Kahurangi National Park
Kahurangi National Park was created in 1996, and is one of New Zealand's newest National Parks as well as being the second largest, at 452,002 hectares. In places it is an untracked wilderness, elsewhere a wonderful network of tracks lets you explore wild rivers, high plateaux and alpine herbfields, and coastal forests.
The vegetation is notably different from one side of the park to the other and especially from the coast to the mountains. Beech forest is dominant on the east side while on the west side there is plenty of podocarp forest with a rich understory of ferns, vines and shrubs. On the coast stands of nikau palms give the forest an almost tropical look. 80% of New Zealand's alpine species can be found in the high reaches of the park.
Wildlife highlights: 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. Rock wren, New Zealand falcon, Kea, Kaka, Yellowhead, Blue duck, Great spotted kiwi, Cave weta, Cave beetle and Nelson cave spider are also seen.
Location: Kahurangi is about 70 kilometres east of Nelson, not far from Motueka and to the east of Abel Tasman National Park. Thre are several car parks in the park as well as a network of tracks including the Heaphy track. There are regular bus services to Motueka, Takaka and, in summer, to the start of the Heaphy Track.
Accommodation: There are several back-country huts and campsites in the park.
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.
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