National park · New Zealand
Kahurangi National Park
Entry is free: drive to a trailhead and walk. Do the Heaphy Track (4–6 days, book huts) or a day walk from Flora car park; go Nov–Apr, and skip the long tracks in winter unless you carry alpine gear.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
4,520 km² (1,745 sq mi)1,745 sq mi (4,520 km²)
approximate
Established
1996
Best months
Nov, Jan–Mar
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
- New Zealand ↗Visa-waiver visitors need an NZeTA (with the tourism levy) before travel, including many transit passengers; others need a visa. Apply only through Immigration New Zealand or its official app, and check the rules for your passport.
- New Zealand ↗Declare all food, plant and animal products, and used outdoor gear such as hiking boots and tents, on the New Zealand Traveller Declaration; undeclared risk items bring instant fines.
- New Zealand ↗Drive on the left; give way as signed at one-lane bridges; an English-language licence or one with an approved translation or International Driving Permit is required.
- New Zealand ↗Freedom camping is restricted: sleep in a vehicle only where signed as allowed, and in many places only in certified self-contained vehicles.
At a glance
- Country
- New Zealand
- Area
- 4,520 km² (1,745 sq mi)1,745 sq mi (4,520 km²)
- About 4,520 km², the second-largest of New Zealand's national parks.
- Established
- 1996
- Best months
- Nov, Jan–Mar
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Nelson
Kahurangi is New Zealand's second-largest national park, filling the northwest corner of the South Island between Golden Bay and the Buller. It is a tramping park, not a drive-through one: the roads only touch its edges, and the interior is reached on foot over marble peaks, tussock tops and river valleys. The Heaphy Track is one of the country's Great Walks; the Wangapeka and the Leslie–Karamea tracks are harder and quieter. There is no gate, no ticket and no visitor centre at the boundary — you pay for huts and transport, not for entry.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- Special national site · 1996Much of the area was a forest park from the 1960s before national park status.
Size and age
4,520 km² (1,745 sq mi)1,745 sq mi (4,520 km²) · national park since 1996
About 4,520 km², the second-largest of New Zealand's national parks.
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Nelson.
Why go
- A Great Walk that crosses from Golden Bay to the West Coast through forest, tussock and nikau palm groves.
- Day walks from Flora car park and the Cobb Valley need no booking and no permit.
- Marble mountains, sinkholes and cave systems — this is the country's main karst landscape.
- Blue duck (whio) rivers with predator trapping you can see working as you walk.
When to go
- JanBest
- FebBest
- MarBest
- AprGo
- MayCaution
- JunAvoid
- JulAvoid
- AugAvoid
- SepCaution
- OctGo
- NovBest
- DecGo
- JanWarm, long days; huts and the Heaphy book out
- FebSettled weather; the pick for the Heaphy
- MarMild, fewer walkers after mid-month
- AprCooler nights; snow possible on the tops
- MayWet, short days; rivers rise
- JunWinter; alpine sections need snow gear
- JulColdest, wettest; many tracks impractical
- AugSnow on the tops; avalanche risk
- SepChangeable; snow lingers above the bushline
- OctShoulder season; quieter huts
- NovFresh, green, fewer people than January
- DecWarm but busy from mid-month
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whio / blue duckAll year · Fast-water rivers; numbers are rising thanks to trapping. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Forest birds (tūī, bellbird, robin)Oct–Mar · Loudest in spring and early summer. | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes |
| WaspsJan–Apr · A nuisance in open areas in late summer; leave the orange traps alone. | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Nelson
Drive to the Flora car park (via Motueka and the Motueka Valley), or to the Cobb Valley road end.
1.5–2.5 h
Open the page →
From Motueka
Road to Flora car park, the usual start for Mount Arthur and Tableland day walks.
1–1.5 h
From Golden Bay (Collingwood / Tākaka)
Road to Brown Hut for the Heaphy Track; shuttles run from Nelson and Tākaka.
1–2 h
From Karamea (West Coast)
Road to the Kohaihai end of the Heaphy Track; long drive from Nelson or Westport.
3–4 h from Nelson
Open the page →
From Nelson Bays plan
Where to base yourself, and how Kahurangi fits with Abel Tasman and Nelson Lakes.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Flora car park and Mount Arthur | The most used day-walk area: tussock tops, marble and views to the coast. | Open; gravel road, no booking. |
| Heaphy Track | The 78 km (48 mi) Great Walk between Brown Hut and Kohaihai, through forest and along the coast.The 48 mi (78 km) Great Walk between Brown Hut and Kohaihai, through forest and along the coast. | Booked huts; walk in either direction. |
| Wangapeka and Leslie–Karamea | Long, rough valley routes across the park's interior. | No booking; experienced trampers only. |
| Cobb Valley and Tableland | Tussock basins, old dam workings and karst above the bushline. | Open; 4WD-grade road to the Cobb. |
| Oparara Basin | Limestone arches and caves on the West Coast side near Karamea. | Open; short walks from the road end. |
Sketch map
- 1Flora car park · Gate≈-41.185, 172.740Approximate; start of the Mount Arthur and Tableland walks.Map ↗
- 2Mount Arthur · Summit≈-41.200, 172.700Approximate.Map ↗
- 3Brown Hut (Heaphy east end) · Trail≈-40.900, 172.550Approximate; inland from Collingwood.Map ↗
- 4Perry Saddle · Trail≈-40.950, 172.400Approximate; highest point of the Heaphy Track, about 900 m.Map ↗
- 5Kohaihai (Heaphy west end) · Trail≈-41.100, 172.100Approximate; north of Karamea.Map ↗
- 6Oparara Basin · Cave≈-41.200, 172.150Approximate.Map ↗
- 7Nelson · Town≈-41.271, 173.284Approximate; main base and airport.Map ↗
Take the points offline
7 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions across a large park, for orientation only; the park centre is used for the main coordinate.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | person | No entry fee for any New Zealand national park. |
| Heaphy Track Great Walk hut | NZD 45–110 (≈ US$30–65) | person per night | 2026 estimate; higher in the summer season, lower in winter. Book online before you go. |
| Backcountry hut ticket (non-Great Walk huts) | NZD 5–15 (≈ US$3–9) | person per night | 2026 estimate; buy a Backcountry Hut Pass for multiple nights. |
| Heaphy Track winter (May–Sep) hut fee | NZD 15–25 (≈ US$9–15) | person per night | 2026 estimate; check before booking. |
| Shuttle to Heaphy Track ends | NZD 60–150 (≈ US$40–90) | person | 2026 estimate; Nelson–Brown Hut or Karamea–Nelson transfers, one way. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Heaphy Track booking permit or guide
Other tracks no permit
Camping in the backcountry no permit
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- NZ$45–110≈ US$30–65
- NZ$5–15≈ US$3–9
- NZ$15–25≈ US$9–15
- NZ$60–150≈ US$40–90
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Department of Conservation — Kahurangi National Park before you go.
Park rules
- No entry fee
- New Zealand national parks are free to enter; you pay only for huts, campsites and transport.
- Hut fees
- Pay for Great Walk huts in advance; non-Great Walk huts need a ticket or Backcountry Hut Pass.
- Traps and poison
- Do not open or move trapping lines or wasp traps; they contain poison and dangerous traps.
- Didymo
- Clean and dry boots, packs and fishing gear between waterways; the pest is present in the Wangapeka catchments.
- Fires
- No fires in the backcountry; use a cooker.
- Dogs
- Not allowed in the park; they threaten ground birds and whio.
Where to stay
Near the park
Nelson
The main base: hotels, hostels and the road to Flora car park.
Near the park
Motueka
Closest town to the Flora car park and the eastern trailheads.
Near the park
Tākaka and Collingwood
Golden Bay bases for the Brown Hut end of the Heaphy Track.
Near the park
Karamea
West Coast base for the Kohaihai end and the Oparara Basin.
In the park
DOC huts in the park
Bunks along the Heaphy, Wangapeka and other tracks; book or buy a pass.
Safety
River crossings high
Weather change on the tops high
Getting lost medium
Winter conditions high
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Day walks from Flora car park and the Oparara Basin are on formed tracks, but the roads are gravel and the ground is uneven.
- The Heaphy and Wangapeka tracks are multi-day backcountry routes; not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Clean and dry all gear between waterways to stop didymo spreading.
- Do not touch predator traps; the whio recovery depends on them.
- Pull introduced snapdragons in open areas and leave them on a rock to die.
- Book huts rather than camping where the rules ask for it, and carry out everything you bring in.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Kahurangi National Park?
Nothing. Entry to all New Zealand national parks is free. You pay for huts (Heaphy Track Great Walk huts are roughly NZ$45–110 per person per night in 2026, less in winter), non-Great Walk hut tickets or a Backcountry Hut Pass, and any shuttle to the track ends.
What are the best hikes in Kahurangi National Park?
The Heaphy Track is the headline: 78 km over 4–6 days between Brown Hut in Golden Bay and Kohaihai near Karamea. For a day walk, drive to the Flora car park and climb towards Mount Arthur and the Tableland. The Wangapeka Track is the hard, quiet option for experienced trampers.
When is the best time to visit Kahurangi National Park?
November to April for the long tracks, with February and March the most settled. January is warm but busy and the Heaphy huts sell out. From May to September expect snow on the tops, short days and rivers that rise quickly; many routes are not practical without winter gear.
Do I need a permit or booking?
No permit for day walks or for the Wangapeka and Leslie–Karamea tracks. The Heaphy Track huts must be booked online, and the summer season fills weeks ahead. Non-Great Walk huts are paid for with a ticket or a Backcountry Hut Pass.
How do I get to Kahurangi National Park?
There is no single entrance. From Nelson, drive 1.5–2.5 hours to the Flora car park or the Cobb Valley. For the Heaphy Track, reach Brown Hut from Collingwood or Tākaka, or Kohaihai from Karamea; shuttles run from Nelson and Golden Bay.
Can I see a blue duck (whio)?
Sometimes, on the fast rivers along the tracks. They are rare and heavily predated by stoats, so the park runs a trapping programme. Do not open or move the traps — they contain poison and dangerous mechanisms.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go