Located in the West Coast and Canterbury regions
Access to the scenic reserve is from SH7 (the Lewis Pass Highway), east of Reefton.
There have been reports of cars being broken into and disabled at track ends especially the start of the St James carpark at the top of Lewis Pass.
Weather conditions can change rapidly, particularly on the tops. Rain can quickly make even small streams treacherous to cross. Before starting out it is best to check with the Reefton Visitor Centre for the latest weather and track information.
The area provides a range of spectacular mountain scenery, wide valleys, rivers and streams, lakes and tarns, beech forest, and waterfalls. Visitors are able to see and hear a range of native birds including bellbirds and tui. It is also the location of some of DOC's important work with endangered wildlife such as mohua and kakariki and native plants such as mistletoe.
Marble Hill, between Springs Junction and Maruia Springs, holds a special place in the history of conservation in New Zealand. In 1997 the then Minister of Conservation announced the protection of a large area of beech and podocarp forest containing ecological, wildlife and scenic reserves.
| Paparoa National Park Visitor Centre | |
| Phone: | +64 3 731 1895 |
| Fax: | +64 4 471 1117 |
| Email: | paparoavc@doc.govt.nz |
| Address: |
4294 Coast Road Punakaiki RD 1 Runanga 7873 |
| Postal Address: |
4294 Coast Road Punakaiki RD 1 Runanga 7873 |
| Full office details | |
| Reefton Visitor Information Centre | |
| Phone: | +64 3 732 8391 |
| Fax: | +64 4 471 1117 |
| Email: | rvcinfo@xtra.co.nz |
| Address: |
67–69 Broadway Reefton |
| Postal Address: |
PO Box 100 Reefton 7851 |
| Full office details | |