New Zealand’s largest Conservation Park, Victoria Conservation Park, is managed by the Department of Conservation. It covers a vast area of 180,000 hectares centred on the Victoria and Brunner Ranges with the Inangahua, Maruia and Grey Rivers threading their way through the landscape as they flow to the coast.

Diverse and rich beech forest covers most of the landscape with each of the five types present - red, silver, mountain, black and hard.

Tuis, bellbird, tomtit and robin abound amongst these forests, along with kea, kaka, red and yellow crowned parakeets. In some places you can hear great spotted kiwi calling at night.

Relics from the quartz gold mining era can be found hidden amongst the regenerating beech forest - items such as abandoned mine shafts and drives, stamper battery's, cyanide tanks, boilers and winding plant and buildings.

Access to the Park is possible from the State Highways that surround and dissect the Park as well as a number of secondary roads.

A network of well maintained tracks, many dating from the mining days of the late 1800s provide access through the Parks fringe and into its remote mountainous heart. These tracks provide a range of walking opportunities from a few hours duration to over night tramping, many of which are suitable for family groups and all ages. Track drop-offs and pick-ups are available - contact the Visitor Centre for more information and prices.

Accommodation is available in a number of high quality huts and a fully equipped lodge at Waiuta. However, the majority of the Park is essentially a remote experience, left to nature with ample opportunity for those who want to meet it on nature's terms to enjoy.

Other recreational opportunities are possible within the Park, including fishing, mountain biking, 4WDing, gold panning and hunting.