Directions

From Westport take State Highway 67 to Granity and then on towards Karamea. Drive over the Karamea Bluff section of the road heading towards Little Wanganui. After you have crossed the Little Wanganu River Bridge, turn right and drive inland on the Wangapeka Road to the carpark where the track begins.

Exit at either the Flora carpark:
Roads from Nelson and Motueka meet the Motueka River at Ngatimoti where a bridge crosses to West Bank Road. The unsealed Graham Valley Road climbs steeply to Flora Carpark where there is a coin phone, toilet and information kiosk.

Or exit at the eastern end of the Wangapeka Track:
From Tapawera follow the signposts west to the Wangapeka Valley. While there is a swingbridge for foot traffic, the Dart River may not be passable by vehicles after heavy rain. There is an information kiosk and public telephone at Prices Creek, just before the track entrance.

Track Transport:
A bus service runs from Nelson to Tapawera. From Nelson, Motueka, and Tapawera, on-demand services run to the entrances of the track. Similar services run from the Karamea end, and an air service can take you back to your starting point.

Karamea-Leslie Track

If its wilderness and a tramping challenge you want, then The Karamea-LeslieTrack in the middle of Kahurangi National Park is for you.

For people searching for more solitude and challenge than the Great Walks such as the Heaphy and the Wangapeka Tracks, the Karamea-Leslie Track is becoming popular.  It is a 5- 6 day link through earthquake torn Karamea Valley, between Flora Carpark at the Motueka/Nelson end and the Wangapeka Track carpark at the Karamea/Buller end.  6 - 9 days are needed to get from road end to road end.

It offers superb backcountry trout fishing and follows rivers through lush bush, and traversing saddles. Marks left by earthquakes include Moonstone Lake and various slips.   There are plenty of campsites and seven Department of Conservation Huts which must be booked through DoC.  Back country hut tickets or an Annual Pass are needed for both Wangapeka and Karamea–Leslie Tracks.

The Karamea-Leslie Track is classified as a tramping track. It is marked but is quite rough in places.  Many streams are not bridged and are very flood prone.  You would be wise to download or print out a route guide from: http://www.backcountrynz.com/new-zealand-leslie-karamea-track.htm or from the excellent Department of Conservation website or any of their offices.

PS Good sandfly repellent will cut down the amount of hopping around and swatting you will have to do otherwise.  Trout fishing is difficult on one leg!