About the walk

• Dramatic gorge with blue glacial water
• Swing bridges with river and rainforest views
• Wheelchair accessible and kid-friendly options

The West Coast’s stunning Hokitika Gorge offers walking tracks suited to most ages and abilities.

From Hokitika Gorge car park, you can:

• walk to the first viewing platform or lower swing bridge and return
• complete the full loop via the upper suspension bridge.

The track is accessible for wheelchairs to the first viewing platform.

Car park to viewing platform

4 min / 150 m (one way)
Wheelchair-accessible short walk

From the car park, follow the signposted track through pristine West Coast rainforest to the viewing platform. Enjoy views to the swing bridge spanning Hokitika Gorge, and out to green farmland.

Viewing platform to swing bridge

6 min / 300 m (one way)
Easy short walk 

Continue along the track and boardwalks to reach the swing bridge across the Hokitika River. You’ll enjoy spectacular views up and down the gorge.

Cross the swing bridge and continue for 5 min. At the junction, follow the signs to a second viewing platform with scenic river and gorge views.

Steps with a gate lead down to a rocky beach by the river.

Return to car park via upper suspension bridge

45 min / 1.2 km (one way)
Easy short walk

At the junction just before the second viewing platform, follow the signs to Upper Hokitika Gorge.

You’ll pass small waterfalls, glimpse the river and see how water has sculpted granite.

The upper Hokitika Gorge suspension bridge is 15 min walk from the junction. At 90 m, the bridge is one of the longest in New Zealand.

The bridge crosses the main channel of the Hokitika River, offering sweeping views to the foothills of the Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri o te Moana. You’ll get up close to trees of the forest canopy: miro, rimu and kāmahi.

After crossing the bridge, it’s a 30 min walk back to the car park through rainforest, with some ups and downs. 

A viewpoint on the way overlooks the river and farmland of the Hokitika Valley. 

Directions

Hokitika Gorge is 30 min by car from Hokitika.

It is signposted from the junction of SH6 and Stafford Street, near Hokitika town centre, and at intersections all the way to the car park.

After about 1.5 km, Stafford Street becomes Kaniere Road. Follow Kaniere Road for 4 km and keep right at the junction with Lake Kaniere Road.

Follow Kaniere–Kowhitirangi Road for 18 km. Turn right at the T-junction with Upper Kokatahi Road. Continue over the bridge across the Kokatahi River. The road then bends sharp left and sharp right.

Drive through Kowhitirangi, then turn left onto Johnston Road, right onto Neilson Road and left onto Whitcombe Valley Road. Follow Whitcombe Valley Road for 6 km.

Hokitika Gorge car park is signposted on your right.

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Parking

Hokitika Gorge car park has:

• free parking for cars and campervans
• two marked mobility spaces.

The car park gets very busy during the summer season (November to April).

Safety and hazards

• Danger of drowning: Hokitika River is swift, cold and dangerous in all conditions. People have drowned here. Swimming is not advised.
• Slippery river rocks: Rocks beside the river are uneven and can be slippery. Stay away from the river’s edge and keep children close. 
• Steep drops: Parts of the track are exposed. Stay away from track edges.

When to go

• Hokitika River looks blue when it hasn’t rained recently, and on a sunny day. After heavy rain, glacial silt colours the water grey. 
• New Zealand weather changes quickly. Check the weather forecast before you go, and be prepared.

View weather forecast

Be prepared

What to take

Sandflies can be fierce here. Bring insect repellent.

Short Walks gear list

Plan your visit

• Bookings are not required for Hokitika Gorge Track.
• Toilets and an accessible toilet are located at Hokitika Gorge car park.
• Drinking water is not available. Bring your own.
• Seating is provided at the first two viewpoints and along the track. There is no seating at the car park.
• Food and petrol can be found in Hokitika (30 min by car).
• Mobile phone coverage is unavailable beyond the car park.

Care for nature

• Rubbish bins are not provided. Take your rubbish with you.
• Kea and weka are protected native birds. Do not feed them.

Protecting nature in Aotearoa