West Coast Treetop Walk

The West Coast Treetop Walk is a canopy walkway through mature rimu forest near Hokitika on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. The tourist attraction was built by Australian eco-tourism company 'Canopy01' in 2012 and comprises a 450 metres (1,480 ft) long elevated steel walkway, viewing tower, and cantilever.[1][2][3]

Tower and treetop walkway

The walkway leads through the canopy of mature native West Coast forest dominated by rimu at a height of around 20 to 25 metres (66 to 82 ft) above ground. It passes close to the crowns of mature rimu trees and sits above smaller trees and tree ferns. The loop walk takes in views of the nearby Lake Mahinapua and includes a cantilever extending out into the forest canopy. A 47 metres (154 ft) tall steel viewing tower,[3] with a spiral staircase, has views over the surrounding forest and northern ranges of the Southern Alps including Toaroha Range, Diedrichs Range and Mt O'Connor.

The tourist attraction is locally run via a 45-year concession lease[4] from the Department of Conservation NZ and includes a car park and cafe, with the actual canopy walkway accessible via a 5-minute walk from the cafe.

References
  1. Deidre Mussen (7 January 2012). "Plans for NZ's first treetop walk". The Press. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  2. NZN (15 December 2012). "Treetop walk opens on West Coast". 3 News. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  3. Roy Sinclair (4 February 2013). "Tiptoeing in the treetops". The Press. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  4. Deidre Mussen (9 December 2012). "A bird's eye view". The Sunday Star-Times. Retrieved 18 March 2015.


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