Charming Creek Walkway
Charming Creek Walkway
Ngakawau
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Information
This is an awesome walk that goes through tunnels, over bridges and deep gorges.There are amazing views of the surrounding forest and bluffs of the Ngakawau Gorge. You might even be able to spot the rare native carnivorous snail - powelliphanta. This unique New Zealand snail is known for its beautiful shiny shell with colours ranging from red and browns to yellow and black.
The whole walk takes about 6hrs, you can also take the shorter option and start at the Hector end and hike for about one hour to the Mangatini Falls. To get more information pick up a Westport and lower Buller area walks brochure from DOC.
Details
Moderate walk
4 to 8 hours
DOC Managed
Walking track
Contact
Reviews
Showing 13 reviews of 21.
Owen
Ranking: 10/10
My son still thinks of the Charming Creek walk as one of the most beautiful places on earth (with a close second being on the Island of Hawaii). The Charming Creek walk _is_ beautiful and interesting. The combination of a remarkable walk through creek, canyon, and falls all set in a COAL MINE - is a striking contrast to say the least. The history and artifacts really add a lot of technical and cultural interest to a nature walk.
But the great secrets to this walk are:
1) go after (not during) a good rain,And only if you are a good swimmer, and at your own risk:
2) swim out to and under the waterfall - yolo,
3) swim around the corner and up the stream from the waterfall pool - for a bit the stream is bounded by vertical rock walls and is to deep to wade. This section just upstream from the waterfall pool is crazy beautiful, and it can't be seen from the trail - you have to swim and wade it.
Filipe Santos
Ranking: 10/10
Well preserved walkway and the falls are just perfect. Should be more shown on a postcard.
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Rob & Colleen Elwood
Ranking: 10/10
Great walk through spectacular scenery .. but not so good for leisure e-cycling. Tried riding from both ends but gave up after about 10 minutes from the Seddonville start. Easier riding in from Ngakawau but the long stretches of remaining wooden sleepers and rails make a judder-bar staircase that defeated us after about 40 minutes. Young, fit, gung-ho types of dedicated mountain bikes would find it easy .. especially if starting from the Seddonville end as the track is downhill all the way.
Floriane Desnoyer
Ranking: 10/10
Do not miss this walk! Three hours easy walk along the old railway. So beautiful views of waterfalls, small and big ones!! The Ngakawau River is incredible, wild and strong.
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Rachael and Nik
Ranking: 7/10
No toilet (anywhere). Nice trail, some rocky areas. Really cool to learn about heritage and history of the area. I appreciate not being a coal miner.
Saskia
Ranking: 8/10
Nice walk along train tracks through tunnels and over bridges.
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Bill
Ranking: 10/10
Old railway track - very lovely.
Evon Jones
Ranking: 8/10
Lovely historic walk.
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Veeh Barrington
Ranking: 9/10
Lovely, well kept scenic walk.
Philip Schumann
Ranking: 10/10
A dismounted old coach railway. Relics, tunnels, gorge, waterfalls, information boards, absolutely great! 2 and a half hours return.
Congratulations Charming Creek Walkway - Ngakawau
Martin Sajdok
Ranking: 10/10
Beautiful interesting and for me a must do walking track.
Karine Scheers
Ranking: 10/10
Not only beautiful but also historically very interesting!
Gerard Berote
Ranking: 10/10
Easy walk, fantastic views.
DOC Managed
Thanks to all the good people working for the NZ Department of Conservation - for all your hard work - making NZ more beautiful, accessable and healthy! Cheers 😍
Nick Morrison
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