Walk Details

NZ Walking Routes > West Coast > Westland > Stafford Bay Route

Stafford Bay Route

Location
Approximately 50 km south of the Haast Junction you will find Stafford Bay signposted at a roadside car park 500 m before the Jackson Bay wharf.
Description

Jackson Bay to Smoothwater River (45 mins)

The track climbs steeply until it drops down into the Smoothwater River.

Smoothwater River to Stafford Saddle (2 hrs)

2 hour walk following the Smoothwater River upstream for about 20 minutes until Kakapo Creek. Here the creek bed is part of the track. After about an hour the track veers to the right of the creek and climbs to the saddle.

Stafford Saddle to Stafford Hut (2 hrs)

The 2 hour walk sidles around the hill and drops down into a creek. Follow the creek downstream. It may be easier to follow the ‘true left’ bank until you come out onto flats shortly before the confluence with the Stafford River. Follow the river downstream until markers on the ‘true left’ indicate the track to the hut, which is a short distance away on the left.

Smoothwater River to Stafford Bay via the coast (4 hrs)

Important notice: This unmarked route is only possible at low tide and when seas are calm.

If conditions are right the route is passable 2 hours either side of high tide, however a lot of care is necessary due to coastal erosion.

Follow the Smoothwater River downstream for about 30 minutes to Smoothwater Bay. Follow the coastline around to Stafford Bay. One of the most difficult is a few hundred metres past Smoothwater; see comment above about low tide and flat sea. The headlands on either side of Homminy Cove should be crossed following the roughly marked routes across their necks (narrowest part of the headlands).

Alternatively from Smoothwater Bay, follow markers along the Smoothwater River for about 40 minutes where the track leaves the river to return to Jackson Bay Okahu.

Duration
5.0 hours
Level
Hard
Amenities
  • Carpark
  • Huts
  • Tramping
Source
www.doc.govt.nz
Discussion
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