Marios Gavalas
Author And Researcher
I'm Marios, delivering the best of Aotearoa's nature walks to your device.
I've personally walked hundreds of New Zealand's tracks and spent months in libraries uncovering interesting information on New Zealand/Aotearoa. And you'll find a slice of that research on this page - enjoy!
Author Marios Gavalas, Rankers and hundreds of contributors bring you a free web map to help you get lost (and find yourself) in Aotearoa's nature.
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7 km return | 2 hours return
Deep limestone canyons, jungle like nikau, huge rata and a swirling river make this walk a real distillation of West Coast majesty.
Pororari River Track is signposted 1 km north of Punakaiki Visitor Centre on SH6.
The well-graded track shortly enters the vertical walled gorge and weaves alongside the tannin-stained Pororari River.
A natural arch under a rata tree, memorable lookout over the river, forest and limestone walls and a dense temperate rainforest quickly make you realise this is a special walk.
Look for trout in the water.
A grotto with wooden and rock steps after 45 minutes is an easy place to bump your head and can be slippery.
The track concludes at the swingbridge, where there is a small rocky beach at the natural turn-around spot.
Return via the same track.
There are options to follow the Punakaiki River to form an 11 km loop, but this requires transport at the other end.
The limestone around Paparoa forms part of a syncline. The exposed beds above ground have been upthrust through tectonic movements, then carved by rivers to form the deep gorges.
Rata, nikau and podocarps are the distinguishing specimens lending a tropical-like feel to the forest.
This well-watered forest is true rainforest, but in a temperate latitude.
Be aware of the native nettle ongaonga on the trackside. The spines are easily recognisable and the sting can hurt for months.
Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
DOC West CoastCentral government organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Punakaiki |
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Categories |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Feature | Value | Info |
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Track Length |
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Track LengthWhat is the physical length of this track? 3km to 10km |
Track Duration |
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Track DurationHow long does it take to walk this track on average? ![]() 1 to 2 hours |
Track Difficulty |
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Track DifficultyConsidering the track's terrain, safety, facilities - how hard is this walk to complete? ![]() Easy walk |
Payment Requirement |
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Payment RequirementIs there a cost for this experience or is it free? ![]() Free access/participation The experience costs no money to access or take part in. |
Large Vehicle Access |
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Large Vehicle AccessCan large vehicles such as motorhomes, housebuses and caravans gain access? Large vehicle accessible The site is accessible with large vehicles such as motorhomes and 5th wheelers. |
DOC Track Category |
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DOC Track CategoryWhat type of category does this walking track fall into (as defined by the NZ Department of Conservation)? ![]() Short walk Easy walking for up to an hour. Track is well formed, with an even surface. There may be steps or slopes. Suitable for people of most abilities and fitness. Stream and rivers crossings are bridged. Walking shoes required. |
Disabled Access |
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Disabled AccessDoes this location provide disabled access? ![]() No disabled access This location does not provide access for wheelchairs. |
Crowd Factor |
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Crowd FactorHow crowded is this place usually? Some people This place usually draws a average amount of people. You won’t have difficulties to move along, but you won’t have this place to yourself, either. |
Track Managing Organisation |
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Track Managing OrganisationWhat type of organisation operates this walking track? ![]() DOC Managed This track is managed by the Department of Conservation. DOC is a New Zealand government organisation. ![]() |
Beautiful native forest, nice river.
Nice view along the river.
Amazing!
Nice views.
The land that time forgot.
Rating | Count | Percentage | |
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10/10 | 14 |
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33% |
9/10 | 12 |
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29% |
8/10 | 13 |
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31% |
7/10 | 3 |
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7% |
6/10 | 0 |
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0% |
5/10 | 0 |
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0% |
4/10 | 0 |
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0% |
3/10 | 0 |
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0% |
2/10 | 0 |
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0% |
1/10 | 0 |
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0% |
5.0/5
Beautiful native forest, nice river.
Reviewed about 7 years ago and experienced in March 2017
4.0/5
Super easy hiking and largely ahead of the time given at the outset.
Beautiful view and atypical scenery!
Reviewed about 7 years ago and experienced in December 2016
4.0/5
A free hike between forest and the Pororari River.
A beautiful forest and a finish with the Pancake Rocks. Amazing view for this landscape. And the must: eat a pancake at the Pancake Rocks Cafe.
Reviewed about 7 years ago and experienced in December 2016
4.0/5
Lovely, quite easy riverside walk amongst the tree ferns with a few openings to view the other side of the river.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in November 2016
3.5/5
Very nice walk along the river, with hills on both sides.
When you wake up early in the morning, head to the top, the hills are in the clouds and it gives you a special atmosphere. Also nice for jogging!!
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in November 2016
5.0/5
When done as a loop it is an easy half day walk.
Through an almost magic Nikau forest all along the river, then uphill over the range, down to Punakaiki River. Back to Pororari carpark along the road.
Reviewed over 8 years ago
3.5/5
Very nice walk along the river through the rainforest, beautiful views, mud on the last half - that was the bad side.
Reviewed over 9 years ago and experienced in January 2015
4.5/5
Expansive stretch of emerald green water, a winding track with lovely mountain overhang and many swimming launch points.
Reviewed over 9 years ago and experienced in March 2014
4.5/5
Very beautiful walk along the river with magnificent flora, but short cut because of bridge works.
Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014
5.0/5
Very beautiful and peaceful place.
Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014
4.5/5
Gentle flowing river surrounded by lush trees and cliffs.
Very quiet and easy to access. Map available from the i-Site.
Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in January 2014
5.0/5
Beautiful native forest, nice river.
Reviewed about 7 years ago and experienced in March 2017
4.0/5
Super easy hiking and largely ahead of the time given at the outset.
Beautiful view and atypical scenery!
Reviewed about 7 years ago and experienced in December 2016
4.0/5
A free hike between forest and the Pororari River.
A beautiful forest and a finish with the Pancake Rocks. Amazing view for this landscape. And the must: eat a pancake at the Pancake Rocks Cafe.
Reviewed about 7 years ago and experienced in December 2016
3.5/5
Very nice walk along the river, with hills on both sides.
When you wake up early in the morning, head to the top, the hills are in the clouds and it gives you a special atmosphere. Also nice for jogging!!
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in November 2016
4.0/5
Lovely, quite easy riverside walk amongst the tree ferns with a few openings to view the other side of the river.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in November 2016
5.0/5
When done as a loop it is an easy half day walk.
Through an almost magic Nikau forest all along the river, then uphill over the range, down to Punakaiki River. Back to Pororari carpark along the road.
Reviewed over 8 years ago
3.5/5
Very nice walk along the river through the rainforest, beautiful views, mud on the last half - that was the bad side.
Reviewed over 9 years ago and experienced in January 2015
4.5/5
Expansive stretch of emerald green water, a winding track with lovely mountain overhang and many swimming launch points.
Reviewed over 9 years ago and experienced in March 2014
4.5/5
Very beautiful walk along the river with magnificent flora, but short cut because of bridge works.
Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014
5.0/5
Very beautiful and peaceful place.
Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014
4.5/5
Gentle flowing river surrounded by lush trees and cliffs.
Very quiet and easy to access. Map available from the i-Site.
Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in January 2014
5.0/5
Amazing!
Beautiful, awesome swimming, just perfect.
Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in March 2013
5.0/5
The walk was perfect even for slightly out of shape middle aged people.
So beautiful with eye candy you hardly notice you are hiking up and down moss lined trails.
Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in March 2013
4.0/5
Nice view along the river.
Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014
4.5/5
The land that time forgot.
Gorgeous.
Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in January 2014
5.0/5
Beautiful!
Well marked and maintained. Great swimming holes all up and down. We ended up laying on rocks in the sun for hours longer than we planned. Great walk.
Reviewed over 11 years ago and experienced in February 2013
4.0/5
Jungly hike next to the river.
Great swimming holes. Really like the fact that most hikes in New Zealand are really well maintained and well marked.
Reviewed over 11 years ago
4.5/5
Very nice relaxing walk, next to the river, through very beautiful bush!
I especially remember the colour :) Lots of GREEEEN! :) Really enjoyed this one!
Reviewed over 11 years ago and experienced in September 2012
4.0/5
Beautiful 3hr walk in lush West Coast Bush.
It is best to start from the Southern end so you get the not so interesting part of the walk out of the way first.
Reviewed over 11 years ago
4.0/5
Great walk (2.5 hours return) up a limestone gorge through dense rainforest.
Reviewed almost 12 years ago and experienced in March 2012
4.0/5
two and a half hour walk, up and down, very nice, forest walk ie lots of shade!
Reviewed over 12 years ago and experienced in February 2012
4.5/5
Seeing the Pancake rocks is very nice.
But also the river track, along the Pororari was beautiful like a tropical bush. Easy to walk.
Reviewed over 13 years ago
3.5/5
Take one hour 15 min walk alongside the river to the junction.
turn left here and walk a further 10 minutes to the pedestrian suspension bridge.
Reviewed over 13 years ago
4.5/5
Absolutely stunning nature.
The walk takes you along the river and is quite easy.
Reviewed over 13 years ago
5.0/5
Excellent track, beautiful rainforest, good variation in scenery.
Reviewed over 13 years ago
5.0/5
Beautiful wild forest, good track, amazing colours!
Reviewed about 14 years ago and experienced in May 2010
4.5/5
Fantastic.
Lush bush, clear river and lots of native birds.
Reviewed about 14 years ago and experienced in May 2010