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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: -42.11562, 171.35801. 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
- 11 km loop
- Walking time
- 3 hr
- Track grade
- Easy
- 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
This popular walking track combines the southern section of the Inland Pack Track and the Paparoa Great Walk with the Pororari River Track.
This DOC directory entry covers Punakaiki – Pororari Loop 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: 11 km loop
- Walking time: 3 hr
- DOC grade: 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 popular walking track combines the southern section of the Inland Pack Track with the Pororari River Track. It can be walked in either direction but is described here as a counter-clockwise loop beginning at the Paparoa National Park Visitor Centre.
From the Visitor Centre follow SH6 south for 1 km to Waikori Road, 200 m on the left after the Punakaiki River. Leave the farm gate at the start of Waikori Road closed at all times. Follow Waikori Road for 1 km to the car park.
The track then follows the mountain bike entry/exit for the Paparoa Track, crossing the Punakaiki River via a footbridge and then making an easy graded climb through mature rain forest over the ridge dividing the two river valleys.
When you reach the Pororari River Track junction you can continue along the Inland Pack Track for a short distance to the swingbridge – this is a good place to rest.
Return to the junction and then follow the Pororari River Track downriver to the carpark on SH6. The Pororari River Track is the pedestrian entry/exit for the Paparoa Track. Once out to the highway it is a 1 km walk south back to the Visitor Centre.
Getting there
The Punakaiki – Pororari Loop can be started from the Visitor Centre in Punakaiki, the Waikori Road car park or the Pororari River car park. Both options will lead you back to your start point.
Know before you go
Hunters may be within the area of the lower and upper sections of the Pororari River track - take care.
Heavy rain will cause the lower and upper section of the track to possibly become impassable. Before you go into the area check the Paparoa National Park weather forecast – NIWA website.
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.
