Westland Tai Poutini National Park

Localization

Western Coast of the New Zealand´s South Island

Access

Mostly easy, very difficult to some areas.

Characteristic

1 175 km², Very diverse landscape - from the highest peaks of South Alps to the very remote coast. Steep forested eastern slopes are often deeply cut with impassable gorges. Near the coast, there are grasslands, scenic lakes, wetlands and wide river mouths. Typical ecosystems: mountain and alpine ecosystems, freshwater ecosystems (rivers and lakes), marine and coastal ecosystems, temperate zone forests, grasslands, wetlands. More than 60 glaciers.

Fauna + Flora

See the attachment

Possible activities

Walking and trekking - short and easy paths in the western part, long and difficult trekking paths in the eastern part

Hunting of introduced mammal species, sightseeing flights, mountaineering (difficult), skialpinism, kayaking

Note

Remains of old gold mining towns along the coast.

Extraordinary beautiful landscape - the park is included into the List of the World Nature Heritage of UNESCO

The lowland waters are stained an amazing deep brown colour by humic material seeping through from the soil. 

Some of coastal parts are very remote

Hot springs

Pictures - source  Wikipedia