Truman Track
Your Nature Guide
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
Information
Truman Track
1.4 km return | 30 minutes return
A short walk through lush forest arrives at a promontory with open views of the Tasman Sea. An offshore shelf is battered by the waves. Wooden steps lead to a steeply shelving beach with caves, overhangs and a waterfall. A powerful place.
Walking Track
Timing
The beach is unsafe to explore at mid-high tide, or if a big swell is running. DO NOT SWIM!
Never turn your back on a West Coast beach. The rips here are particularly powerful and will drag you in instantly. Once you are in, you will never get out alive and anyone who tries to save you will probably also be pulverised on the rocks. BE WARNED!
Access
Truman Track is signposted 3 km north of the Punakaiki Visitor Centre.
Take care crossing the road to the track start from the parking area.
Track
Nikau palms, large rimu and rata then flax greet you on the way to the coast.
A bench by the coast is perfect for contemplating the power of the place.
The wooden steps down to the beach can be slippery.
Cavers on the far side of the beach make great exploring, but it is dangerous to travel further.
Geology
A waterfall disgorges over the bluff, straight onto the beach
Flora
Mats of coastal primrose cover the offshore platform.
Details
| Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
DOC West CoastCentral government organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Punakaiki |
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Categories |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Walking
Nearby
Reviews
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5.0/5
A gorgeous hidden gem.
Short walk through lush, tropical bush comes out at an amazing g piece of coast. Just up from Punakeiki, this area also has stunning rock formations in sweeping layers and vast overhangs and caves.
Magical.
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5.0/5
My favorite place on the West Coast, and favorite beach in the whole country.
The walk is nice but the beach is amazing. The tiny pebbles look like shiny gemstones and there is a waterfall. The wakes crashing on the rocks and foaming on the pebbles is very relaxing. There is even a cave-like overhang to sit under if it rains. It should be on your west coast bucket list.
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5.0/5
A beautiful tiny walk through iconic NZ vegetation with a mighty Rata tree in the middle.
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5.0/5
Nice short walk through the bush ending at the beach with a perfect view.
Come here to see a gorgeous sunset.
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4.0/5
Lesser known stop - but well worth it.
Great, slightly muddy rainforest walk to a stunning beach, carved stone steps and a pebble beach. Great waves. Definite stop worthy.
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4.5/5
Great little walk through rainforest to beach and view of the coast - awesome place to explore and get your feet wet on a sunny day.
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4.0/5
Short walk but comes out to a beach all on its own, would not swim as really rough, but it is a nice place to go to, more enjoyable than the walk to Pancake Rocks.
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5.0/5
A gorgeous short 15 minute walk to a stunning beach landscape perfect for a sunset.
Take a little wine and enjoy a secluded view of the Tasman Sea, Truman Cove and even a small waterfall onto the beach. Beautiful!!
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5.0/5
A gorgeous hidden gem.
Short walk through lush, tropical bush comes out at an amazing g piece of coast. Just up from Punakeiki, this area also has stunning rock formations in sweeping layers and vast overhangs and caves.
Magical.
-
5.0/5
My favorite place on the West Coast, and favorite beach in the whole country.
The walk is nice but the beach is amazing. The tiny pebbles look like shiny gemstones and there is a waterfall. The wakes crashing on the rocks and foaming on the pebbles is very relaxing. There is even a cave-like overhang to sit under if it rains. It should be on your west coast bucket list.
-
5.0/5
A beautiful tiny walk through iconic NZ vegetation with a mighty Rata tree in the middle.
-
5.0/5
Nice short walk through the bush ending at the beach with a perfect view.
Come here to see a gorgeous sunset.
-
4.0/5
Lesser known stop - but well worth it.
Great, slightly muddy rainforest walk to a stunning beach, carved stone steps and a pebble beach. Great waves. Definite stop worthy.
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4.5/5
Great little walk through rainforest to beach and view of the coast - awesome place to explore and get your feet wet on a sunny day.
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4.0/5
Short walk but comes out to a beach all on its own, would not swim as really rough, but it is a nice place to go to, more enjoyable than the walk to Pancake Rocks.
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5.0/5
A gorgeous short 15 minute walk to a stunning beach landscape perfect for a sunset.
Take a little wine and enjoy a secluded view of the Tasman Sea, Truman Cove and even a small waterfall onto the beach. Beautiful!!
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5.0/5
One of the most beautiful spots I have seen in New Zealand!
10 minutes walk to the bay! Cute little waterfall, beautiful sandstone and wild waterplay! Only negative aspect are thousands of aggressive sandflies!
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5.0/5
Excellent short track for all fitness levels, 10 minutes each way.
Beautiful trees and ferns then breaks out to fantastic limestone wind and wave sculpted rock formations by the ocean.
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4.0/5
Cool short walk through rainforest down to the beach, you experience a lot within 30 minutes walking time.
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4.0/5
Easy short walk through the forest to a lovely cove with great views, too dangerous for swimming though.
Parking on the other side of the main road from the signposted track.
Mini blowholes off to the left at the track end, a bit like Pancake Rocks if the tide and sea state is right.
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4.0/5
Easy walk (15 minutes), good views, nice beach and even a small waterfall!
Worth going there when the tide is low because when it's high it's impossible to reach the beach - dangerous!
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4.5/5
Excellent short walk along an easy, well-maintained track to the beach at low tide and a hanging waterfall or to a view of both at high tide which provides real atmosphere.
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4.0/5
Nice and interesting beach after a short walk through rainforests.
Beautiful coastline and rock formation.
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5.0/5
15 minute walk to the beach with some caves and a lot of starfish at low tide.
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4.5/5
Brilliant 40min round trip through bush to quiet, spectacular beach with waterfall.
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5.0/5
Fantastic!
Easy to miss but well worth a stop. 15 min walk to the coast and wonderful views.
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