Charming Creek Walkway
Ngakawau
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Charming Creek Walkway
Time: 6 hr, Distance: 10.5km
This is an awesome walk that goes through tunnels, over bridges and deep gorges.There are amazing views of the surrounding forest and bluffs of the Ngakawau Gorge. You might even be able to spot the rare native carnivorous snail - powelliphanta. This unique New Zealand snail is known for its beautiful shiny shell with colours ranging from red and browns to yellow and black.
The whole walk takes about 6hrs, you can also take the shorter option and start at the Hector end and hike for about one hour to the Mangatini Falls. To get more information pick up a Westport and lower Buller area walks brochure from DOC.
Details
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Organisation |
DOC West CoastCentral government organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Westport |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Walking
Nearby
Reviews
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4.5/5
Very beautiful walk, just wishing it would be a loop instead of out and back.
Seems to be very popular, so start early ;)
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5.0/5
My son still thinks of the Charming Creek walk as one of the most beautiful places on earth (with a close second being on the Island of Hawaii).
The Charming Creek walk _is_ beautiful and interesting. The combination of a remarkable walk through creek, canyon, and falls all set in a COAL MINE - is a striking contrast to say the least. The history and artifacts really add a lot of technical and cultural interest to a nature walk.
But the great secrets to this walk are:
1) go after (not during) a good rain,
And only if you are a good swimmer, and at your own risk:
2) swim out to and under the waterfall - yolo,
3) swim around the corner and up the stream from the waterfall pool - for a bit the stream is bounded by vertical rock walls and is to deep to wade. This section just upstream from the waterfall pool is crazy beautiful, and it can't be seen from the trail - you have to swim and wade it.
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5.0/5
Well preserved walkway and the falls are just perfect.
Should be more shown on a postcard.
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5.0/5
Great walk through spectacular scenery ..
but not so good for leisure e-cycling. Tried riding from both ends but gave up after about 10 minutes from the Seddonville start. Easier riding in from Ngakawau but the long stretches of remaining wooden sleepers and rails make a judder-bar staircase that defeated us after about 40 minutes. Young, fit, gung-ho types of dedicated mountain bikes would find it easy .. especially if starting from the Seddonville end as the track is downhill all the way.
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5.0/5
Do not miss this walk!
Three hours easy walk along the old railway. So beautiful views of waterfalls, small and big ones!! The Ngakawau River is incredible, wild and strong.
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3.5/5
No toilet (anywhere).
Nice trail, some rocky areas. Really cool to learn about heritage and history of the area. I appreciate not being a coal miner.
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5.0/5
A dismounted old coach railway.
Relics, tunnels, gorge, waterfalls, information boards, absolutely great! 2 and a half hours return.
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4.5/5
Very beautiful walk, just wishing it would be a loop instead of out and back.
Seems to be very popular, so start early ;)
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5.0/5
My son still thinks of the Charming Creek walk as one of the most beautiful places on earth (with a close second being on the Island of Hawaii).
The Charming Creek walk _is_ beautiful and interesting. The combination of a remarkable walk through creek, canyon, and falls all set in a COAL MINE - is a striking contrast to say the least. The history and artifacts really add a lot of technical and cultural interest to a nature walk.
But the great secrets to this walk are:
1) go after (not during) a good rain,
And only if you are a good swimmer, and at your own risk:
2) swim out to and under the waterfall - yolo,
3) swim around the corner and up the stream from the waterfall pool - for a bit the stream is bounded by vertical rock walls and is to deep to wade. This section just upstream from the waterfall pool is crazy beautiful, and it can't be seen from the trail - you have to swim and wade it.
-
5.0/5
Well preserved walkway and the falls are just perfect.
Should be more shown on a postcard.
-
5.0/5
Great walk through spectacular scenery ..
but not so good for leisure e-cycling. Tried riding from both ends but gave up after about 10 minutes from the Seddonville start. Easier riding in from Ngakawau but the long stretches of remaining wooden sleepers and rails make a judder-bar staircase that defeated us after about 40 minutes. Young, fit, gung-ho types of dedicated mountain bikes would find it easy .. especially if starting from the Seddonville end as the track is downhill all the way.
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5.0/5
Do not miss this walk!
Three hours easy walk along the old railway. So beautiful views of waterfalls, small and big ones!! The Ngakawau River is incredible, wild and strong.
-
3.5/5
No toilet (anywhere).
Nice trail, some rocky areas. Really cool to learn about heritage and history of the area. I appreciate not being a coal miner.
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5.0/5
A dismounted old coach railway.
Relics, tunnels, gorge, waterfalls, information boards, absolutely great! 2 and a half hours return.
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5.0/5
The best walk I have done in New Zealand.
We only walked to the waterfall, but had so much fun walking through tunnels looking at railway artefacts, going over bridges and admiring the the absolutely stunning scenery,
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5.0/5
All time favourite short walk.
We walked from Ngakawau end to Maugatiri falls. Every part of this walk is interesting including the track itself-an old railway-do this walk !
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4.5/5
Not quite as demanding as nearby Denniston Track but fascinating industried archeology, caves, suspension bridge, open pasture - this hike has it all.
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5.0/5
Excellent walk...both history and beauty, tunnels and waterfalls!
Easy walking, no tourists!
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4.0/5
The whole walk took 3-4 hours one way but in 1.5-2 hours you make a return to the major spots.
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