1 / 3Hokitika Gorge
π Kokatahi, West Coast
Best for a short walk with a huge payoff. A free 2 kilometre loop through podocarp forest to lookouts and two swing bridges over the glacier-blue Hokitika River, 40 minutes inland from town. Toilets at the car park; bring sandfly repellent.
Hokitika Gorge is well worth the 30-40 min drive outside of Hokitika town to see. I very fortunately saw it after days of no rain so it was an incredibly vibrant blue. Some of the bluest water Iβve ever seen. The loop track is an easy 2.4km and takes 1-1.5hours, well maintained, very little elevation, a little rocky, going over two suspension bridges and offering several vantage points. The walk is through thick, lush rainforest and so beautiful. Sandflies were abundant closer to the water so be sure to have insect repellent. Thereβs a large carpark, a bathroom, and information boards. And the drive out to the gorge is so scenic through farmland, with the surrounding mountains. Also saw many PΔ«wakawaka (fantails), or maybe it was just the one following me around, made my day knowing the MΔori mythology behind this bird.
π Family Action Verdict
A near-perfect family walk: short enough for a four-year-old, wobbly bridges for the brave, and water so blue the photos look faked. Not a pram walk beyond the first lookout because of gravel, steps and boardwalk, so use a carrier. Go after a dry spell for the colour, coat everyone in repellent before you leave the car, and give it an hour.
βΉοΈ What to Know Before You Go
π¬ What Families Are Saying
View all reviews β4,578 Google reviews
Erin
βHokitika Gorge is well worth the 30-40 min drive outside of Hokitika town to see. I very fortunately saw it after days of no rain so it was an incredibly vibrant blue. Some of the bluest water Iβve ever seen. The loop track is an easy 2.4km and takes 1-1.5hours, well maintained, very little elevation, a little rocky, going over two suspension bridges and offering several vantage points. The walk is through thick, lush rainforest and so beautiful. Sandflies were abundant closer to the water so be sure to have insect repellent. Thereβs a large carpark, a bathroom, and information boards. And the drive out to the gorge is so scenic through farmland, with the surrounding mountains. Also saw many PΔ«wakawaka (fantails), or maybe it was just the one following me around, made my day knowing the MΔori mythology behind this bird.β
GraduatedWithoutHonor
βHokitika Gorge is an absolutely stunning place, with bright turquoise water, lush forest and dramatic rock formations that make the whole area feel almost unreal. The short walk to the viewpoints is easy and rewarding, and the swing bridge gives you an incredible perspective over the gorge. The colour of the water is unforgettable on a sunny day, and the mix of calm pools and rushing sections adds a lot of atmosphere. A fantastic stop for travellers, families and anyone who loves quick, scenic walks with a huge visual payoff.β
Eber Shibin
βBeautiful and serene. It's a half hr drive from Hokitika town. Lucky to have perfect weather on the day to see the blues. The suspension bridge was fun enough to give my daughter a few butterflies. It's an easy 1 hr spend here as you'll walk past various lookout points. I was on the clock and could not do more than 40 mins as I had to head to Franz Josef for the day's halt. But it still was well worth the visit.β
Evan G
βAbsolutely stunning gorge with neon blue river flowing through. The journey in to the gorge is beautiful as you get closer to the snow capped mountains, contrasting with the surrounding farmlands. The track in the Hokitika Gorge is well graded and suspension bridges provide great photo vantage points. Weka are everywhereβ
Reviews from Google
Overview
Hokitika Gorge is the West Coast's most photographed water, a milky turquoise river squeezed between granite walls 33 kilometres inland from Hokitika. From the large car park a loop of about two kilometres undulates through mature rimu forest on gravel and boardwalk, crossing two swing bridges with lookouts over the pools and rapids; most families take about an hour. The colour is glacial rock flour, bluest after a few dry days and dull after heavy rain. Free, with toilets at the start.
