The New Zealand Walks for Wimps series provides essential information about short, relatively easy hikes around New Zealand. This is the historic Charming Creek Walkway, on the Northwest coast of the South Island. Click on the map markers at the bottom of this post for more great easy NZ walks!
Sometimes hiking in New Zealand isn’t all about the scenery.
Well, ok, there’s beautiful scenery everywhere in New Zealand, so you’re always going to get that, but sometimes a hike can be to check out history too.
Such is the case with the Charming Creek Walkway.
This walk goes along a former private railway line along the edge of the Ngakawau Gorge. It was first built in 1912 to transport timber out of the valley, and then expanded in 1929 to access the Charming Creek coal mine.
Although the railway line has been described as ‘steep’, this has different meaning for a walker than it does for a railway car full of heavy coal! With only a 100 metre height difference over the almost 10km path, it’s a very easy walk.
About ten minutes in from the Ngakawau end, you can see the remains of some of the mine buildings, as well as an old coal car and the rusted top of a locomotive.
The Charming Creek Walkway is gorgeous, through vegetation that grows over the path to make a tunnel, across wooden bridges and a 37 metre-long suspension bridge. From the bridge and beyond Mangatini Falls comes into view, thundering into the river and reflecting in a pool.
In a couple of places there are overhangs where the railway was cut out of the rock. One of these is bare rock but another is dripping with vegetation.
There are tunnels too, also hewn out of solid rock, and while they’re not too long, a flashlight (torch) can be helpful to find your footing.
Although the railway stopped working in 1958, the rails themselves remain, although now skewed and uprooted by the forces of nature.
Also in place are the centre rails on the steepest sections, used for braking of the heavy coal-filled cars.
Almost halfway along the Charming Creek Walkway is the site of Watson’s timber mill, on a flattened out area with remnants of machinery lying around. There are information panels in a small shelter, telling you all about Robert Watson and his entrepreneurial endeavours.
I reluctantly chose to turn around here, knowing I didn’t have time to complete the track and then walk all the way back. But the track continues for another hour and a half, past the site of Mumm’s Mill to the abandoned Charming Creek mine at the Seddonville end of the track.
So if you’re up this way, definitely head for the Charming Creek Walkway. It’s very, well…charming! Maybe one day I’ll be able to go back and walk this track from the other end!
Have you hiked the Charming Creek Walkway? Tell me about your experience in the comments!
Are you looking for another easy walk in this area? Head south down the West Coast a bit to the Punakaiki – Pororari River Loop.
Click on any map marker below to check out another easy New Zealand walk.
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Love learning about the history when i travel. Whether it’s in nature or about a city, it always makes it more interesting and I also seem to appreciate the experience more.
I agree Alexa, it gives an extra level of depth to what you’re seeing, doesn’t it?
I must have missed this walk when I was living in New Zealand. Like the rest of the country, it’s absolutely beautiful!
Tom, there are so many beautiful walks in New Zealand, you couldn’t possibly have done them all! Just another reason to go back. 😉
THis is beautiful, I have very less knowledge of NZ and this is certainly a nice thing to learn about… Sweet~
I’m glad I can teach you about New Zealand Hridya! It’s a very beautiful country to visit!