West Coast New Zealand

With a population of six hundred and fifty Karamea is paradise lost, found on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island. One of the last unspoilt corners of New Zealand, sandwiched between the Southern Alps and the Tasman Sea, surrounded by Kahurangi National Park. From Westport, State Highway 67 winds over the coastal bluffs and introduces both the temperate climate and the air of isolation.

First on everyones ‘Karamea Bucket List’ should be the Honeycomb Hill Cave Tour. The drive in is up the Oparara Valley, past the old MacCallum’s sawmill site on an unsealed logging road through regenerating bush. A guide from Oparara Trust meets visitors at the top car park, and takes the group along a well formed track, through native forest to the mouth of the cave.

The real ‘Wow factor’ on this tour is the 600 year old bones found in piles throughout the cave. Famed ecologist David Bellamy the patron of the Oparara Trust describes Honeycomb Hill as “the richest cave deposit of sub fossil bones found in New Zealand.” Over forty-five species of birds, native frogs, lizards, and land snails have been found. This includes six species of the now extinct Moa and giant Haast Eagle.

Karamea’s famous limestone arches are also found in the Oparara Valley. The Oparara Arch is 43 metres high and 219 metres long, and about the size of two rugby fields. This makes it the largest limestone arch in Australasia, although, the visual spectacle that is the Moira Gate proves that size is not always everything.

Best Coffee: For many, coffee is their drug of choice. Top recommendation for a quick fix in Karamea is to stop in at ‘The Last Resort’. They will make a fabulous flat white ‘To go’, even if you have just run out to Scotts Beach and you are racing to make your cave tour!

For further information or to plan your trip to Karamea, NZ visit www.westcoastnz.com.