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Key facts
- Distance
- Not confirmed on the checked DOC page; see individual route sections
- Walking time
- 20 min
- Track grade
- Easiest
- Location
- Kawatiri area
- Dog access
- Dogs allowed. Keep dog under control at all times. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Checked against official sources on 8 October 2026. Rules and conditions are set by Department of Conservation — confirm with them before you go.
Route overview
This easy walk follows a short section of the former railway line that ran from Nelson towards Murchison.
This DOC directory entry covers Kawatiri Historic Railway Walk in Tasman, within Kawatiri area. Where DOC groups several walks, times and grades refer to the listed options rather than a single continuous itinerary.
Distance, time and grade
- Distance: Not confirmed on the checked DOC page; see individual route sections
- Walking time: 20 min
- DOC grade: Easiest
Access and alerts
Source checked 2026-10-08. This page is a dated snapshot, not a live track-status report. Check current DOC route information immediately before travelling. An absence of listed alerts does not establish that a route is open.
Dog access
Dogs allowed. Keep dog under control at all times. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Description
Information panels at the Historic Kawatiri Railway sitePHOTO: Shellie Evans ©
The walk starts from a carpark with information panels detailing the rich history of the area. After 200 metres the track crosses an old rail bridge before passing through a train tunnel built in 1923. A torch is helpful but not essential.
The track returns via beech forest above the Hope River closing the loop at the entrance to the tunnel.
Getting there
Located at Kawatiri Junction at the intersection of SH6 and SH63, 35 km northeast of Murchison.
Know before you go
Sandflies
There are many sandflies in this area, especially during summer.
There are many wasps during summer.
Sources and reuse
Route descriptions and practical information reproduced from the Department of Conservation, Crown copyright, under CC BY 4.0, subject to DOC's copyright policy. Formatting has been adapted, including flattening page sections; follow the original DOC page for maps, section-specific layout, current notices and linked documents. Outdoor Next is independent and is not endorsed by DOC.
The accompanying photograph is a licensed general hiking illustration, not a photograph of this route.
