New Zealand's first treetop walk has opened in the country's South Island, following six years of scouting a location with suitable access, views and mature forest.

The Westcoast Treetop Walk & Café, at Lake Mahinapua, is a 450m (1,476ft) long steel walkway 20m (66ft) off the ground and takes around an hour to stroll through.

The surrounding bush includes native New Zealand species such as totara, rimu and kahikatea, and is home to native birds such as the tui, bellbird and wood pigeon.

Developed by Australian company Canopy01, which specialises in environmentally sensitive tree walks, the walkway is pram and wheelchair-friendly.

The attraction, 15km south of Hokitika, includes a 40m (131ft) high viewing tower, the Mahinapua Café, which can seat up to 80, and a gift shop that sells local crafts.

Canopy01 opened its first walk in 1996 and has walks across Australia, including in New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria.