Planning a Trip
Getting There & Getting Around
By Coach (Bus) -- To get from Westport to Karamea, go with either Cunningham's Coaches (tel. 03/789-7177), which charges NZ$20 (US$14/£7.20) per person one-way, NZ$10 (US$7.10/£3.60) for bikes; or Karamea Express (tel. 03/782-6757), which charges NZ$20 (US$14/£7.20). Both make the trip Monday through Friday and connect with other bus services to Nelson, Greymouth, Hokitika, and Christchurch. Drive Me Wild Hikers' Transport (tel. 0800/945-369 in NZ, or 03/546-8876; www.drivemewild.co.nz) offers transport on both sides of Heaphy Track. From Karamea, they travel to Nelson via Westport and Motueka on the day you finish walking.
By Car -- Karamea is just 100km (60 miles) north of Westport, but you should allow 1 1/2 to 2 hours for the trip, as at least 25km (15 miles) of it is steep and winding. It's a beautiful drive over the Karamea Bluff, descending into bush landscape and then along the coast. And look out for truck drivers who dominate the road!
Visitor Information
The Karamea Information & Resource Centre, RD6 (tel. 03/782-6652; fax 03/782-6654; www.karameainfo.co.nz), is opposite the Karamea Store in the tiny village of Market Cross. From November to April, it's open daily from 9am to 5pm; May to October, Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm, Saturday 9am to 1pm. There is also a post office here along with a garage, crafts outlet, and cafe. Just beyond Market Cross are the Karamea Tavern, the police station, motels, and The Last Resort. Everything is within walking distance, but the entrance to the Heaphy Track and Kahurangi National Park is another 15km (9 miles) farther on at the end of State Highway 67. For more information, check www.west-coast.co.nz.
Planning a Trip
Getting There & Getting Around
By Coach (Bus) -- To get from Westport to Karamea, go with either Cunningham's Coaches (tel. 03/789-7177), which charges NZ$20 (US$14/£7.20) per person one-way, NZ$10 (US$7.10/£3.60) for bikes; or Karamea Express (tel. 03/782-6757), which charges NZ$20 (US$14/£7.20). Both make the trip Monday through Friday and connect with other bus services to Nelson, Greymouth, Hokitika, and Christchurch. Drive Me Wild Hikers' Transport (tel. 0800/945-369 in NZ, or 03/546-8876; www.drivemewild.co.nz) offers transport on both sides of Heaphy Track. From Karamea, they travel to Nelson via Westport and Motueka on the day you finish walking.
By Car -- Karamea is just 100km (60 miles) north of Westport, but you should allow 1 1/2 to 2 hours for the trip, as at least 25km (15 miles) of it is steep and winding. It's a beautiful drive over the Karamea Bluff, descending into bush landscape and then along the coast. And look out for truck drivers who dominate the road!
Visitor Information
The Karamea Information & Resource Centre, RD6 (tel. 03/782-6652; fax 03/782-6654; www.karameainfo.co.nz), is opposite the Karamea Store in the tiny village of Market Cross. From November to April, it's open daily from 9am to 5pm; May to October, Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm, Saturday 9am to 1pm. There is also a post office here along with a garage, crafts outlet, and cafe. Just beyond Market Cross are the Karamea Tavern, the police station, motels, and The Last Resort. Everything is within walking distance, but the entrance to the Heaphy Track and Kahurangi National Park is another 15km (9 miles) farther on at the end of State Highway 67. For more information, check www.west-coast.co.nz.
