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Northern West Coast

Buller District

Grade: Medium

Event Status: Programme Hits : 13 Download as iCal file

From Friday 04 December 2026
To Sunday 06 December 2026
Cost: $ 

Trip Leader:

Astrid Brauksiepe

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Phone: 021 252 0877, 03 927

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Explore the stunning Northern West Coast for an extended weekend with a base camp at Gentle Annie, Mokihinui, north of Westport.

https://gentleannie.co.nz/camping-ground/

This is one of the best campgrounds in NZ, low key and great location, right on the river mouth and beach. Stunning sunsets! Unpowered camp sites $20pp, booking advisable. Powered sites and cabins available, too. There is a communal room to hang out, plus a basic kitchen, but best bring your own gas cooker. There is also a pizza oven, with all ingredients provided for purchase! Or you can buy delicous meals in their cafe (The Cow Shed). And there is a wonderful hot tub, best pre-booked. Plus private bush walks of various length and difficulty and the beach. Book your own site!
The drive from Nelson takes about 3 3/4 hrs, 270km.
 
On Friday, we could leave early in the morning (or potentially Thursday afternoon/evening), check in and stroll along Charming Creek North Walkway, very easy, up tp 4 hrs, 11km rtn. Features coal mining relics, bush and waterfall.
 
Alternatively/additionally, walk the Cape Foulwind Walkway at Carters Beach (crossover) to the seal colony at Tauranga Bay. The Cape Foulwind Walkwayis super scenic and easy, 1.5 hr OW, 6km, very easy, car swap.)
 
Those who have to work could leave Nelson later and join us for the evening at camp.
 

Saturday, drive north through Karamea and explore Oparara Basin, lots of short walks plus

Oparara Valley Track, 5hr, 14km OW, easy, car swap
 

"The Ōpārara Valley Track is a stunning new full day walk through ancient rainforest, along the Ōpārara River. Highlights include ancient stands of rimu and kahikatea cloaked in mighty rata vines, prolific forest birds (kākā, kea, tomtit/miromiro, robin/kakaruai, parakeet/kākāriki), historic goldfields and a suspension bridge. This walk requires a reasonable level of fitness, as there are some challenging ups and downs. 

The track begins or ends at either the Ōpārara carpark (25 km north of Karamea) or Fenian carpark (15.5 km north of Karamea) and includes the Fenian Track — a heritage gold mining trail. For a one-way walk, organise a pickup at the other end; alternatively, walk to the Sunshine Flat Shelter (1.5 hr from the Ōpārara Basin or 3.5 hr from the Fenian car park) and back to your starting point."
 
We'll do this walk as a cross over, swapping cars. There should be spare time to explore some of many short walks.
On the way back to camp, I'd suggest a pub dinner in Karamea.
 
Sunday, drive to Seddonville and climb, Mt Glasgow, 6-8 hrs rtn, med-fit
"An easy walk up a grassy gravel track, then - after a river crossing - a steep ascent to the bushline and the open tops of Mount Glasgow". It gets overgrown and rugged, but wild and beautiful. 360 views, 1000m ascent! Rated much harder than the other walks.
If people find this tramp too hard, they could instead stroll along the Mokihinui River on the Old Ghost Trail, from Seddonville, easy. That could also be a bad weather day option.

https://tramper.nz/6286/mt-glasgow-1424m/#google_vignette

Drive home Sunday evening. Long days, but there is plenty of daylight in December!

(Various options for those who can/want to stay longer or arrive earlier: e.g. climbing Bucklands Peak near Westport as an overnighter. Local walks include Denniston Plateau (e.g Myra Track), Charming Creek Walk, Cape Foulwind.

Bad weather option is to hang out at gentle Annie in the spa pool, chill in the cafe, do easy local short walks near the camp.

Up Denniston Plateau, there are several short and medium walk options: Bridle Track, Brakehead Walk, Coalbrookdale Walk. Or the longer walk to the proposed mining site that Michele lead in January.

If it's too cold and misty up Denniston, you could instead drive past Carters Beach, Westport, to the seal colony at Tauranga Bay. That's part of the Cape Foulwind Walkway.

Cost for petrol will be split and worked out per car after we know the km driven.

Let me know your preferred travel days (Friday to Sunday or arrive earlier or leave later) when you register, so that we can coordinate car pooling.

Registration It is IMPORTANT that "You contact the Trip Leader before registering" for a trip. Especially if you are new to the club or a non-club member (Visitor). The Leader will need to be confident that you have the experience, fitness and the correct gear to complete the trip successfully. :-)CLUB MEMBERS must LOGIN HERE to register so that your details auto-populate the registration fields. You can edit these auto-populated fields but they aren't saved for later use. To permanently change them, edit them HERE." PLease register couples separately if both are attending.VISITORS can register using their email address which will be used to send you trip registration confirmation details and the ability to cancel the trip registration. Please register each person attending separately.

Spaces left for this event: 16
Registrations close 2026-12-04 00:00, Number Registered: 0 , Trip Capacity: 16, Waiting List Space: 0