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Wharariki beach (New Zealand) – Tips + Photos

Last updated on June 25, 2022 By Claire, the Travel Planning Geek

Wharariki beach, in New Zealand, is definitively one of my favorite beaches in the world: 
giant rock formations reflecting on sand, dunes, caves and seal pups playing in tidal pools...
what more would you want?
Below is my guide to help you plan your visit to Wharariki beach and its Archway islands.

Wharariki beach New Zealand Travel

Table of Contents
Why visit Wharariki beach in New Zealand?
Planning tips and Map - Wharariki beach (Puponga), New Zealand
Drive to the Wharariki beach carpark
Wharariki Beach Walk - access track
Photos of Wharariki Archway islands
Beach of Wharariki and Caves
Seal pups in Wharariki tidal pools 
Wharariki beach and Golden Bay accommodations
Things to do around Wharariki beach NZ

This article contains affiliate links (Disclosure page). If you purchase using my link, I get a commission at no extra cost to you.


Why visit Wharariki beach in New Zealand?

Is Wharariki beach worth a visit?

Absolutely. It offers:

  • a large stretch of sand off the beaten path (you really want to go there at the North West tip of South Island)
  • white sand dunes at the back of the beach
  • reflection surface on the sand, at low tide
  • several islets (the Archway islands) with many arches and they reflect on the sand!!!

You can walk for a long time and explore caves
And at low tide, small pools remain and seal pups play in them together while the adults rest nearby. They are used to humans and you can watch them in awe!!!

Why visit Wharariki beach New Zealand - reflections

Wharariki beach, New Zealand

Well I believe the 3 photos I have selected in above and below don't need any words to convince you to head to this beautiful beach (that I included in my lists of Top 50 NZ scenery and of Best things to do in South Island). 

Why visit Wharariki beach New Zealand - reflections archway islands

Archway islands

Why visit Wharariki beach New Zealand - seal pups

The Beach of Wharariki in video

And below is a short video to give you a feel of the walk and the beach. Cuteness alert!!!! you will see the seal pups swimming.

Can you understand why it is #1 on my list of most scenic beaches in NZ?

About the name and fun facts

  • Wharariki is the Maori name of a plant native to New Zealand
  • It is one of the famous Windows 10 desktop screensaver
  • It was used as a movie set for The Island (2005)

Many more pictures of Wharariki after the practical tips.


Planning tips and Map - Wharariki beach (Puponga), New Zealand

Where is Wharariki beach - Map

  • South Island
  • North West tip, near the Spit (long stretch of sand)
  • In the Puponga farm area of th Golden Bay
  • West of Abel Tasman National Park
  • Collingwood to Wharariki beach - 35min
  • Nelson to Wharariki beach - 2h40 drive
  • Here is a map to give you a general idea of its location. You can find my detailed practical maps of each region with the best places in my eBook: The Road Trip Guide - New Zealand
  • New Zealand Map Abel Tasman Wharariki Spit golden bay

    Map - Wharariki beach in New Zealand

    Need to rent a car in New Zealand?
    My tips:

    • Compare prices on my favorite platform: Discovercars.com - one of the best rated comparison sites!
    • Choose the car and company you prefer (with enough power for comfort on sinuous mountain roads)
    • Consider their full coverage option - I always take it for peace of mind! 
    • Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!

    See my 36 tips about renting a car in New Zealand

    How to get to Wharariki beach Golden Bay

    • If you don't have a car, you can book a day trip from Nelson - Check out program & book
    • Otherwise, you need a rental car to reach Wharariki
    • The last 6km to the carpark are unsealed roads in medium condition
    • Then you still have to walk 20min to the beach, and 5 to 10min through the dunes
    • Wharariki beach with its GPS coordinates and practical tips is included in my eBook:

    Plan your dream road trip around New Zealand!

    New Zealand road trip eBook Cover S
    • 12 easy-to-plan maps
    • 200+ pre-selected scenic locations
    • Planning tips to make the most of your time
    • 285+ large photos to decide where to go
    • GPS coordinates direct to the carparks

    LEARN MORE

    Best time to visit the beach of Wharariki

    The best times to visit Wharariki are:

    • At low tide
    • At sunrise or sunset (the beach is facing North)

    If you can combine both, lucky you !
    Otherwise, I recommend choosing the low tide over the sunset.
    And I also recommend arriving before the low tide, to have enough time to get stuck admiring the seal pups + walk around and see the reflections of the island

    You can check the Wharariki beach tide times here

    Best time to visit the beach of Wharariki tide

    Wharariki beach Visit Tips

    • Price - access to the beach is free
    • Toilets at the carpark
    • Cafรฉ at the Holiday park near the carpark
    • Access track - I will show you more further in the article but the shortest track is 10min through farmland on a well maintained track, followed by 10min over big sand dunes with vegetation and then 5 to 10min walking through smaller sand dunes on the beach
    • I recommend wearing above ankle shoes or to go barefoot, otherwise the sand will enter your shoes.
    • Swimming at Wharariki: it is not recommended because of strong currents
    • Surfing - There is a consistent swell with peaks for both right and left handers
    • Horse riding - Long horse treks can take you to wharariki beach - learn more

    Wharariki Beach Accommodation

    You can opt for the Holiday park close to the carpark, or stay in Collingwood just 30min away - Check out options 
    Further details later in the article


    Drive to the Wharariki beach carpark

    To reach the Wharariki Carpark you ave to drive 6km on unpaved road.
    The quality of the gravel road is medium but with no technical difficult. Just take your time.
    All places to see are well sign-posted with distances.

    Drive to the Wharariki beach carpark 1
    Drive to the Wharariki beach carpark 2

    You will pass the entrance to the Holiday park to reach a carpark dedicated to the beach. 
    A toilet is available at the carpark.

    Drive to the Wharariki beach carpark 3

    Wharariki Beach Walk - access track

    And then you have to walk...

    Wharariki beach walk map

    At the carpark you will find a signboard with weather conditions and a map of the trails.
    In the picture below you can see the red dot where you have parked.
    The most direct trail goes to the East of Wharariki beach.
    The indications give you 20min to reach the beach. It is not wrong as I will take you 20 min to reach the edge of the beach. But then you still have to cross small sand dunes to get to the flat land. So plan 30min.

    As you can see on the map below, there is also a trail to the West side of the beach around small ponds. The Map indicates 1h for 3km.
    Or you can come back this way, walking a loop.

    Wharariki Beach Walk map

    Wharariki beach track difficulty

    It is not extremely difficult. But it is not an easy walk either.

    The first 10min are through farm land.
    You have to walk past a few gates.
    The track is easy, but people with very strong vertigo might not enjoy some sections of the path

    Wharariki Beach Walk - access track 1
    Wharariki Beach Walk - access track 2

    The next 10 min you walk in the sand with 2 high sand dunes mixed with vegetation.
    They have set up some kind of staircase, but it is not really good.

    Wharariki Beach Walk - access track 3

    However the views are really pretty:

    Wharariki Beach Walk - access track 4

    Wharariki sand dunes

    And then you arrive at the beach... and you realise you still have to go through sand dunes to reach the flat area of the beach.
    They are not very tall, but personally I have a lot of difficulty climbing sand dunes. So it was quite an effort especially as I already done a full day of walking. But it was really worth the effort!

    Wharariki sand dunes 1
    Wharariki sand dunes 2

    Photos of Wharariki Archway islands

    The beach is famous because of the Archway islands and the large flat sand area that retains water at low tide offering magnificent reflections.
    The 2 largest of the islands are often not noticed as they do not have a particular shape and are adjacent to the beach.
    However the smaller islets are similar to rock stacks and are mesmerizing.

    Wharariki's Archway islands 1

    The largest one is 66m (217ft) tall and has 2 natural arches.
    The smaller one also has an arch but you will have to walk to the West of the beach to be able to see it.
    Those arches are the reasons of the name of the islands.

    Wharariki's Archway islands 2

    The shapes looks quite different as you walk around the beach and see them from various angles. Sometimes you don't even see the arches!

    Wharariki's Archway islands 3

    Beach of Wharariki and Caves

    The beach of Wharariki is quite large.
    Because of how flat it is, the difference between high tide and low tide is impressive.
    And some water remain on the sand as the sea recedes.

    This is why Wharariki beach is famous: the reflections...

    Beach of Wharariki and Caves 1

    And when the sky is on your side with incredible clouds, it is such a pleasure to photograph.
    Above is the view towards the West and the middle
    Below is the view towards the East.

    Beach of Wharariki and Caves 2

    If you walk towards the West of the beach, you will find caves that are only accessible at low tide. There are several along the cliffs.
    I was too tired to explore it all, but if you set aside a full day to explore the area, you can really have fun.

    Beach of Wharariki and Caves 3
    Beach of Wharariki and Caves 4
    Beach of Wharariki and Caves 5

    Seal pups in Wharariki tidal pools 

    The other highlight of Wharariki are the seal pups.

    As written on the path to the beach: "There are a group of seal pups that use pools on the beach to play in. They are fascinating to watch. Please respect their home"
    Keep a respectful distance and don't chase them.
    When I visited, people were quite respectful. I hope it stays like that so that everyone can enjoy this amazing experience.

    However they are wild animals and I can't guarantee you will see them.

    Seal pups in Wharariki tidal pools 1
    Seal pups in Wharariki tidal pools 2

    The pools are to the East of the beach. Just look for a group of people standing in silence looking down...
    This is where you have to go.

    Note: just be aware that you will be mesmerized. And it will be difficult to stop watching them.
    Therefore I recommend you arrive at least 1h before low tide, start with the reflections, the archways and caves and then look at the pups.

    Seal pups in Wharariki tidal pools 3

    They really are playing right next to you in the pools. They have so much fun!!!
    Try squatting rather than standing as it is less threatening for them.
    They will even be curious and get closer.

    Definitively do not chase them. Adults are not far away and they can surprisingly be very fast.

    Below are a few pictures. Or you can rewatch my video at the beginning of the article.

    Seal pups in Wharariki tidal pools 4
    Seal pups in Wharariki tidal pools 5
    Seal pups in Wharariki tidal pools 6

    Wharariki beach and Golden Bay accommodations

    So where should you stay to be able to visit Wharariki beach?

    • If you want a big town, you can stay in Nelson and do the 2h40min drive each way on a day trip - check out accommodation options

    or you can stay in towns closer to the Wharariki such as:

    • Tataka in the South of Golden Bay -  check out options and book
    • Collingwood in the North of Golden Bay -  check out options and book

    or you can opt for the holiday park right next to the beach carpark but it is far from everything else (Wharariki holiday park).

    I chose to stay in the quiet Collingwood.It is a very small town with nice coffee shops and some facilities. It was a great location to explore the Spit and all the North West tip.

    Wharariki beach and Golden Bay accommodations - Collingwood

    I booked the Collingwood park motel and really enjoyed it.
    The owner was really nice, the rooms spacious, clean and modern and the facilities good (wifi was ok too).
    Below are 2 photos I took. You can check out more photos and availability online

    Wharariki beach and Golden Bay accommodations - Collingwood accommodation
    Wharariki beach and Golden Bay accommodations - Collingwood accommodation 2

    Things to do around Wharariki beach NZ

    And there is much more you can do in the area.

    Cape Farewell

    Things to do around Wharariki beach - Cape Farewell

    On the way to Wharariki, you can take a short detour on the unpaved road to reach Cape Farewell.
    It is a short walk uphill to the viewpoint.
    Cape Farewell is the most Northerly point in South island.
    It was named by James Cook in 1770 as it was the last land he saw as he started sailing back home.

    Farewell Spit

    Things to do around Wharariki beach - Farewell Spit

    The other famous landmark in this region is the Spit (aka The Farewell Spit).
    It is a narrow sand spit that stretches for 26km (16mi) above sea level and keeps growing...

    There are several walking trails. The place is quite fascinating but it is not so easy to appreciate the sheer size from ground level at it is only a low level of sand for a very long time. It would be more appreciated from the sky. And you can see plane and helicopter options here.

    Hiking trails

    There are many hiking trails in the area between Wharariki, Farewell, the Spit and other cliffs and coves.
    For example there is the hilltop walk - 1h30 from Wharariki to Cape Farewell and you can continue to Pillar point +1h
    You can also do full day hikes...

    Golden bay beaches

    Things to do around Wharariki beach - Golden bay beaches

    The whole area is Golden Bay. It is a large paraboloid-shaped bay with gold/orange sand beaches.
    The Aorere and Takaka rivers flow into the bay.
    It is mostly populated in the South.
    There are several beaches to enjoy. My favorite was Tata Beach on the Abel Tasman Drive.

    Abel Tasman National Park

    Things to do around Wharariki beach - Abel Tasman National park

    And of course South of Golden Bay is the famous Abel Tasman National Park.
    It is a sought after area because of its dreamy beaches and easy walking trails.

    You can explore on foot, by boat or both. And you can also kayak around it.

    You can see and book activity options on Getyourguide (more available for Summer than Winter) or the options on Viator

    And much more

    • The Pupu springs
    • The Wainui falls
    • The Takaka rocks
    • The lagoon of Kaiteriteri
    • Ngarua cave
    • ...

    If you are planning a road trip around New Zealand, all those locations are included in my eBooks to facilitate you organization: 

    New Zealand road trip eBook Cover S
    • 12 easy-to-plan Maps
    • 200 scenic locations in NZ 
    • Tips to plan + make the most of your time
    • 285+ large photos to decide where to go
    • GPS coordinates direct to the carparks

    Learn more

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    • 6 easy-to-plan Maps
    • 110+ scenic locations in NZ South Island
    • Tips to plan + make the most of your time
    • 190+ large photos to decide where to go
    • GPS coordinates direct to the carparks

    Learn more


    Want to see more of New Zealand?

    • New Zealand North Island vs South Island - read article
    • New Zealand in 50 photos - read article
    • 20 Best waterfalls in New Zealand - read article
    • 15 most beautiful beaches in New Zealand - read article
    • Things to do in New Zealand North island - read article
    • Things to do in New Zealand South island - read article
    • New Zealand hidden gems - read article
    • How to plan a New Zealand road trip - read article
    • New Zealand 2 week itinerary - read article

    And keep track of your own trip!

    New Zealand travel journal road trip

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