Westcoast Treetop walk & Cafe

Today we drove to Hokitika, two and a half hours from home, to go and visit the Westcoast Treetop Walk & Caf'e. This is a new tourist activity, opened in December 2012, and built by an Australian firm, at a cost of millions of dollars.

This walkway takes you on a treetop adventure among temperate rainforest giants of many ancient Rimu and Kamahi trees. The walking track is made of a steel platform 20 metres high, and over 450 metres long.

Half way along the platform, you come to the tower shown in my photo. This tower is 40 metres above the forest floor - it has 105 steps up to the tower from the 20 metre walkway, and once you are up there you have a wonderful view of the bush and Lake Mahinapua. I have to say, the tower does sway in the wind - y0u certainly wouldn't want to be up there in a gale!

Attached to the ticketing office is the Caf'e, where we had afternoon tea.

This is a magnificent tourist attraction, and well worth the visit.

Tonight we are spending in Hokitika - and will return home tomorrow.