6 September 2018

The Department of Conservation has announced the Paparoa Track will now open in September 2019, rather than next April.

The Paparoa Track will be New Zealand’s 10th Great Walk, and the first Great Walk designed to be used by both mountain bikers and walkers. At 55 kilometres long, it traverses the Paparoa Range between Blackball and Punakaiki on the West Coast of the South Island.

The date change is to align the opening with the other alpine Great Walks and the start of the summer walking season.

Paparoa Track Project Director, Tom Hopkins says, “The new date in spring means the expected rush of people keen to experience the track when it first opens will enjoy better conditions for their adventure.

“The new date allows us to comfortably finish the track in time for the start of the 2019/20 Great Walks season. People will be able to book their visit online when bookings open in 2019.”

The Paparoa Track is being built in conjunction with the Pike29 Memorial Track. This track links to the Paparoa Track, taking walkers and riders to a memorial site and interpretation centre that will be built to commemorate the lives of the 29 miners who lost their lives in the 2010 Pike River Mine Disaster. The Pike29 Memorial Track will open once efforts to re-enter the mine have been completed.

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