Epic Travel → Asia & the South Pacific → New Zealand → West Coast → Charming Creek Walkway

Location: Mokihinui area, West Coast, New Zealand

Time Required: 2 hours

Distance: 7.6 km/4.7 miles roundtrip (to Watson’s Mill and back)

Elevation Gain: 176 m/ 580 ft

Red Tape/Notes: None.

What’s Nearby?: Chasm Creek Walkway, SS Lawrence Shipwreck

This route is aptly named and has a lot going for it. Tom probably would have found it more charming if I hadn’t forced us to literally run nearly the whole way (we were on a tight schedule to reach the SS Lawrence shipwreck at low tide…), but if anyone is curious, this actually makes a great little running route. The trail is mostly nice and wide, and there’s plenty to distract you (which is also why it’s a great little hike). The route follows the old railroad tracks of the former Charming Creek Railway, and is sprinkled intermittently with interesting mining relics, cool tunnels through the rock, neat bridges (including an excellent swing bridge), and a really nice waterfall. We only went as far as Watson’s Mill; the route continues on from there but this section is reportedly the most interesting (plus, as I mentioned, we had an appointment with low tide).

Epic Travel → Asia & the South Pacific → New Zealand → West Coast → Charming Creek Walkway