
PAPAROA TRACK
The new Great Walk of New Zealand
New Zealand’s 10th Great Walk
The Paparoa Track takes you through the breath-taking landscapes of the Paparoa Ranges. Lush rainforest, limestone cliffs and beautiful alpine tops, these are just a few things you can experience during your journey on the Paparoa Great Walk from Blackball to Punakaiki. Te Nikau Retreat is just a few minutes drive from the end/start of the track and is perfect to relax after or prepare before doing the Paparoa Track.
Length
55 kilometers tramping
56.2 kilometers mountain biking
Duration
3 days tramping
2 days mountain biking
DOC huts on the Track
Ces Clark Hut
Moonlight Tops Hut
Pororari Hut
Pick-up/ Drop-off service
To our guests we offer free pick-up and drop-off service from/to the Pororari River car park and Waikori Road car park. Please get in contact with us when making a booking if this service is required. Please be aware that this service is subject of availability.
Tramping
Smoke-ho car park (Blackball) to Ces Clark Hut
time: 4-5 hours
distance: 10.3 km
Ces Clark Hut to Moonlight Tops Hut
time: 3 hours
distance: 9.7 km
Moonlight Top Hut to Pororari Hut
time: 5-7 hours
distance: 19.1 km
Pororari Hut to Pororari River car park
time: 4-5 hours
distance: 16 km
Mountain biking
Smoke-ho car park (Blackball) to Ces Clark Hut
time: 2–3 hours
distance: 10.3 km
Ces Clark Hut to Moonlight Tops Hut
time: 1.5–2.5 hours
distance: 9.7 km
Moonlight Tops Hut to Pororari Hut
time: 4–5 hours
distance: 19.1 km
Pororari Hut to Waikori Road car park
time: 2.5–3.5 hours
distance: 17. 1 km
Official information about the Paparoa Track
All information about the Paparoa Track we gathered from the official website of the Department of Conservation. Please be aware that you have to have bookings for the huts when doing the Paparoa Track.
Also visit DOC’s website to get more information about the track, track bookings and potential alerts - just click on button below.
Our experience
We walked up to the Pororari Hut in September 2020 and it was an amazing experience. Walking through the “Nikau-bush”, watching the sun setting on the horizon and just enjoying the magical beauty of nature - it’s well worth it!
Below you can see some photos we’ve taken on our trip.







