Moeraki Valley
Introduction
The Moeraki Valley offers good tramping for the fit and experienced. The U-shaped valley is typical of those carved out by glaciers during repeated glacial periods, the most recent about 14,000 years ago.
Features
Kea
Vegetation includes an attractive mix of beech, podocarp and hardwood species in the lower reaches, silver beech higher up the valley and a mix of sub-alpine scrub and alpine grassland in the Middle Head Basin.
Keas (mountain parrot) inhabit the higher areas and blue duck can be spotted in the middle valley. The area supports moderate numbers of red deer and brown trout abound in the river.
Location
Drive 40 km north of Haast Junction to where the Haast to Paringa Cattle Track is located at a small car park just past Mimi Creek.
Places to stay
Horseshoe Flat hut and Middle Head hut both require passes available at DOC offices or visitor centres. Good scenic campsites exist above the bush-line in the Middle Head Basin.
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