The Paparoa Great Walk was opened on November 30th 2019. It is the first great walk to be created in New Zealand in 25 years. It has been created to be a lasting memorial for the 29 men who lost their lives in the Pike River mining tragedy in New Zealand in 2010. The great walk goes through the Paparoa Ranges from Blackball in the south to Punakaiki in the north. The track is 55 km long with brand new DOC huts strategically positioned along the way.
The track is open to both hikers and mountain bikes and should be a must do for both.
The scenery changes through the track from climbing up river valleys, to mountain top tussock, to lush forest. The track has taken over two years to construct in a very remote and inhospitable environment, and is generally a relatively easy hike.
