Walk Details
NZ Walking Routes > West Coast > Westport - Buller - Reefton > Oparara Basin short walks
Oparara Basin short walks
- Location
- An old forestry road provides access for walkers, cavers and other nature lovers to the Oparara Basin. The road branches inland approximately nine kilometres north of Karamea on the road to Kohaihai. It is a further 12 km to the arches car park and another three kilometres to the caves car park.
- Description
The Oparara Basin in one of the finest features of the Kahurangi National Park.For a million years the Oparara River system has been at work sculpting the 35 million-year-old limestone basin into an intriguing complex of caves, arches and channels.
Mirror Tarn (30 mins)
A short distance along the road past the arches car park, a sign points along a bush track toward this secretive spot. A pool full of dark water reflects tall trees and rich birdsong fills the air. Here you are called on to joyfully reflect on the foresight of a local bushman who noted the rimu trees around the tarn had been tagged for felling and his successful argument to have the beauty preserved.
Crazy Paving Cave (10 mins)
From the car park three kilometres beyond the arch tracks, take a torch and follow a short bush track to the cave entrance. Be extra careful not to step off the track and not to step on any of the large spiders that live in the cave. Take a look at the ceiling – another example of nature’s art.
Box Canyon Cave (10 mins)
At the end of the main track carefully descend the steps to the cave. Explore its blocky recesses in complete freedom and take a hard look at the ceiling for fossils – look but don’t touch.
- Level
- Easy
- Amenities
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- Birds
- Carpark
- Historical
- Plant Life
- Source
- www.doc.govt.nz
- Discussion
- Start a discussion on this walk