Wharariki Beach Walk
Archway Islands
Your Nature Guide
Marios Gavalas
Author And Researcher
Nau mai, haere mai
Nau mai, haere mai
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I've personally walked hundreds of New Zealand's tracks and spent months in libraries uncovering interesting information on New Zealand/Aotearoa. And you'll find a slice of that research on this page - enjoy!
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Information
Wharariki Beach Walk
2 km return | 40 minutes return
It’s a wild ride at Wharariki. As the incessant westerlies draw up a big surf, the ripples of sand dance on the wide expansive beach. Massive dunes, so high you can body surf them, rise opposite the Archway Islands. You can see the wind and wave in their designs.
Walking Track
Timing
Between March and May, seal pups are often swimming in the sea pools at the southern end. Treat these magical creatures with respect and enjoy!
Access
From Puponga, turn left and continue 6 km to the roadend carpark.
Track
The track first crosses farmland, before the consolidated dunes and a low forest of manuka. You then undulate over the massive sand hills, arriving at Wharariki Beach with the Archway Island out to sea.
Geology
The sedimentary sandstones of the coastline are weakly bonded. Couple with the fierce, constant westerly winds, the force of the moving air has sculpted the rock faces.
Archway Islands are the same process but with wave. Gnawing and biting at the rock, the force of water has enlarged a pre-existing weakness, which has collapsed to form the arch.
The huge dunes are so steep you can take massive leaps from the crests and tumble many metres to a crumpled heap at their base. Bring goggles.
Fauna
Fur seals and their pups often play at the southern end of the beach. Although the pups can be curious, the mum's can be protective. They run surprisingly fast and bite. Take care and respect the animal's habitat.
Details
| Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
DOC Nelson/TasmanCentral government organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Golden Bay |
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Categories |
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Operating Season And Hours |
Seal pups in March, April and May. |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Seal Watching
Walking
Nearby
Reviews
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4.5/5
A truly stunning walk in quite a remote location through jaw dropping landscapes you may never see the like of.
Well worth a drive down the long dusty roads to find it
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5.0/5
Awesome beach in the north of the South Island.
Come here when the tide is low and the sun is going down. 20 minute walk from the carpark.
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5.0/5
Did not expect to see such a breathtaking beach here in New Zealand..
Huge sand dunes, caves and nature. Also enjoyed the walk from the car park as you are crossing grass areas with sheep on it. Nice 20 minute walk one way.
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4.0/5
Beware, last section of the road is gravel and narrow with soft edges.
Saw a motorhome on its side after moving too far across to let others pass. Delightful walk up a steep hillside initially then through soft sand to hard sand beach. Playful young seals in rock pools and many interesting rock arches, caves and rock formations. Difficult to spot walking track on return from the beach. Clean long drop toilet but not water or hand sanitizer.
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4.5/5
Take the long way around to get to a beautiful place.
With nice rock formations on the beach. Do not miss the main beach either. Just be kind to the seals.
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3.5/5
It was beautiful and you could stay and watch the sun go down, but the wind was so strong it blew sand in your face and it stings quite a bit so wear long clothes.
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5.0/5
What a beautiful beach you get to after a short walk, so many hidden caves and many seals around.
Very windy indeed - which creates wonderful sand turbulences close to the ground.
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5.0/5
What an awesome place!
We were lucky to time our visit around a beautiful sunset. It is definitely advisable to go here at low tide so you can fully explore the beach and all the awesome rock formations. We missed a bit as the tide was coming in. But it was still a full 10 point visit!
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4.5/5
A truly stunning walk in quite a remote location through jaw dropping landscapes you may never see the like of.
Well worth a drive down the long dusty roads to find it
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4.0/5
Beware, last section of the road is gravel and narrow with soft edges.
Saw a motorhome on its side after moving too far across to let others pass. Delightful walk up a steep hillside initially then through soft sand to hard sand beach. Playful young seals in rock pools and many interesting rock arches, caves and rock formations. Difficult to spot walking track on return from the beach. Clean long drop toilet but not water or hand sanitizer.
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5.0/5
Did not expect to see such a breathtaking beach here in New Zealand..
Huge sand dunes, caves and nature. Also enjoyed the walk from the car park as you are crossing grass areas with sheep on it. Nice 20 minute walk one way.
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5.0/5
Awesome beach in the north of the South Island.
Come here when the tide is low and the sun is going down. 20 minute walk from the carpark.
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4.5/5
Take the long way around to get to a beautiful place.
With nice rock formations on the beach. Do not miss the main beach either. Just be kind to the seals.
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3.5/5
It was beautiful and you could stay and watch the sun go down, but the wind was so strong it blew sand in your face and it stings quite a bit so wear long clothes.
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5.0/5
What an awesome place!
We were lucky to time our visit around a beautiful sunset. It is definitely advisable to go here at low tide so you can fully explore the beach and all the awesome rock formations. We missed a bit as the tide was coming in. But it was still a full 10 point visit!
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5.0/5
What a beautiful beach you get to after a short walk, so many hidden caves and many seals around.
Very windy indeed - which creates wonderful sand turbulences close to the ground.
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5.0/5
Lovely walk from the carpark through a field with sheep and cows through a forest and down to the beach with seals, very worth it to go there.
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5.0/5
Fascinating walk to the beach through farmland, along the river and at the rough beach.
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5.0/5
From the carpark it is an easy way.
The beach is pretty nice and when it is low tide you can see the rocks with holes inside. And when you arrive to the night time you can see the baby seals in the 'pools'.
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5.0/5
A beautiful beach with nice sand dunes, rocks in the ocean and cute baby seals.
It is a must see in the South Island.
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5.0/5
This was so perfect.
I have never seen so many different views in the same place. Very gorgeous. And at the beach it was so cute to see the baby seals.
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4.5/5
Fantastic beach where you have to go when it is low tide so you can watch the baby seals play together.
The beach is huge and beautiful with lots of wind. It is a 45 minute walk to get there from the carpark,
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4.5/5
After driving down a short dirt road, we hit the Wharariki Beach parking lot.
A short, uphill walk through low fields led us to a beautiful beach of dunes and interesting rock bluffs with caves at low tide. Continued along the beach to a trail leading towards Cape Farewell. While only 2km one way, the walkway was quite hilly. Bring water. Amazing views.
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5.0/5
Such a treasure.
Absolutely worth the detour. Plan to spend a day at this beautiful beach that you share with some seals playing around or relaxing in the sun. Take shoes as the sand get brutally hot. It literally looks like it is painted. Absolute New Zealand highlight!
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5.0/5
Very beautiful beach with dunes.
You can see seals two hours before and after high tide.
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4.5/5
One of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen.
Definitely worth to visit this place. It took us 15 minutes to get there. If you walk to this beach you will be rewarded with a wonderful place with a sandy beach and big rocks and amazing view.
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3.5/5
Nice and easy walk through woods and bush with good views to the sea.
At the end, you reach a hut to stay at.
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