Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Distance
51km (32 miles)
Track Standard
Great Walk
Difficulty
Easy
Start
Marahau
End
Wainui car park
Nearest Towns
Marahau (
Click here
)
, Takaka (
Click here
)
Transport
Boat, shuttle bus
Summary
NZ's most popular tramp, linking a series of beautiful beaches and bays, and of-
fering lots of sunshine.
This is arguably NZ's most beautiful Great Walk - a seductive combination of reliably
pleasant weather, sparkling seas, golden sand, quintessential NZ coastal forest, and hidden
surprises with intriguing names such as Cleopatra's Pool. That got your attention, didn't it?
You're not alone. Such is the pulling power of this track that it is now the most widely
used recreational track in the country, attracting nearly 30,000 overnight trampers and
kayakers, who all stay at least one night in the park. By way of comparison, the next most
popular is the Routeburn, which draws around 13,000.
Another attraction is the terrain, for this is not a typical, rugged NZ track. It is better ser-
viced than any other track in the country: well cut, well graded and well marked. It's almost
impossible to get lost and can be tramped in sneakers.
Leaving the boots behind is a bonus, because you'll probably get your feet wet - and
you'll probably
want
to get your feet wet. This is a track with long stretches of beach and
crazy tides. In fact the tidal differences in the park are among the greatest in the country, up
to a staggering 6m. At Torrent and Bark Bays, it's much easier and more fun to doff the
shoes and cross the soggy sands, rather than take the all-tidal track. At Awaroa Bay you
have no choice but to plan on crossing at low tide. Tide tables are posted along the track and
on the DOC website; regional i-SITEs also have them.
It's a commonly held belief that the Coast Track ends at Totaranui, but it actually extends
to a car park near Wainui Bay. Those who continue north of Totaranui will discover the most
dramatic viewing point (Separation Point), the least-crowded hut (Whariwharangi) and
some of the best beaches (Anapai and Mutton Cove) in the park.
The entire tramp takes only three to five days, although with water-taxi transport you can
convert it into an almost endless array of options (particularly if you combine it with a
