Okarito Trig Walk
Okarito, Westland Tai Poutini National Park
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Marios Gavalas
Author And Researcher
Nau mai, haere mai
Nau mai, haere mai
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Information
Okarito Trig Walk
4.2 km return | 1h 30 minutes return
There are few finer viewpoints of the Southern Alps.
The Ōkārito Trig walk initially follows the Ōkārito Wetland Walk and Three Mile Track.
On a clear day, the view is unbeatable overlooking Westland Tai Poutini National Park from the snow-capped Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri o te Moana across extensive native forest to the lagoons and beaches of the coast.
Walking Track
Access
From Franz Josef head north for 15km along SH6 and Okarito is signposted on the left. The start of the track is signposted from the carpark at the southern end of Okarito township.
Track
Snake over the wetland boardwalk before climbing past some strategically placed benches - one overlooking the wetland, the other the sea. At a cutting the track heads left and climbs more steeply past lofty straight-boled rimu to the viewing platform at the trig (158m). This is one of the prime viewpoints of the Southern Alps highest peaks.
Geology
During the last glacial episode, ice stacked up in the upland areas of the Southern Alps and weaved ways down the valley courses to either side. At the sea, it deposited it’s rock load in moraines. At the conclusion of the last glacial between 35,000 and 14,000 years ago, a Glacial Maximum occurred, a short but intense episode of global cooling. This spurred on the glaciers in a final pulsing advance, which built up the vast terminal moraines. These now form a series of ridges and and undulating topography between the coast and the mountains.
Fauna
76 species of bird, including kotuku (the native white heron) and royal spoonbill are observed in the lagoon around Okarito.
Details
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Organisation |
DOC West CoastCentral government organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Okarito |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Walking
Nearby
Reviews
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3.5/5
Nice short and easy walk (1 hr 30 min return) through the rain forest.
Quiet place, two or three nice points of view with benches, lots of birds (fantails, silver eyes).
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3.0/5
Nice walk from Okarito, about 1.5 hours return.
Views are not that amazing but still fine.
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5.0/5
Lovely day for a lovely short walk.
Not at all crowded so quite peaceful and scenic. Amazing panoramic view at the top of a steady climb - snow covered mountains, forest, lagoon and coast. Definitely recommended!
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4.5/5
A DOC walk of 1.5 to 2 hours with views of the coast, forest and Aoraki.
Highly recommended for a break and leg stretch.
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4.5/5
Okarito about 15km from Franz Josef Top10 Holiday Park, lovely place - beach walk and walk to viewing point, quiet campsite.
Few people.
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