Kawatiri River Trail
Kawatiri River Trail, Westport: Hours, Address, Kawatiri River Trail Reviews: 4.5/5
Kawatiri River Trail
Kawatiri River Trail
4.5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
About
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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The area
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
31 within 5 kms
PortSide Bistro & Bar
203
0.3 km$$ - $$$ • Bar • New Zealand • Vegetarian Friendly
Johnny's
187
0.5 km$$ - $$$ • International • New Zealand • Dining bars
PR's Cafe
337
0.8 km$$ - $$$ • Quick Bites • Cafe • New Zealand
The Copper Pot
133
0.7 km$$ - $$$ • Indian • Asian • Vegetarian Friendly
Scarlett & Co
3
0.3 km$ • New Zealand
Buller Workingmens Club
24
0.5 km$$ - $$$ • Bar • New Zealand
Rainbow Cake Kitchen
5
0.6 kmNew Zealand
U92 Cafe
4
0.6 km$$ - $$$ • Dessert • Cafe
Grumpys Takeaways
3
0.6 km$ • Fast food
Gibbys Cafe
128
1 km$ • Quick Bites • Cafe • New Zealand
Attractions
4 within 5 kms
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Popular mentions
4.5
14 reviews
Excellent
10
Very good
2
Average
0
Poor
2
Terrible
0
summerbeaches2016
Christchurch, New Zealand29 contributions
Kawatiri, New Zealand: drifting slowly from the 19th century to today
May 2021
Some things never change over in Buller, on the West Coast of New Zealand. The people are great, an amphitheatre of breathtaking natural beauty from the mountains to the sea and its wild beaches; and now it is one of the best performed regions in Aotearoa.
The scenic Kawatiri (Buller) has benefitted from a resurgence in domestic tourism, with locals and Kiwi tourists spending 22.3 percent more last covid year compared with 2019.
A renewed interest in the quieter lifestyle has benefitted Buller, with a 16.2 percent increase in house prices last year.
Buller’s economy has bounced back well after the June quarter lockdown, with Infometrics provisional estimates showing a 3.4 percent increase in GDP in 2020 was the highest in New Zealand.
This was driven by strong performances in the September and December quarters, which offset a decline in June from the covid lockdown.
Overall consumer spending in the district rose 7.5 percent last year, despite the absence of overseas tourists.
The economic effect of the global health crisis could have been particularly severe on the West Coast, a region for the last few decades being increasingly reliant on overseas tourists.
But Kawatiri and Westport’s economy has proved exceptionally robust.
The diversity of the regional economy lends itself to resilience – agriculture and mining remain the dominant sectors.
Kawatiri mayor Jamie Cleine says Hauauru (Westport) retailers have been incredibly healthy throughout the pandemic, with a big push to shop and support locally.
Whitebait is becoming a renewable food source after a government investment to farm the popular little fish in Kawatiri.
Buller District Council received $2 million to get the whitebait farm up and running with commercial partner New Zealand Whitebait. The project aims to produce up to 100 tonnes of whitebait a year. Manāki Premium New Zealand Whitebait is Aotearoa’s first and only 100 percent sustainably produced whitebait. Four of six whitebait species are threatened or at risk of extinction.
Elsewhere, there has been a substantial rise in dairy production, and large areas of previously abandoned land are being farmed. Eleven dairy farms are up for sale in the district, between $1-3.5 million.
The town’s retail precinct has a long way to go to look appealing but there are some signs. Grumpy’s fish and chip shop food is world class. The Whanake café and gallery matches anything similar in Aotearoa.
The old chief post office is such an imposing art deco building, easily the most outstanding building on the coast. The original building collapsed in the 1929 Murchison earthquake and was replaced by the stunning art deco Municipal Chambers, built with reinforced concrete, with interior work in rimu and terrazzo floors.
Buller will profit more from one of its newest projects, the 55km Kawatiri Coastal Trail, a cycle and walking trail from Hauauru to Charleston following in the footsteps of early Maori and the 1860s gold miners.
About 95km north is Karamea, which borders Kahurangi National Park and is a haven for caving, birdwatching, mountain biking, fishing and hunting, kayaking and rafting. The coast drive north is one of the most beautiful drives in New Zealand.
Punakaiki, 56km drive south, was hugely popular before covid with tourists, mostly for its Pancake Rocks.
Inland 85km is Reefton, a quirky inland town nestled among the spectacular Paparoa and Victoria ranges. The town lies alongside the wild Inangahua River and is surrounded by the Victoria Conservation Park which at 180,000ha is New Zealand’s largest.
Back in the 1870s, Reefton became the first place in New Zealand to have a public supply of electricity.
The scenic Kawatiri (Buller) has benefitted from a resurgence in domestic tourism, with locals and Kiwi tourists spending 22.3 percent more last covid year compared with 2019.
A renewed interest in the quieter lifestyle has benefitted Buller, with a 16.2 percent increase in house prices last year.
Buller’s economy has bounced back well after the June quarter lockdown, with Infometrics provisional estimates showing a 3.4 percent increase in GDP in 2020 was the highest in New Zealand.
This was driven by strong performances in the September and December quarters, which offset a decline in June from the covid lockdown.
Overall consumer spending in the district rose 7.5 percent last year, despite the absence of overseas tourists.
The economic effect of the global health crisis could have been particularly severe on the West Coast, a region for the last few decades being increasingly reliant on overseas tourists.
But Kawatiri and Westport’s economy has proved exceptionally robust.
The diversity of the regional economy lends itself to resilience – agriculture and mining remain the dominant sectors.
Kawatiri mayor Jamie Cleine says Hauauru (Westport) retailers have been incredibly healthy throughout the pandemic, with a big push to shop and support locally.
Whitebait is becoming a renewable food source after a government investment to farm the popular little fish in Kawatiri.
Buller District Council received $2 million to get the whitebait farm up and running with commercial partner New Zealand Whitebait. The project aims to produce up to 100 tonnes of whitebait a year. Manāki Premium New Zealand Whitebait is Aotearoa’s first and only 100 percent sustainably produced whitebait. Four of six whitebait species are threatened or at risk of extinction.
Elsewhere, there has been a substantial rise in dairy production, and large areas of previously abandoned land are being farmed. Eleven dairy farms are up for sale in the district, between $1-3.5 million.
The town’s retail precinct has a long way to go to look appealing but there are some signs. Grumpy’s fish and chip shop food is world class. The Whanake café and gallery matches anything similar in Aotearoa.
The old chief post office is such an imposing art deco building, easily the most outstanding building on the coast. The original building collapsed in the 1929 Murchison earthquake and was replaced by the stunning art deco Municipal Chambers, built with reinforced concrete, with interior work in rimu and terrazzo floors.
Buller will profit more from one of its newest projects, the 55km Kawatiri Coastal Trail, a cycle and walking trail from Hauauru to Charleston following in the footsteps of early Maori and the 1860s gold miners.
About 95km north is Karamea, which borders Kahurangi National Park and is a haven for caving, birdwatching, mountain biking, fishing and hunting, kayaking and rafting. The coast drive north is one of the most beautiful drives in New Zealand.
Punakaiki, 56km drive south, was hugely popular before covid with tourists, mostly for its Pancake Rocks.
Inland 85km is Reefton, a quirky inland town nestled among the spectacular Paparoa and Victoria ranges. The town lies alongside the wild Inangahua River and is surrounded by the Victoria Conservation Park which at 180,000ha is New Zealand’s largest.
Back in the 1870s, Reefton became the first place in New Zealand to have a public supply of electricity.
Written 9 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Helena
3 contributions
It is not signposted well
Mar 2021 • Family
We had relaxing walk. The trails are numerous. We were left wondering which path to take. The paths and trails are not signposted that well.
Written 4 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Titirangifamilyof6
Auckland, New Zealand23 contributions
Awesome
Jan 2021 • Couples
Have really enjoyed a number of the bike trails. The new section out to Carters Beach was fab, esp loved the awesome boardwalk sections.
Written 6 January 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Cat from Palmi
4 contributions
Pleasant, easy ride
Oct 2020
We had a great day and this was a pleasant and easy ride with options to extend using different path/trails.
Written 5 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Shelley M
Albany, New Zealand389 contributions
Great tracks
Jul 2020
Walked the track beside the Buller river and came out at the main road, then walked to the end of Palmerston street near the yacht club and did a few trails there also. Great if you have a bike as there are alot of tracks to choose from. Lovely area and great views of beach. Tracks are in good condition too which makes you want to go further. Really enjoyed.
Written 18 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Telly
Rolleston, New Zealand70 contributions
Worth the walk
Feb 2020 • Family
A great walk/ride/run for anyone who choses this walk. It’s suitable for all levels of fitness, and you can take your dog as long as its on a lead and you take any waste away. Beautiful views on any path you chose to walk, and is relatively flat with no hills, although in parts there are wee white rocks that may be an issue for mobility impaired but otherwise a good all round walk however far you chose to go
Written 7 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
PatMacnz64
Omokoroa Beach, New Zealand493 contributions
Great Walk
May 2019 • Friends
Get up early take one of the many tracks built mainly by local volunteers and enjoy the peaceful around the lagoon the beach or the coast. View the bird life and maybe a seal or two.
Written 23 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
arthur l
Christchurch, New Zealand10 contributions
relaxing afternoon walks
Mar 2019
We spent 2 afternoons on the trail in westport during our recent trip.
The weather was mild & we were impressed by the efforts of the local people in forming these walkways as there are several variations to explore
The weather was mild & we were impressed by the efforts of the local people in forming these walkways as there are several variations to explore
Written 14 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Shoni101
15 contributions
Nice
Mar 2019 • Family
I do this walk almost every day! and it never fails to meet its stunning expectation...
It is a lovely afternoon activity for a little adventure to end the day..or maybe begin it?
HIgh Recommendation
It is a lovely afternoon activity for a little adventure to end the day..or maybe begin it?
HIgh Recommendation
Written 4 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
NewZealandCarver
New Zealand428 contributions
Wonderful facility
Jun 2018 • Couples
This walkway - mainly created by volunteers is a short walk from Wesport town (near the port area). Wonderful wide, accessible pathway over boardwalk/bridges. Very tranquil and very popular with walkers, cyclists, mums with prams etc. Excellent views of wetlands, birds etc. It's nice too have such a wonderful facility so near to a town and full marks to those who created and maintain it. Well done.
Written 7 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rachel
0 contributions
Is this trail runnable from Westport town accomodation? Or realistically need to drive to it and run it?
Thanks, Rachel.
Carolyn T
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia5 contributions
Hi there, where do I find the start of this trail? And how long does the return trip take if walking? Thanks.
Richard N
Westport, New Zealand66 contributions
Best place to pick up the trail is at the harbour basin alongside the fishing-boats. The bridge and boardwalk extends across wetland from here and you can choose several options that lead you to Shingle beach and oneard to North Beach. You can do anything from a 20 minute loop up to a 2 hour return journey taking in most/all the tracks. More track passes alongside the river between Buller Bridge and the railway yards. The vision is to connect these all up. Watch this space.