The Kaikoura Coast Track was my first time doing a private walk, (one that you pay to do), and also my first overnighter. It’s really a combination of two day walks, with the organisers taking your stuff between ‘bach’ style accommodation – so it’s a pretty cruisy way to walk. The scenery on the first day included dark volcanic sands, sea cliffs and patches of native bush. The second day starts inland, and you walk over Skull Peak (489m) with 360 degree views over the area and more native bush as you walk back to the coast. (These views were unfortunately clouded in on the day we did it, so no pics). There’s also quite a bit of wildlife around: lots of seals, but you can sometimes see dolphins and whales. The less attractive sections include sometimes smelly paddocks and a couple of stretches of road, but all in all a nice and unique walking experience.
We did it with friends and it is a nice way to share a walk through pleasant scenery with people that might be of mixed walking abilities. There’s enough walking to justify a nice meal and drinks in your accommodation, but not so much to stop anybody doing it. Roughly 13km of undulating walking each day. There’s more info including pics of those views we missed on the official website.
Kaikoura Coast Track: The Scenery
