Wharariki Beach is located west of Cape Farewell and features large sand dunes, seals and marine birds, and views to the impressive Archway Islands. The beach is accessed via popular short walkway inland of Pūponga.
| Details | |
| Length | 2 km return to car park (not including any extra distance along beach) |
| Time Required | Allow at least 1 hr |
| Trail Type | Walking track |
| Physical Difficulty | Easy |
| Uses | Walking |
| Direction | Return |
| Dog Access | Dogs are prohibited |
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Green Hills Loop Track
Walking and trail running
Pūponga Hill Top Track
Walking and trail running
50 min from Takaka
From Takaka, head north along State highway 60, all the way to Collingwood. At Collingwood, turn left onto Collingwood-Bainham Main Rd, then right onto Collingwood-Puponga Main Rd, which you will follow for a further 21 km to Pūponga. At Pūponga, turn inland onto Wharariki Beach. Wharariki Beach car park is located at the end of the road.
The car park has a toilet.
From the car park, the walking track climbs up old dunes that are now used for sheep grazing. The track enters a short section of native coastal forest and the track surface becomes sandy underfoot. The formed track ends the beach. From here you can make your own way over the dunes and along the beach. Straight ahead you will see the impressive Archway Islands. A signpost indicates direction to Pūponga Hill Top Walk at the eastern end of the beach. The beach is bounded at both its eastern and western ends by steep headlands.
You can walk the whole way along the western end of the beach and return to the car park with Green Hills Loop Track; note that you can only get to the western end of Wharariki Beach at low tide.
Large waves and strong currents often make Wharariki Beach unsafe for swimming. It is also home to fur seals, sometimes with young pups; this is their home, so be sure to give them plenty of space.
Wharariki Beach is located west of Cape Farewell and features large sand dunes, seals and marine birds, and views to the impressive Archway Islands. The beach is accessed via popular short walkway inland of Pūponga.
| Details | |
| Length | 2 km return to car park (not including any extra distance along beach) |
| Time Required | Allow at least 1 hr |
| Trail Type | Walking track |
| Physical Difficulty | Easy |
| Uses | Walking |
| Direction | Return |
| Dog Access | Dogs are prohibited |
50 min from Takaka
From Takaka, head north along State highway 60, all the way to Collingwood. At Collingwood, turn left onto Collingwood-Bainham Main Rd, then right onto Collingwood-Puponga Main Rd, which you will follow for a further 21 km to Pūponga. At Pūponga, turn inland onto Wharariki Beach. Wharariki Beach car park is located at the end of the road.
The car park has a toilet.
From the car park, the walking track climbs up old dunes that are now used for sheep grazing. The track enters a short section of native coastal forest and the track surface becomes sandy underfoot. The formed track ends the beach. From here you can make your own way over the dunes and along the beach. Straight ahead you will see the impressive Archway Islands. A signpost indicates direction to Pūponga Hill Top Walk at the eastern end of the beach. The beach is bounded at both its eastern and western ends by steep headlands.
You can walk the whole way along the western end of the beach and return to the car park with Green Hills Loop Track; note that you can only get to the western end of Wharariki Beach at low tide.
Large waves and strong currents often make Wharariki Beach unsafe for swimming. It is also home to fur seals, sometimes with young pups; this is their home, so be sure to give them plenty of space.
Green Hills Loop Track
Walking and trail running
Pūponga Hill Top Track
Walking and trail running
Updated 26 January 2019