Wharariki Beach Walk

Wharariki Beach Walk

Archway Islands

117 Rankers Reviews

98 Face-to-Face

10 Seal Watching

11 Golden Bay

Your Nature Guide

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Marios Gavalas

Author And Researcher

Nau mai, haere mai

Nau mai, haere mai

I'm Marios, delivering the best of Aotearoa's nature walks to your device.

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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Photos

Wharariki Beach and Puponga Farm Park in behind.
Horse trekkers on the beach
Looking down the beach
On the beach, so much to explore
Walking track to get there

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

Organisation

DOC Nelson/Tasman

Central government organisation

Location

South IslandNelson RegionGolden Bay

Categories

  • Activity__seal_watchingSeal Watching
  • Activity__walking_and_trekkingWalking
  • Free

Operating Season And Hours

Seal pups in March, April and May.

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-40.5032273778171

172.674179077149

Latitude
-40.5032273778171
Longitude
172.674179077149

Nearby

Reviews

    • For me the beautiful beach I have ever seen.
    • Lots of seal pups, fantastic sand dunes.
    • My favourite beach in New Zealand.
    • Most beautiful beach I have ever seen.
    • I could stay here for hours, days.
    Rating Count Percentage
    10/10 79
    68%
    9/10 21
    18%
    8/10 11
    9%
    7/10 5
    4%
    6/10 1
    1%
    5/10 0
    0%
    4/10 0
    0%
    3/10 0
    0%
    2/10 0
    0%
    1/10 0
    0%
  • 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

    Reviewed almost 6 years ago and experienced in January 2018

  • 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.

    Reviewed about 7 years ago

  • 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.

    Reviewed about 7 years ago

  • 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.

    Reviewed about 7 years ago and experienced in March 2017

  • 4.0/5

    Nice cliffs and wild beach.

    Very beautiful.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in February 2017

  • 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.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in February 2017

  • 4.5/5

    Huge, beautiful beach with sea lions and their babies.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

  • 4.0/5

    Very nice dunes, seals, short walk from the carpark.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

  • 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.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in December 2016

  • 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.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in November 2016

  • 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!

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in October 2016

  • 3.0/5

    Great sand dunes, windy and wild, seals.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago

  • 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

    Reviewed almost 6 years ago and experienced in January 2018

  • 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.

    Reviewed about 7 years ago and experienced in March 2017

  • 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.

    Reviewed about 7 years ago

  • 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.

    Reviewed about 7 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Huge, beautiful beach with sea lions and their babies.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

  • 4.0/5

    Very nice dunes, seals, short walk from the carpark.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

  • 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.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in February 2017

  • 4.0/5

    Nice cliffs and wild beach.

    Very beautiful.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in February 2017

  • 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.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in December 2016

  • 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!

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in October 2016

  • 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.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in November 2016

  • 3.5/5

    Nice rocks but with sunny weather I can imagine it is even more beautiful.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in November 2016

  • 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.

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago and experienced in November 2016

  • 5.0/5

    Fascinating walk to the beach through farmland, along the river and at the rough beach.

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago and experienced in November 2016

  • 5.0/5

    Intense!

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago and experienced in November 2016

  • 5.0/5

    Gorgeous and other worldly!

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago and experienced in November 2016

  • 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'.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

  • 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.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

  • 5.0/5

    One of the most amazing beaches I have seen in my life.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

  • 4.0/5

    It is one of the most beautiful beaches in New Zealand but a lot of wind!

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

  • 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.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

  • 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,

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

  • 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.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

  • 4.0/5

    Good walks, nice beach and ok toilets in the beginning.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

  • 5.0/5

    Far away but one of the most beautiful beaches in New Zealand.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

  • 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!

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016

  • 5.0/5

    Very beautiful beach with dunes.

    You can see seals two hours before and after high tide.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016

  • 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.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016

  • 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.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016

  • 5.0/5

    Nice walk, about 20 minutes to an amazing beach, big dunes and seals to see.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016