Karamea Bluff Track

The Karamea Bluff Track follows the rugged coastline north of Karamea township, winding through some of the most pristine coastal forest left on New Zealand’s wild West Coast. The track passes through dense groves of nikau palms and massive rata trees before emerging onto windswept bluffs 200 meters above crashing Tasman Sea swells. At Kohaihai Bluff, the track reaches its dramatic terminus where the forest meets vertical limestone cliffs, and on clear days you can see all the way to Farewell Spit.

This is an easy to moderate track suitable for any high-clearance vehicle, though the final approach to the bluff requires walking the last kilometer. The track can be muddy year-round thanks to West Coast rain, but it’s passable in all seasons except during major storms. No permits needed, and there’s spectacular clifftop camping at designated spots with pit toilets and water from nearby streams. It’s the kind of place that reminds you why the West Coast still feels like the edge of the world.