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Location & access
DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route. Check the official route directions before travel.
Official location informationLocation source
DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route.
Reference point: -42.10990, 171.44913. WGS84 coordinates retained at the official service's returned precision; decimal resolution is not survey accuracy. Source positional accuracy is not specified.
DOC Maps walking and tramping reference point (WGS84), exact official-page GUID / Department of Conservation. Checked 2026-10-12.
Key facts
- Distance
- 8 km from track head return via same track
- Walking time
- 8-10 hr
- Track grade
- Expert
- Location
- Paparoa National Park
- Dog access
- No dogs. 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
An expert route leading to panoramic views of the Paparoas and out to the Tasman Sea. Suitable for fit, experienced and well-equipped people.
This DOC directory entry covers Mt Bovis Route in West Coast, within Paparoa National Park. Where DOC groups several walks, times and grades refer to the listed options rather than a single continuous itinerary.
Distance, time and grade
- Distance: 8 km from track head return via same track
- Walking time: 8-10 hr
- DOC grade: Expert
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
No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Description
To get to the track head, start at the carpark at the end of Bullock Creek Road, and follow the old road further inland to the T-junction and DOC sign. Continue to the left on the shared section with the Inland Pack Track heading in the Fox River direction, before soon turning right at a junction marked for the Mt Bovis Route. Follow the old four-wheel drive track across the former Bullock Creek farm.
Before reaching the track head at the forest edge, you'll need to cross Bullock Creek which can rise rapidly in wet conditions.
From the entrance to the forest the track rapidly gains elevation following a ridgeline. While there are track markers, it can be easy to come off the track (due to the combination of tree falls, overgrowth, goat tracks etc). Route-finding skills are essential.
Above the bush line the route continues into rocky outcrops. From here good visibility is essential for choosing a route down to the saddle before the final climb to the peak. There is a limited number of poles, but you will need to choose your route to scramble between these.
Return the same way.
Getting there
The track begins at the end of Bullock Creek Road which starts 2 km north of the DOC Visitor Centre in Punakaiki. Punakaiki is about a 45 min drive north of Greymouth, and 1 hr south of Westport.
Know before you go
Markings exist along the route, but it's easy to come off track especially with numerous goat tracks following and crossing the route. Rescues of lost and bluffed people have happened on this track in the past. A high level of fitness, good equipment and navigation skills are essential.
Weather in Paparoa National Park is changeable with annual rainfall averaging around 6,000 mm (235 inches). Heavy rain, snow, ice, fog and strong winds are possible at all times of the year, especially on the exposed sections of the track.
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.
