Basic ecotouristic information on Westland Tai Poutini National Park (New Zealand) - localization, access, characteristic, fauna and flora, possible activities
Localization
Park is located about halfway down the Western Coast of the New Zealand´s South Island
Access
Mostly easy, very difficult to some areas. The only road access is on State Highway Six, via Hokitika in the north (approximately one and a half hours drive) or from the south via Haast (approximately two hours drive). Much of the park is accessible only by helicopter.
Characteristic
1 175 km2, Very diverse landscape - from the highest peaks of South Alps to the very remote coast. Steep forested eastern slopes are often deeply cut with impassable gorges. Near the coast, there are grasslands, scenic lakes, wetlands and wide river mouths. More than 60 glaciers - Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers flow up to four meters a day, i.e. about ten times faster than most valley glaciers. Both of them are the most accessible glaciers in the world, just 300 metres above sea level and pass through the surrounding rainforest, making for an unusual combination of environments.Typical ecosystems: mountain and alpine ecosystems, freshwater ecosystems (rivers and lakes), marine and coastal ecosystems, temperate zone forests, grasslands, wetlands.
Fauna + Flora
Species List - See the Attachment Below
Possible activities
Walking and trekking - short and easy paths in the western part, long and difficult trekking paths in the eastern part
Hunting of introduced mammal species, sightseeing flights, mountaineering (difficult), skialpinism, kayaking, mountain biking
Note
Remains of old gold mining towns along the coast.
Extraordinary beautiful landscape - the park is included into the List of the World Nature Heritage of UNESCO
The lowland waters are stained an amazing deep brown colour by humic material seeping through from the soil.
Some of coastal parts are very remote
Hot springs