In the northern part of the Abel Tasman National Park are the hills of Takakas, the perfect backdrop for Chetwood Forest.
West of Motueka, Kahurangi National Park stretches right across to the Tasman Sea and, with Mt Owen, provided the backdrop for the kingdom of the dwarfs known as Khazad-dûm. The mountain is surrounded by virtually impassable land. At its foot is the Wangapeka Track of 60 km, a demanding hiking trail, that an experienced tracker may complete in three to five days. Here Gandalf the wizzard plunged into the abyss when he fought the monster.
Kahurangi National Park offers an enormous range of landscapes: alpine tussock downs, caves, natural arches, sinkholes and water-worn outcrops to nikau forests on the West Coast. Wildlife includes the protected Blue Duck, giant land snail, largest cave spider, smallest giant weta, and the largest remaining population of Great Spotted Kiwi. |
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| Inviting and Eligant: The Cape Heritage Hotel |
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