NELSON TRAILS

Nikau Walk

Kahurangi National Park

Nikau Walk is a short walk beginning at the Kōhaihai (West Coast) end of the Heaphy Track. The walk passes through what is reputedly the largest stand of nikau palms in the South Island.

Details
Length 1.7 km return to Kōhaihai car park
Time Required 30 min
Trail Type Walking track
Physical Difficulty Easy   
Uses Walking and trail running
Dog Access Dogs are prohibited in Kahurangi National Park

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Connections

Heaphy Track

Heaphy Hut

  Walking, trail running and MTB

Scotts Beach

  Walking, trail running and MTB

Access and description

  20 min from Karamea

 

Kōhaihai is the West Coast gateway to the Heaphy Track. To get to Kōhaihai from Karamea, continue north along Kōhaihai Road, following the road signs.

 

At Kōhaihai, located at the Kōhaihai River mouth, you will find the Heaphy Track car park, along with a DOC campsite, where there are flush toilets, drinking water and barbecues. Information panels detail history of the track and area, as well as times and distances, and any warnings in place.

 

From the car park, the Heaphy Track follows alongside the Kōhaihai River for a short distance before crossing it via suspension bridge, a short distance upstream of the mouth. Immediately on the other side, you will enter what is reputedly the South Island’s largest stand of nikau palms. This is where Nikau Walk, branches off. The easy, flat walking track heads through dense nikau, kiekie and ferns, with northern rata and rimu also featuring in the canopy. The other end of the the loop links back with Heaphy Track. Turn here to head back to the Kōhaihai car park.

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Nikau Walk
Kahurangi National Park

Nikau Walk is a short walk beginning at the Kōhaihai (West Coast) end of the Heaphy Track. The walk passes through what is reputedly the largest stand of nikau palms in the South Island.

Details
Length 1.7 km return to Kōhaihai car park
Time Required 30 min
Trail Type Walking track
Physical Difficulty Easy   
Uses Walking and trail running
Dog Access Dogs are prohibited in Kahurangi National Park


If any layers fail to load, try clearing your cache and refreshing the page.

 

Access and description

  20 min from Karamea

 

Kōhaihai is the West Coast gateway to the Heaphy Track. To get to Kōhaihai from Karamea, continue north along Kōhaihai Road, following the road signs.

 

At Kōhaihai, located at the Kōhaihai River mouth, you will find the Heaphy Track car park, along with a DOC campsite, where there are flush toilets, drinking water and barbecues. Information panels detail history of the track and area, as well as times and distances, and any warnings in place.

 

From the car park, the Heaphy Track follows alongside the Kōhaihai River for a short distance before crossing it via suspension bridge, a short distance upstream of the mouth. Immediately on the other side, you will enter what is reputedly the South Island’s largest stand of nikau palms. This is where Nikau Walk, branches off. The easy, flat walking track heads through dense nikau, kiekie and ferns, with northern rata and rimu also featuring in the canopy. The other end of the the loop links back with Heaphy Track. Turn here to head back to the Kōhaihai car park.

Connections

Heaphy Track

Heaphy Hut

Walking, trail running and MTB

Scotts Beach

Walking, trail running and MTB

Updated 26 January 2023