Kaharungi National Park

Kaharungi National Park is one of the least visited parks in New Zealand. That is not because it isn’t amazing, quite the contrary. It is one of my favorites. What makes it less popular is that it is hard to get to, access into the park can be difficult or involve long shuttles and the terrain is pretty inhospitable. Despite all that, it is worth a visit if you have the time. Most of the really great hikes require a multi-day trek, but there are some notable day tramping possibilities. These are a few that you can do, but there are heaps of others.

Day Tramping:

Mt. Arthur (18 km, 960 M climbing, 7-8 hrs)

This is one the most accessible high alpine day tramps in Kaharungi and is just about an hour or so from Mapua. The drive up to the Flora car park (GPS -41.190005, 172.747014) where the trail starts is not for the faint of heart. Definitely don’t do it in bad weather or if it is icy. It is steep and quite narrow. Encountering another car requires some maneuvering to get around. A regular car can make it, but AWD or 4WD doesn’t hurt.

The first part of the hike goes through some lovely beech forests and climbs at a pretty moderate incline. The trail is quite well maintained all the way to the Mt. Arthur Hut (GPS -41.1965963, 172.715840). If, at this point, you have decided you don’t want to a gut-buster climb, you can always make a loop down to the Flora hut and then back to the car park.

After the Mt. Arthur hut, the trail climbs through a rougher section of tussock that in places is a bit washed out and rutted, but not too bad. You reach an amazing view plateau just above 1500 m. After this point, the trail gets a bit harder with some scree and some scrambles up some gullies. If you don’t feel like doing that, you can stop at the plateau and feel pretty happy with the view. That said, it is pretty nice at the top of the mountain. After you make the final scramble up the gully, you pop out onto a plateau that has amazing views in all directions.

Rolling Rock Car Park to Cecil King’s Hut, Return (up to 23 km)

This part of the longer Wangapeka Track but makes for a nice day hike. The hike starts at the Rolling Rock car park (GPS -41.443241, 172.581127) which is located about 45 minutes outside of Tapawera. It does require a decent length drive on a reasonably well maintained dirt road and crossing a pretty major ford on the Dart River. If the river is low, the ford is no problem. If it is high, then it is certain death. Act accordingly. You can check the flow here; make sure it is 30 or less.

The hike climbs gently along the Wangapeka River and is, generally, pretty easy despite the numerous small ups and downs. The first 3 kms are the least interesting with a lot of blackberries and gorse, but after that you enter into some really lovely beech forest.

The only slightly tricky part of the trail is navigating over the big landslide that dammed the river in 2011; it really isn’t bad though. Shortly after passing Ainsley’s Pool, you cross the Wangapeka River on a classic New Zealand swing bridge and hit a trail junction. To the right takes you up to Kiwi Burn hut and to the left (the way you want) continues on to the King’s Creek Hut and Cecil King’s Hut. The Cecil King hut is quite historic and is worth the extra kilometer or so to see it. Cecil King was a gold miner in the Depression, then for 46 years travelled from Wellington to Kahurangi to spend summers at his hut.

Lodestone Peak (7km, 610M climbing)

Another hike that starts from the Flora Car Park that you use for Mt. Arthur is Lodestone Peak. It is far less used and you are likely to have it to yourself. Be prepared though, it is a steep climb to the summit, but the views of Tasman Bay are spectacular.

HUT-to-HUT Tramping

Kaharungi has some of the greatest hut-to-hut trips in all of New Zealand. I have not done them all, but will still mention some of the great ones I haven’t.

The Heaphy Track: ( 4 to 7 days, 80 km)

This is one of the Great Walks and in many people’s estimation the best tramp in all of New Zealand. I have done it and would agree it is amazing. You read my blog from the trip to get a better sense. Although you will climb up to Perry Saddle and get to tussock, this hike is far more about the vegetation and the journey down to the West Coast sub-tropical forest. Be ready for some sandflies!

Mount Owen: (2 Days, 22 km, 900 m climbing)

This is the tallest mountain in the Kaharungi Ranges at 1875 meters. It is super unique in its landform because it is a big pile of limestone that has some cool karsts. You can do it as a 2 or 3 day endeavor…unless you are a nut job, then you can do it in one. The start of the trail is at Courthouse Flat Campground (GPS: -41.467675, 172.567188). The Granity Hut is a nice hut that you can use as a base for your ascent. You can read more about the tramp on my blogs: Camp IV and No Vip Section

Wangapeka: (4 to 6 Days, 59 km):

This trial is often referred to as the forgotten Heaphy Track. It gets very low use, but is incredibly beautiful. It does require a bit more experience and willingness to mash through some obstacles as compared to Heaphy. It also requires a pretty long shuttle. I have only done part of it as a day hike, but am looking forward to doing the full trip. The DOC brochure for the tramp has good details and descriptions of the track

The track starts at the Rolling Rock car park described in the day tramp section. You could also do it the other way and start on West Coast side near Karamea.

Old Ghost Road: (4 to 5 days, 85 km)

We have not done the Old Ghost Road as of yet, but it is definitely on the list. People say it is amazing and it is a must do.

The official web site for the trail is found here. According to that website “In the North West corner of the South Island of New Zealand a ghost has awakened. A long-forgotten gold miners’ road has been revived as a mountain biking and tramping trail – connecting the old dray road in the Lyell (Upper Buller Gorge) to the mighty Mōkihinui River in the north. The 85km-long Old Ghost Road traverses majestic native forest, open tussock tops, river flats and forgotten valleys.“

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