the making.

Top 10 Activities

1. Honey Comb Hill Cave and Kayak Tour with the Oparara Experience.
2. Explore the Oparara Valley limestone arches and Mirror Tarn.
3. Walk to Scott’s Beach along the start of the Heaphy Track.
4. Walk the Fenian Track to see the gold diggings and limestone caves.
5. Visit the Colonial Museum then wander the Karamea Estuary Walk.
6. Go heli-rafting on the Karamea River.
7. Follow the signs from the Market Cross and visit the Land of Promise and the Karamea Gorge.
8. Book a trip with a local fly fishing guide.
9. Eat wild food at the Village Hotel, Karamea.
10. Mountain bike the K Road tracks.

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