Sometimes you see photos of a tourist spot and think it can’t look as good as that in real life. The Hokitika Gorge really does look that good, if not better.

Hokitika Gorge is a short walk from the car park through a mainly rimu and podocarp forest to a viewing platform where the water has to be seen to be believed.

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An awesome viewing platform is just 4 minutes from the car park and this part of the track is accessible for wheelchairs.

Carry on further to an impressive swing bridge and the granite rocks of the gorge's walls.

For good views further up the gorge, cross the swing bridge and when you come to the end, turn left (straight ahead leads to private farmland).

The track continues for another 200m through the bush to another viewing platform with looking out to the gorge upstream of the bridge.