Location: Karamea
Top Things to do in Karamea
Top 10 Things to do in Karamea, New Zealand
Karamea in New Zealand, from South Pacific region, is best know for Nature & Wildlife Areas. Discover best things to do in Karamea with beautiful photos and great reviews from traveller around the world here!
Restaurants in Karamea
1. Oparara Basin
Overall Ratings
5 based on 75 reviews
Reviewed By muffworm - London, United Kingdom
If you can make the drive up the terrifying 16km single lane, windy, hairpin gravel road then what awaits at the end is worth the slog 35-40 min driving slog.
At the main car park there are toilets and sheltered areas for having your picnic lunch and lots of information on the area. Bring plenty of drinking water with you as there are no water Fountains here.
There is an approx 50-65 min round trip walk to the Oparara Arch and approx 40-60 min round trip walk to the Moria Gate Arch - both should be done.
You can then drive up to the next little car park and walk to the Box Canyon Cave and the Crazy Paving Cave.
BRING A TORCH or you will get there and be disappointed as it is too pitch black to be able to see and walk into the caves without one. And they are super chilly inside so if you feel the cold, take a shirt.
If you want to go as far as the Honeycomb Hill Caves you will need to book an official guide as this is a restricted area and you cannot venture in alone due to the delicate ecological nature of this special place.
The Karamea Information and Resource Centre at Market Cross in Karamea will be able to help you organise this. Min 2 persons for the guided cave walk.
WEAR PROPER CLOSED WALKING SHOES as some areas are slippery on the walks and you’ll want to protect your feet/toes.
So glad we did this. Simply stunning in every way. Enjoy.
2. Charming Creek Walkway
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 46 reviews
Always check the website for changes that might affect your trip.
Reviewed By runtrails - Bozeman, MT
This hike was done at the recommendation of a local. We thought at first it was nothing but a dirty creek (due to mining cleanup). However, the old railroad bed, the various sidings and even a tunnel were very scenic. Then we came upon a swinging bridge with a neat waterfall just beyond it about 4 miles out.
3. Oparara Kahurangi National Park Guided Tours
Overall Ratings
5 based on 27 reviews
Reviewed By PETER T - Christchurch, New Zealand
An Impressive scenic drive of 16 km along the well maintained graded road. We saw a furry goat and arrived at a GOOD car park with TOILETS and Information Panels, which explained the Gondwanaland split, Limestone v Granite, Passed Wood Milling (for Rimu) and DOC Conservation . We were lucky to have a tame Weka as a Guide, until it got boared with us and dived into the bush (undergrowth). Unfortunately no Blue Ducks came to share our Sammies, but they are very rare at the moment (nesting, babies etc).
The 1lkm walk to the Arch was EASY and we managed it in about 20 minutes.
The Limestone Arch was awesome and spectacular as it towered 43m above us. Alexis was fascinated by the signs of the water cascade over the limestone face, though like the Whitebait, none was running. David said that Deer had been down to the river to drink in a lovely brown water pool.
The Limestone Cavern was spectacular, with Stalagmites and Stalagtites. As it was light we did not see any bats or glow worms, but we understand they exist.
WELL WORTH THE DETOUR from Karamea or the end of the Heraphy Track at Kohaihai.
4. Karamea Helicopter Charters
Overall Ratings
5 based on 17 reviews
Reviewed By EMS4321 - England, United Kingdom
My husband and I treated ourselves to our first ever helicopter trip during our honeymoon in NZ.
We took a flight from Kohaihai carpark (near Karamea) where we left our campervan, to the Heaphy Hut.
It was just us in the helicopter with the Pilot who told us all about the track and area along the way which was great to hear.
The flight took us along with the sea to our left and the Kahurangi national park to our right which was stunning!
It was amazing being dropped on the grass landing area with the beautiful surroundings to start the 5 hour trek along the Heaphy Track back to Kohaihai carpark.
The track itself was beautiful too (we only saw a handful of people towards the end for the whole 4 1/2 hours it took us). There were swing Bridges, palm trees, wild birds and of course the walks along the Beaches which were picture perfect!
It was worth every penny and the best day of our whole 5 weeks in NZ!
5. Moria Gate Mirror Tarn Loop
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 10 reviews
Always check the website for changes that might affect your trip.
Reviewed By Dearmans - Hastings, United Kingdom
We started at the small second car park, so got to the tarn first. We were there about 10:00 and got some good reflection photos. We got to the Moria view point and you get a good view of the arch with its draping foliage. You have to walk up and over to reach the entrance to the cave/back of the arch. It's well worth the scrabble down. The path returns you to the main car park so it's a 500m walk back up the road to get your vehicle. There are spotless toilets, interesting information boards and picnic benches at the main car park. We were there on a cold, crisp day (1 degree) and didn't see another person or vehicle from leaving to returning to Karamea. I had read it was a flat walk - it wasn't! It took us 2 hours but we spent at least 30-40 minutes under the arch. Well maintained paths throughout, although I was glad of my decent walking boots.
Well worth a visit.
6. Oparara Basin Walking Tracks
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5 reviews
Reviewed By Simon E - Wakefield, New Zealand
Fen-ian is actually one word, but spelling it without the - Tripadvisor states its a swear word ??
Anyway, the walk is about 3 to 4 hours, we went with my wife and 10 and 13 year old boys. The track for the 1st hour is a lovely easy walk through native bush beside the Oparara River. Once you reach the cave part of the walk you leave the main track and then the path becomes a bit of a rough walk through the bush to reach the 1st of 3 caves. Now you need your torch to explore the 1st deadend cave then its onto the 2nd cave. This is the fun part, this cave you can walk right through, its about 80-100 metres long with a bit of a scramble in the middle, the lowest point you need to crouch but not crawl and you need to watch out for bumping you head. You all need good torches to see properly but turn them off half way through to see the glow worms. Apon exiting the cave you walk to the 3rd cave to explore and then its about a 20 min walk back to the main track with an hour or so back to the car park.
7. Mirror Tarn Walk
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6 reviews
Always check the website for changes that might affect your trip.
Reviewed By b B - Saint Louis, Missouri
Be prepared for a slow easy drive on a well maintained gravel road to reach the Basin area. Once you reach the parking areas near the end of the road you will be glad you persevered. The walks are great for anyone interested in geology. You can see a river that looks like it carved its own gigantic tunnel (Note: this is karst country). The Box Canyon Cave is a delightful underground playground. It is large enough to explore large caverns and tight belly crawls. While not so large to get lost or exhausted in.
8. Karamea Outdoor Adventures
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By Ralph777051 - Wellington
Chilling out in Karamea and looking for an outdoorsy experience took the four of us to the Karamea Outdoor Centre. Sylvia the Owner was on hand to meet us and suggested a kayaking trip on the Estuary. Sounded good, so we booked that trip. Later in the day we reported in and Sylvia managed to upgrade us slightly to the Oparara River experience, a couple of hours kayaking down a gentle grade 1 river. The cost of this was $55 a head.
In short order the equipment was assembled, wet suits fitted and we were transported to the launch site.
After a quick safety brief and ten minutes instruction to learn how to handle the Minnow Sit Ins we set off downstream. It was a very pleasant day and for the next two hours we navigated down to the river mouth. The rapids were easy enough though all of us fell out at least once. Sun was beating down, there were various waterfowl to observe, all in all a quasi-wilderness experience.
After we passed under the bridge and reached the sea Sylvia appeared and collected us and transported us back to base.
What to like
A nice cruise down-stream with the occasional upset to keep us damp
The operator Sylvia provided a good brief and gently taught us the finer nuances of river kayaking
Downside – can’t think of anything
Disclosure of Interest - This was our first experience of this sort of fun and we all enjoyed it and came away wanting more.
Would I do it again - Yep, next time it will be onto the Karamea River for Grade 2 kayaking, or up the Gorge for river bugging.
9. Big Rimu Tree
Overall Ratings
4 based on 4 reviews
Reviewed By Simon E - Wakefield, New Zealand
A easy stroll through the forest leads you to Big Rimu, guardian of the forest. A lovely shady walk suitable for the whole family and only about 20 mins each way. Name plaques teach us of the different local flora and fauna along the way so the walk is educating as well as enjoyable.
At the end of the walk is Big Rimu, watching over the rest of the forest and standing tall and proud for hundreds of years.
Can you spot his friend the Troll ??
10. Kahurangi Point Lighthouse
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By OVERSZ - South Island, New Zealand
I love this place. Only accessible by hiking or at Spring Low Tides by 4WD. That's how I get there, 4WD. I go with my 4WD Club so as a group we can overcome some of the obstacles in our way. Such as dangerous river crossings.
The views are magnificent and the DOC Lighthouse Keepers House (Hut) is a great place to stay.
Here is an extract from the DOC web Page.
Allow 4 hours from Anatori or 3 hours from Turimawiwi River to walk to Kahurangi Point. Cross Anatori River on foot and head out to the coastline. The walk to Kahurangi Point is an unmarked route along the beach; a wild and often windswept coastline in a vast, isolated landscape. The weather, sea and tide conditions can make travel dangerous and in some cases impossible.
There are two rivers that must be crossed at or close to low water. Do not attempt to cross when they are in flood and always cross cautiously as river conditions change daily. Check the tide tables in the newspaper or at the Golden Bay i-SITE Information Centre. Anaweka River must be crossed at the beach as there is no way around the wide estuary inland.
At Big River it is occasionally possible to cross at the river mouth if it's shallow enough and sea conditions allow. If not, head up the estuary and wade across where its seems the shallowest. Exercise personal judgement as to whether the crossing can be made safely.
After Big River, the beach gives way to huge inter-tidal rock platforms near Kahurangi Point. Just before the point is Kahurangi Keepers' House. This house was made originally from the nearby houses of the former lighthouse keepers and altered to its present shape in 2003.
A short walk further on around the coast takes you to the lighthouse, built in 1903. The house is not visible from the beach so look for the sign and orange marker. If you sight the lighthouse you have gone too far.
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