Kokatahi: Packrafting and a challenging track

Get to know Kokatahi from a distinctive river perspective: a packrafting trip on the Lower Kokatahi River passes through a scenic entrance gorge. There is also a challenging track and tramping opportunities in the wider region. Which of these activities shapes your stay is a helpful starting point for planning your trip.

Packrafting on the Lower Kokatahi River

The 4 km stretch of the Lower Kokatahi River is a half-day packrafting trip graded II+/III. At the start, the route passes through a very scenic entrance gorge, where dense bush overhangs the deep-blue-looking water. The distance, time required and difficulty rating should all be considered together when planning. The distance alone does not convey how much time the trip takes.

Access to the packrafting route begins at a designated car park on Middlebranch Road. A large DOC sign marked “Carpark” identifies the car park. Check current access and river conditions before setting off; the route information comes from specialist sources, and conditions can change.

The track and tramping in the wider area

The Lower Kokatahi Track is a separate destination from the packrafting route: it is unmaintained and difficult to walk. If you plan to take this track, take its trail conditions seriously and check its current state before your trip. This sets two clearly different activities side by side: a half-day river trip with a stated difficulty rating, and a difficult, unmaintained track.

In the wider region, the Kokatahi and Toaroha valleys are popular areas for tramping, or hiking in the New Zealand outdoor context. This adds a different kind of outdoor experience to the specific packrafting route. When preparing for a trip, you can first decide whether the half-day river trip, the challenging track or hiking in the valleys will be the main deciding factor.

More nature experiences in the Westland District

The wider destination of the Westland District offers nature experiences ranging from glacier landscapes to forest trails and wetlands. The area around the settlement of Fox Glacier provides access to a dynamic glacier landscape in a forested setting, reachable from the state highway by car and on foot. Fox Glacier Valley has opportunities for walking and cycling, with different views of the glacier valley. This combination of scenery and activities offers a different focus from the river route at Kokatahi.

The walking tracks in the wider Westland District also vary considerably. Lake Matheson has an easy circular walk; on calm, clear days, Aoraki/Mount Cook and Mount Tasman are reflected in its still waters. The historic Lake Gault Track passes through an old kāmahi forest and offers panoramic views of Aoraki/Mount Cook. If you want to compare short walks with a challenging day hike, the same wider destination offers further contrasts: the Franz Josef Glacier/Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere Walk is a short rainforest walk with views of the glacier valley, while the Roberts Point Track is a challenging day hike with views of the Franz Josef Glacier and the surrounding mountains.

In the wider destination of the Westland District, the Ōkārito River Mouth Lagoon offers another landscape highlight: it is the largest unmodified wetland on the West Coast and is home to a diverse range of birdlife. Kayak hire and guided tours to observe the birdlife and landscape are available there. Night tours to observe brown kiwi in their natural habitat are also offered in Ōkārito, where more than 200 brown kiwi live. Check tour availability before your trip.

These additional landscapes and activities are part of the wider Westland District. Taking these differences into account when searching can help you rank destinations according to which experiences will be the deciding factor for your trip.

Discover more destinations: Otira, Ross, Fox Glacier, Franz Josef Glacier, Bruce Bay, Haast, Okarito, Kakapotahi.

Back to the main travel overview: Westland District.