NELSON TRAILS

Monro Beach Track

Whakapohai Wildlife Refuge

Monro Beach Track is a short return walk in South Westland that can be accessed immediately from the highway. The beach is a breeding site of the endangered Fiordland crested penguin / Tawaki.

Details
Length 5.2 km return
Time Required 1 hr 30 min
Trail Type Walking track
Physical Difficulty Easy   
Uses Walking and trail running
Direction Return (out and back)
Dog Access Dogs are prohibited


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Connections

Monro Beach Track does not connect to any other tracks.

Access and description

  1 hr from Fox Glacier | 30 min from Haast

 

Monro Beach Track is located at Lake Moeraki, South Westland. The car park is accessed from Haast Highway (SH6), right next to the Lake Moeraki Wilderness Lodge.

 

The well-graded walking track heads through tall podocarp forest featuring magnificent rimu, kahikatea and ferns, which are protected within the Whakapohai Wildlife Refuge (which itself is encompassed by the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area). The track gently climbs to a saddle then descends a shallow gully alongside an unnamed stream, all the way to Monro Beach. The beach itself is about 500 m long and is bounded by two rocky headlands.

 

The rocks above the beach are the nesting site for Fiordland Crested Penguin / Tawaki. These are most likely seen during breeding season (Jul-Nov). If you are lucky enough to see them, make sure you keep your distance (at least 20 m).

 

Return the way you came.

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Monro Beach Track
Whakapohai Wildlife Refuge

Monro Beach Track is a short return walk in South Westland that can be accessed immediately from the highway. The beach is a breeding site of the endangered Fiordland crested penguin / Tawaki.

Details
Length 5.2 km return
Time Required 1 hr 30 min
Trail Type Walking track
Physical Difficulty Easy   
Uses Walking and trail running
Direction Return (out and back)
Dog Access Dogs are prohibited


If any layers fail to load, try clearing your cache and refreshing the page.

 

 

Access and description

  1 hr from Fox Glacier | 30 min from Haast

 

Monro Beach Track is located at Lake Moeraki, South Westland. The car park is accessed from Haast Highway (SH6), right next to the Lake Moeraki Wilderness Lodge.

 

The well-graded walking track heads through tall podocarp forest featuring magnificent rimu, kahikatea and ferns, which are protected within the Whakapohai Wildlife Refuge (which itself is encompassed by the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area). The track gently climbs to a saddle then descends a shallow gully alongside an unnamed stream, all the way to Monro Beach. The beach itself is about 500 m long and is bounded by two rocky headlands.

 

The rocks above the beach are the nesting site for Fiordland Crested Penguin / Tawaki. These are most likely seen during breeding season (Jul-Nov). If you are lucky enough to see them, make sure you keep your distance (at least 20 m).

 

Return the way you came.

Connections

Monro Beach Track does not connect to any other tracks.

Updated 16 October 2022