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Kahurangi National Park

Kahurangi National Park is huge, at 452,000 hectares it is the second largest in New Zealand. Kahurangi is a mixed of untracked wilderness and some fantastic scenery reached by a network network of tracks that enables you to explore wild rivers, high plateaux, alpine grasslands and coastal forests.

Kahurangi contains by an abundance of caves, bluffs, natural arches, sinkholes and water-worn outcrops. The varied landscape contains numerous different habitats which hold an abundance of wildilfe. Several threatened species survive here such as the rock wren and the great spotted kiwi.

Carnivorous land snails: 20 species of carnivorous land snail (Powelliphanta) live in the park; they can sometimes be seen near limestone outcrops though they tend to only come out from hiding on damp nights to feed on native worms that can grow up to a metre long.

Wildlife highlights: Rock wren, Great Spotted kiwi, New Zealand falcon, Yellowhead, Blue duck, Kea, Kaka, Land snails, Weta, Cave beetle and Nelson cave spider.

Access & location: Kahurangi is situated in the northwest corner of the South Island. Motueka, Takaka, Karamea, Tapawera and Murchison are the park's gateway towns, and there are carparks within the park accessible from each town, as well as a network of tracks.

Accommodation. There are 4 capsites and more than 50 huts within the park. Click here for more information.  

These maps are intended as a guideline only; you must check the exact location of the reserve yourself. Wildlife Extra assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or usefulness of the information on this website.