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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: -41.17614, 172.19914. 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
- 14 km one way one way
- Walking time
- 5 hr one way
- Track grade
- Easiest; Easy
- Location
- Kahurangi National Park / Karamea area
- 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
Extend the Moria Gate Loop short walk and experience ancient native forest on a longer walk.
This DOC directory entry covers Ōpārara Valley Track in Tasman, within Kahurangi National Park / Karamea 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: 14 km one way one way
- Walking time: 5 hr one way
- DOC grade: Easiest; Easy
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
This track links the Ōpārara basin with the historic Fenian Track. Branching off the Moria Gate/Mirror Tarn Loop, the track goes through heavily forested ancient terrace country.
Listen and look out for kākā, kea, tomtit/miromiro, robin/kakaruai, and the chatter of parakeet/kākāriki in the crowns of the rimu and kahikatea trees. Native moss gardens carpet the forest floor, punctuated by massive trees being strangled by mighty rātā vines (look for some of these at the turnoff to Sunshine Flat).
Sunshine Flat, about halfway to the Fenian Track junction, has a toilet, a shelter and interpretation panels on the surrounding forest and the story of the track construction.
South from Sunshine Flat, walk the ‘Avenue of the Giants’, a locally named section of track as you continue along and through the terraces and bridged gullies before crossing the suspension bridge at Postal River.
Only a short walk from Postal River, the junction with the Fenian Track offers the choice of further exploration of the gold fields or continuing along the Fenian car park.
Getting there
Start on the Moria Gate/Mirror Tarn Loop on McCallums Mill Road, north of Karamea. From Karamea, head north for about 10 km, then turn into McCallums Mill Road and follow this for about 13 km to the Ōpārara car park.
Note, McCallums Mill Road is a narrow and steep gravel road. It is not suitable for large vehicles or campervans.
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.
