From the old mining settlement of Seddonville, on the northern end of the South Island's west coast, a popular walkway follows a disused private railway line through the native forest. A long time ago, the railway was used to haul timber and coal out of the Charming Creek valley.
The walk passes through several old railway tunnels, up to 30 metres long, and over several bridges. One bridge offers great views of the magnificent Mangatini Falls. At the base of the falls, look for the large, daisy-like clemisia morganii flowers - most New Zealand Celmisia's grow at much higher altitudes. Walkers may also be fortunate enough to catch sight of the rare, and very large, native carnivorous snail - powelliphanta. This unique New Zealand snail is known for its beautiful shiny shell with colours ranging from red and browns to yellow and black.
The walkway offers spectacular views of the surrounding countryside. The sheer bluffs of the Ngakawau Gorge and immense river boulders along the Ngakawau River create a dramatic final section as the track nears the seaside town of Hector.
The Charming Creek walkway is 10.5 kilometres long and takes around five hours to complete. A shorter option is to start at the Hector end and hike for about one hour to the Mangatini Falls.
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