Scotts Beach is the first beach reached on the Heaphy Track from the Kōhaihai (West Coast) end. The beach is great for a short or day walk, and offers an introduction to the luxuriant coastal forest and thunderous surf of the spectacular Heaphy coastline.
| Details | |
| Length | 3 km Kōhaihai to Scotts Beach; 5.5 km Scotts Beach to Katipo Creek shelter |
| Time Required | 45 min – 1 hr Kōhaihai to Scotts Beach; 1 hr 15 min Scotts Beach to Katipo Creek Shelter |
| Trail Type | Walking track |
| Physical Difficulty | Moderate |
| Uses | Walking, trail running and MTB (May-Nov) |
| Dog Access | Dogs are prohibited in Kahurangi National Park |
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20 min from Karamea
Kōhaihai is the West Coast gateway to the Heaphy Track. To get to Kōhaihai from Karamea, continue north along Kōhaihai Road, following the road signs.
At Kōhaihai, located at the Kōhaihai River mouth, you will find the Heaphy Track car park, along with a DOC campsite, where there are flush toilets, drinking water and barbecues. Information panels detail history of the track and area, as well as times and distances, and any warnings in place.
From the car park, the Heaphy Track follows alongside the Kōhaihai River for a short distance before crossing it via suspension bridge, a short distance upstream of the mouth. Immediately on the other side, you will enter what is reputedly the South Island’s largest stand of nikau palms. This is where the short loop walk, Nikau Walk, branches off. The track climbs at a steady rate up a gully on the eastern side of Kōhaihai Bluff. At the top of the gully the track reaches a saddle (100 m elevation), where a short deviation leads to a lookout that provides great views north to Scotts Beach and the Heaphy Coast. The track descends gradually from the saddle to the back of the beach, where the beach access point is located.
The 1.2 km-long Scotts Beach can be walked from end-to-end, though you can only access it safely from this point. The beach is bounded by Kōhaihai Bluff to the south, and rocky headland to the north. Swimming is strongly discouraged, given the powerful waves and tidal currents that exist. The steep bush-clad range behind the beach is dominated by magnificent northern rata, and the coastal forest, featuring nikau palms, karaka and ngaio, fringes the back dunes. Scotts Beach campsite is a short distance beyond, and sheltered from the beach by a buffer of vegetation. The camp has a toilet and barbecue pit.
To get back to Kōhaihai, return the way you came. Otherwise, it’s a further 2.1 km to the picturesque Swan Burn bridge, and 5.5 km to Katipo Creek Shelter and campsite.
Scotts Beach is the first beach reached on the Heaphy Track from the Kōhaihai (West Coast) end. The beach is great for a short or day walk, and offers an introduction to the luxuriant coastal forest and thunderous surf of the spectacular Heaphy coastline.
| Details | |
| Length | 3 km Kōhaihai to Scotts Beach; 5.5 km Scotts Beach to Katipo Creek shelter |
| Time Required | 45 min – 1 hr Kōhaihai to Scotts Beach; 1 hr 15 min Scotts Beach to Katipo Creek Shelter |
| Trail Type | Walking track |
| Physical Difficulty | Moderate |
| Uses | Walking, trail running and MTB (May-Nov) |
| Dog Access | Dogs are prohibited in Kahurangi National Park |
20 min from Karamea
Kōhaihai is the West Coast gateway to the Heaphy Track. To get to Kōhaihai from Karamea, continue north along Kōhaihai Road, following the road signs.
At Kōhaihai, located at the Kōhaihai River mouth, you will find the Heaphy Track car park, along with a DOC campsite, where there are flush toilets, drinking water and barbecues. Information panels detail history of the track and area, as well as times and distances, and any warnings in place.
From the car park, the Heaphy Track follows alongside the Kōhaihai River for a short distance before crossing it via suspension bridge, a short distance upstream of the mouth. Immediately on the other side, you will enter what is reputedly the South Island’s largest stand of nikau palms. This is where the short loop walk, Nikau Walk, branches off. The track climbs at a steady rate up a gully on the eastern side of Kōhaihai Bluff. At the top of the gully the track reaches a saddle (100 m elevation), where a short deviation leads to a lookout that provides great views north to Scotts Beach and the Heaphy Coast. The track descends gradually from the saddle to the back of the beach, where the beach access point is located.
The 1.2 km-long Scotts Beach can be walked from end-to-end, though you can only access it safely from this point. The beach is bounded by Kōhaihai Bluff to the south, and rocky headland to the north. Swimming is strongly discouraged, given the powerful waves and tidal currents that exist. The steep bush-clad range behind the beach is dominated by magnificent northern rata, and the coastal forest, featuring nikau palms, karaka and ngaio, fringes the back dunes. Scotts Beach campsite is a short distance beyond, and sheltered from the beach by a buffer of vegetation. The camp has a toilet and barbecue pit.
To get back to Kōhaihai, return the way you came. Otherwise, it’s a further 2.1 km to the picturesque Swan Burn bridge, and 5.5 km to Katipo Creek Shelter and campsite.
Updated 26 January 2023