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About The Paparoa Track
This Great Walk crosses the Paparoa Range. It takes you through alpine tops, limestone karst landscapes and thriving rainforests, and provides breath-taking views. From the Paparoa Track, the Pike29 Memorial Track leads to the site of the former Pike River Mine.
About The Pike 29 Memorial Track
This Great Walk crosses the Paparoa Range. It takes you through alpine tops, limestone karst landscapes and thriving rainforests, and provides breath-taking views. From the Paparoa Track, the Pike29 Memorial Track leads to the site of the former Pike River Mine.
About The Walk
The 29 men killed in the Pike River Mine disaster will be remembered in a number of
ways. At the families’ wishes, the mine site and surrounding area has become part of
Paparoa National Park.
The 10.8 km track from the former mine site to the Paparoa Track has been dedicated to the men and named the Pike29 Memorial Track in their honour.
An interpretation centre is being developed at the Pike River Mine site, where displays will tell the story of the mine and the 2010 disaster. The mine portal and
associated memorial will be a place for quiet reflection.
Full itinerary for:
-
Hiking The Pike 29 Memorial Track
- Biking The Pike 29 Memorial Track
Distance & duration
The Pike 29 Memorial Track can be ridden from both the Punakaiki and Blackball ends of the Paparoa Track.
From smoke-ho carpark (Blackball end) it is 37km to the end of the Pike 29 Memorial Track and from Punakaiki it is 42km to the end of the track.
The main difference being the climb, climbing up from Punakaiki is much easier than the climb up from Blackball.
Huts
Two new huts have been purpose-built for the Paparoa Track. These two huts can double as accommodation for those doing the Pike 29 Memorial Track, depending which way you will come at the track from. See ‘distance and duration’ to the left for this info.
From the Moonlight Tops Hut there’s spectacular views across the headwaters of the Punakaiki to the Pike Stream escarpment and north to the Paparoa National Park. Next up the Pororari Hut sits amongst ancient podocarp forests. Both huts can be booked on the DOC website.
The Paparoa and Pike 29 tracks are very busy during the summer season, we recommend booking huts and other services you need as far in advance as you can.
Season
The Pike 29 Memorial Track is open all year for hikers and bikers.
Logistics
Let the team at the Punakaiki Beach Camp take care of organising your Pike 29 Memorial Track experience. Once you book your hut tickets, next jump on to our simple booking system for accommodation at Punakaiki and Blackball, transport to and from trail ends, car parking, and car relocations you need. You will get an instant confirmation for all services booked with us, no emails back and forth, quick and easy!
Stories from the track
Frequently asked questions
The Pike29 Memorial Track is a tough ride and not to be underestimated – to enjoy your ride you need to be fit and have good equipment. Plan to start at the Smoke-ho carpark, riding past the Ces Clark Hut and Moonlight Tops hut, then shortly after the 9km of downhill begins! See Bike It itinerary here.
The Pike 29 Memorial Track is a fantastic walk and is best linked up with the start of the Paparoa Track, with a stay at the Moonlight Tops Hut, check out our walking itinerary here.
Weather in the Paparoa National Park is changeable with annual rainfall averaging around 6,000mm (235 inches). Heavy rain can occur with little warning, and unbridged streams are dangerous in flood. Be prepared for rain, heavy fog, snow and high wind, especially on the exposed sections of the track.
– You are not permitted to take a mountain bike into any hut or shelter, or on to hut porches.
– You are not permitted to take a mountain bike off the formed and designated route.
– Electric bikes are not allowed on the track.
– Bikes must give way to walkers.
The Bikers Code can be found on the DOC website on “Quick links” at bottom of this page.
The Pike 29 memorial track itself is just over 11kms, although most people will hike or bike from Smoke- ho carpark, you gain 300m vert this way 😉 this will make the trip from Smoke-ho carpark to Pike River memorial track carpark a total of 36.9kms, no small feat!
Huts have bunks, mattresses, heating, gas cooktops, toilets, USB charging and a water supply. A DOC ranger may be present. The huts do not provide food, cooking utensils or showers.
Yes, we offer car relocations between Smoke-ho carpark and the end of the Pike 29 memorial track, see here for details.
The Paparoa Track is very busy during the summer season, we recommend booking huts and other services you need as far in advance as you can.
Refer to DOC’s “What to take on Great Walks” guide.
We offer a daily shuttle service from the end of the Pike 29 memorial track back to Smoke-ho carpark, see here for more details.
Buy these on the DOC website here.
Yes. Most of the track above the bushline does have reception! Don’t forget to #thepaparoatrack and @thepaparoatrack all photos!
In Blackball we have a lovely two bedroom house for rent to hikers and bikers on the Paparoa Track and Pike 29 Memorial Tracks. It sleeps 6 people and can be seen here.
We recommend booking hut tickets first, as there are only 20 beds per hut and they will fill up very quickly. Once you have booked your hut tickets, get your car parking, accommodation, track transport and gear transfers with us.
This is expected to be built during 2024 and opening in 2025.
You sure can, we offer this service and you can get more information here.
