Walk Details
NZ Walking Routes > Nelson > Golden Bay > Kahurangi Point route
Kahurangi Point route
- Location
- Head west from Pakawau over the Pakawau Saddle and down to Whanganuui Inlet on Dry Road. Continue on past Mangarakau and Paturau River. From here, Cowin Road takes you to the car park at Anatori. The distance from Pakawau to Anatori is approximately 38 km. If you have a 4WD vehicle you can cross Anatori River and drive on to Turimawiwi River
- Description
The walk to Kahurangi Point is an unmarked route, mostly along the beach. It takes 4 hours from Anatori or 3 hours from Turimawiwi River. Cross Anatori River on foot and walk down to the coast. If time allows, plan to stay at Kahurangi Keepers' House, close to Kahurangi Point. Alternatively, a shorter walk along the coastline towards the Point provides a rewarding option.
The beach walk is stunning: a wild and often windswept coastline in a vast, isolated landscape. However, there are two rivers that must be crossed at or close to low water. Check the tide tables in the newspaper or at the Golden Bay i-site Information Centre. Anaweka River must be crossed at the beach as there is no way around the wide estuary inland. At Big River, either cross at the river mouth if it's shallow enough and sea conditions allow, or head up the estuary until you find an ancient tractor, and wade across there.
After Big River, the beach soon gives way to hugh inter-tidal rock platforms near Kahurangi Point. Just before the point is Kahurangi Keepers' House. This house was made originally from the nearby houses of the former lighthouse keepers and altered to its present shape in 2003. A short walk further on around the coast takes you to the lighthouse, built in 1903.
- Duration
- 4.0 hours
- Level
- Hard
- Amenities
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- Birds
- Carpark
- Historical
- Lookouts
- Plant Life
- Swimming
- Tramping
- Source
- www.doc.govt.nz
- Discussion
- Start a discussion on this walk