WALK: Lake Wainamu, Bethells Beach
What a place to refresh - blow away cobwebs and get away from it all. Bethells/Te Henga means sand.... black sand for almost as far as you can see. A beach tower breaks up the skyline, the base for guards watching over the surf ‘frolickers’.
From the carpark follow the Lake Wainamu Track alongside Waiti Stream for 10-15 mins until a sign directs you to stay in the streambed. All types of surfing takes place on these dunes.
Follow the 4WD track onto farmland above the lake through regenerating native trees. Eventually you arrive at the head of the lake. The small Waitohi Falls drop into a large pool surrounded by wetland plants. More swimming holes can be found in Wainamu Stream above the falls. From here return the way you came, with the option of crossing the dunes back to the road. This area of the walk is desert-like with just the occasional pohutukawa stump to remind you that this was once coastal forest. The black sand is very hot in summer. Alternately, cross a stream and continue around the lake edge on an unmarked but well defined track which ends at private land. Here an unofficial track leads to the dunes, but as it is on private land we suggest you turn around and retrace your steps back to the start. View Walk Details.
