Kahurangi National Park
Encyclopedia
Kahurangi National Park is a national park
in the northwest of the South Island
of New Zealand
. It was gazetted in 1996 and covers 4,520 km². It is the second largest of New Zealand's fourteen national parks. It was formed from what was called the North-west Nelson Forest Park
.
Kahurangi Point
, regarded as the boundary between the West Coast
and Tasman Regions, is located in the park, as are the Heaphy Track
and Mount Owen
.
The park is administered by the Department of Conservation
. Tramping, rafting
and caving
are popular activities in the park. After being prohibited for several years, mountainbiking was allowed on the Heaphy Track
on a trial basis for the winters of 2011, 2012 and 2013. The effect of the cyclists on trampers and the wildlife will determine whether the trial continues or not.
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
in the northwest of the South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It was gazetted in 1996 and covers 4,520 km². It is the second largest of New Zealand's fourteen national parks. It was formed from what was called the North-west Nelson Forest Park
Forest parks of New Zealand
The Forest Parks of New Zealand are on public land administered by the Department of Conservation.Forest parks have a less stringent level of protection than National Parks and they are used for a wide variety of recreational and commercial activities....
.
Kahurangi Point
Kahurangi Point
Kahurangi Point is a headland on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island, overlooking the Tasman Sea. It is located in Kahurangi National Park between Karamea and Farewell Spit....
, regarded as the boundary between the West Coast
West Coast, New Zealand
The West Coast is one of the administrative regions of New Zealand, located on the west coast of the South Island, and is one of the more remote and most sparsely populated areas of the country. It is made up of three districts: Buller, Grey and Westland...
and Tasman Regions, is located in the park, as are the Heaphy Track
Heaphy Track
The Heaphy Track is a popular tramping track in the north west of the South Island of New Zealand. It is located within the Kahurangi National Park and classified as one of New Zealand's nine Great Walks by the Department of Conservation. Named after Charles Heaphy, the track is 82 km long and...
and Mount Owen
Mount Owen, New Zealand
Mount Owen is in the Tasman district of the South Island of New Zealand. It stands at 1875 metres above sea level and is part of the Marino Mountains....
.
The park is administered by the Department of Conservation
New Zealand Department of Conservation
The Department of Conservation , commonly known by its acronym, "DOC", is the state sector organisation which deals with the conservation of New Zealand’s natural and historic heritage...
. Tramping, rafting
Rafting
Rafting or white water rafting is a challenging recreational outdoor activity using an inflatable raft to navigate a river or other bodies of water. This is usually done on white water or different degrees of rough water, in order to thrill and excite the raft passengers. The development of this...
and caving
Caving
Caving—also occasionally known as spelunking in the United States and potholing in the United Kingdom—is the recreational pastime of exploring wild cave systems...
are popular activities in the park. After being prohibited for several years, mountainbiking was allowed on the Heaphy Track
Heaphy Track
The Heaphy Track is a popular tramping track in the north west of the South Island of New Zealand. It is located within the Kahurangi National Park and classified as one of New Zealand's nine Great Walks by the Department of Conservation. Named after Charles Heaphy, the track is 82 km long and...
on a trial basis for the winters of 2011, 2012 and 2013. The effect of the cyclists on trampers and the wildlife will determine whether the trial continues or not.
Conservation initiatives
In addition to ongoing conservation work by the Department of Conservation, there is a community initiative that aims "to implement, in partnership with the Department of Conservation, a conservation strategy to bring about the protection and/or return of endangered and threatened flora and fauna to the Flora Stream catchment area in Kahurangi National Park. This will enhance the experience for all visitors to this popular area, resulting in wider community appreciation and use of the Park." "The society now has approximately 30 kilometres of trap lines, with all traps at 100 metre spacing. Also a wasp eradication programme is in place. Bird monitoring is also part of the society's programme."See also
- Protected areas of New ZealandProtected areas of New ZealandProtected areas of New Zealand are on both public and private land. Nearly 30 percent of the land mass of New Zealand is in public ownership and has some degree of protection...
- Biodiversity of New ZealandBiodiversity of New ZealandThe biodiversity of New Zealand, a large Pacific archipelago, is one of the most unusual on Earth, due to its long isolation from other continental landmasses. Its affinities are derived from Gondwana, from which it separated 82 million years ago, New Caledonia and Lord Howe Island, both of which...
- Tramping in New ZealandTramping in New ZealandTramping, known elsewhere as hiking or bushwalking, is a popular activity in New Zealand.Tramping is defined as a recreational activity involving walking over rough country carrying all the required food and equipment...
External links
- Department of Conservation information - Kahurangi National Park