Best trails in Paparoa National Park
Paparoa National Park has beautiful coastal forest, caves, canyons, and cliffs. The coastline and its many views make this a popular destination. The "Pancake Rocks" are a unique formation that brings people from all over. Enjoy the many tracks as you explore the park.
Top trails
1
(632)
•Easy
•0.6 mi
•Est. 12m
This is a popular and short loop walk along the pancake rocks, blowholes, and surge pools. Get there at high tide to get the best effect from the blowhole.
The track is high quality and stroller/wheelchair (with assistance) friendly for most of the walk. This track offers spectacular views, geological oddities, rich birdlife, and marine mammals. Great for families with children.
Accessibility: The trail surface is paved and typically at least three feet wide. The grade is mostly gentle (all...
2
(424)
•Easy
•4.0 mi
•Est. 1h 52m
Pororari River Track provides the pedestrian entry/exit for the Paparoa Great Walk. It's a lovely walk by a river showcasing a beautiful coastal rainforest and amazing limestone formations. There's a stunning view of the river gorge from a lookout. A car park is available by the Pororari River bridge.
3
(385)
•Moderate
•6.8 mi
•Est. 3h 4m
The track Punakaiki - Pororari River Loop track starts and ends by the Visitor Centre in Punakaiki and can be walked in either direction. It's a lovely loop walk alongside the river with bush, nikau palms, limestone rock walls, and a couple of swing bridges. At the turnoff, the track goes uphill gradually through the bush descending down into a car park, and returning along the road.
4
(265)
•Easy
•0.8 mi
•Est. 21m
Truman Track leads to a great view of the beach and stairs that can be taken down to the beach. The sand covers rocks in places and can go from soft to hard quickly and sporadically. There's not much traffic in the area, and can allow for some seclusion. Please note that parking is on the inside of a curve, so be careful of traffic.
5
(78)
•Hard
•32.1 mi
•Est. Multi-day
The Paparoa Track is New Zealand’s 10th Great Walk:
Section 1:
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/new-zealand/west-coast/paparoa-track-smoke-ho-to-ces-clark-hut
Section 2:
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/new-zealand/west-coast/paparoa-track-ces-clark-hut-to-moonlight-tops-hut
Section 3:
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/new-zealand/west-coast/paparoa-track-moonlight-tops-hut-to-pororari-hut
Section 4:...
6
(66)
•Moderate
•9.6 mi
•Est. 4h 27m
Section 4 of the newest of the Great Walks, Paparoa Track. Please note, there is no freedom camping. You must stay in a hut along the route.
This section of the walk has big trees, green glades, river gullies, and gorge cliffs. There is an easy descent with very gorgeous native forest, and stoney river with clean water.
7
(48)
•Moderate
•10.5 mi
•Est. 4h 25m
Punakaiki Loop is located near Punakaiki Pancake Rock on the West Coast. The Pororari River track portion is the most beautiful and relatively heavily trafficked section, but when you continue walking up to the peak to make it a loop, there is much less traffic through the quiet forest. The track is well-maintained and well-marked.
8
(48)
•Hard
•10.7 mi
•Est. 5h 41m
Section 3 of the newest of the Great Walks, Paparoa Track. Please note, there is no freedom camping. You must stay in a hut along the route.
The first half of this walk is undulating while the second half has a decent with switch backs, hairpin bends, S bends, and a spectacular waterfall with a suspension bridge after Hobbits Hole. The forest along the route has green mosses, lichens, and diverse trees and rock faces with boulders. There are a few ascents but all-in-all, it's a really easy...
9
(45)
•Moderate
•7.4 mi
•Est. 4h 16m
This track takes you to Ballroom Overhang located in the Paparoa National Park. It's a large limestone outcrop on the Fox River. Be prepared for several river crossings and expect slippery rocks on the way. The last stretch is a rocky river bed and slower-moving- There are also some great spots for swimming along the way.
10
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Trail reviews for Paparoa National Park
Fun winding run around Paparoa National Park! The uphill is 1.2 km / .75 mi nonstop, but it's never that steep. After that, I genuinely didn't notice the second hill AllTrails notes. I also looped in the Pancake Rocks track here and popped in to the Caverns to make it 13k. You can park anywhere along this loop to start, so if one spot's full, just go on to the next.
Parking: Free, Large lot
2nd day of Paparoa Great Walk full of mossy trees and scenic spots with mountain and sea views.
Difficulty: Moderate
Paparoa Track: Moonlight Tops Hut to Pororari Hut
Planned to do Paparoa track but haven’t completed due to a slip in between Pororari Hut and Moonlight Huts. Nice track but no much view when we did the hike. Always cloudy and opened-up only when we are at Pororari River level.
Great first day of Paparoa track if you’re doing the great walk. I skipped Ces Clarke hut and found this still very do able
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Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to hike in Paparoa National Park?
According to users from AllTrails.com, the best place to hike in Paparoa National Park is Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and Blowholes Loop, which has a 4.7 star rating from 632 reviews. This trail is 0.6 mi long with an elevation gain of 32 ft.
What is the longest trail in Paparoa National Park?
According to AllTrails.com, the longest trail in Paparoa National Park is Paparoa Track. This trail is estimated to be 32.1 mi long.
How many trails are in Paparoa National Park?
There are 13 trails in Paparoa National Park. These trails have an average 4.1-star rating from 2,001 AllTrails community reviews.
Which trail has the most elevation gain in Paparoa National Park?
If you're looking for elevation gain, Paparoa National Park has you covered. Paparoa Track boasts the most elevation gain with 6,387 ft of total ascent. The park's runner-up is Pororari River and Inland Pack Track, which will get you 5,019 ft of elevation gain.
Are there camping trails available in Paparoa National Park?
According to AllTrails.com, there are 4 camping trails in Paparoa National Park and the most popular is Paparoa Track: Pororari Hut to Pororari River Car Park with an average 4.8 star rating from 66 community reviews.
Are there running trails available in Paparoa National Park?
According to AllTrails.com, there is 1 running trail in Paparoa National Park which is Pororari River Track with an average 4.7 star rating from 424 community reviews.
Are there biking trails available in Paparoa National Park?
According to AllTrails.com, there is 1 biking trail in Paparoa National Park which is Paparoa Track with an average 4.8 star rating from 78 community reviews.
Are there any trails with scenic mountain peak views in Paparoa National Park?
Yes, there are 3 trails with scenic mountain peak views in Paparoa National Park, including Paparoa Track, Paparoa Track: Moonlight Tops Hut to Pororari Hut, and Mt Bovis Route.
Are there any trails with scenic viewpoints in Paparoa National Park?
Yes, there are 7 trails with scenic viewpoints in Paparoa National Park, including Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and Blowholes Loop, Pororari River Track, Punakaiki - Pororari River Loop, Paparoa Track, and Paparoa Track: Pororari Hut to Pororari River Car Park.
Are there any trails with caves in Paparoa National Park?
Yes, there are 2 trails with caves in Paparoa National Park, including Punakaiki - Pororari River Loop and Ballroom Overhang Track.
Are there any trails with rivers in Paparoa National Park?
Yes, there are 10 trails with rivers in Paparoa National Park, including Pororari River Track, Punakaiki - Pororari River Loop, Paparoa Track, Paparoa Track: Pororari Hut to Pororari River Car Park, and Punakaiki Loop.
Are there any trails with huts in Paparoa National Park?
Yes, there are 3 trails with huts in Paparoa National Park, including Paparoa Track, Paparoa Track: Pororari Hut to Pororari River Car Park, and Paparoa Track: Moonlight Tops Hut to Pororari Hut.
Top national parks in West Coast
Activities
Points of interest
- Pororari River Gorge
- Pororari Hut
- Punakaiki Cavern
- Ballroom Overhang
- Emergency Shelter
- Sudden Sound
- Dolomite Point
- Lookout
- Fox River
- Putai Blowhole seat
- Dilemma Creek Gorge
- Mount Bovis
- Moonlight Tops Hut
- Punakaiki River
- Chimney Pot
- Ballroom Overhang
- Pororari River Track Trailhead
- Surge Pool
- Pancake Rocks and Blowholes