New Zealand introduces its tenth Great Walk for adventure lovers

A new Great Walk track has been introduced towards the West Coast of New Zealand. Called the Paparao Track, it is going to add to the already existing numbers of hiking tracks in the country, taking the number to 10. The track is a 55km stretch, and is now the tenth Great Walk.
The all new Paparao Track is going to run from Blackball (in the east of the Paparao Range) to Punakaiki (located on the western side). The 55km stretch can be accessed by both walkers and mountain-bikers, and also includes a 10km side track that goes down to the Pike River. The original track had about 14km of trail already, and now the track has been developed with an additional 41km of new track.


The Paparao Track, besides being an incredible new walk for hikers and bikers, also serves another purpose. It has been designed to commemorate the lives of the 29 miners who died here at the Pike River Mine Disaster of 2010. According to a statement released by Eugenie Sage, Minister, New Zealand Conservation, the Paparao Track is going to create a lasting legacy, and will prove to be an amazing recreational zone for travellers. The track will also provide ample economic opportunities for New Zealand’s West Coast.
The Great Walks of New Zealand provide opportunities for adventure lovers or just people like to explore new places. The ten Great Walks are as follows - Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk; Tongariro Northern Circuit; Whanganui Journey; Abel Tasman Coast Track; Heaphy Track; Routeburn Track; Milford Track; Kepler Track; Stewart Trak; and now the Paparoa Track.