Epic Travel → Asia & the South Pacific → New Zealand → West Coast → Oparara Arch

Location: Karamea, West Coast, New Zealand

Time Required: 30 minutes

Distance: 2 km/1.2 miles roundtrip

Red Tape/Notes: None.

What’s Nearby?: Moria Gate Arch, Mirror Tarn, Box Canyon Cave, Crazy Paving Stone Cave

The Oparara Arch is huge, and rather difficult to photograph, being somewhat obscured by foliage – definitely better in person than pictures can convey! The trail to get to the arch is a classic New Zealand sort of trail – lots of green, traveling along a river (this one is stained brown from tannins), and suddenly the arch looms up in front of you. The trail ascends inside the rocky overhang, where you have views through the massive tunnel. Keep your eyes peeled for the endangered Whio (or Blue Duck) – these adorable ducks like to play in the water here so you have a good chance of seeing them.

Epic Travel → Asia & the South Pacific → New Zealand → West Coast → Oparara Arch