Grade
EasyDistance
2km returnWalking
1 hour
Seasonal restrictions
Seasonal restrictions - the closure period for the lambing season varies with the DoC Walkways (Cooks Cove, Te Kuri Farm, Anaura Bay, and Otoko) being closed each year from 1 August until the start of Labour Weekend (late October), while Te Aratia Walkway and Mapiri Walkway are closed from July and reopen late September.
This 1 km walk follows a farm track over a low hill to the beautiful Mapiri Beach at the southern end of Nicks Head Station, south of Te Kuri/Young Nicks Head. Low tide provides the option of walking up to 3km south along the beach to Mapiri Point.
The farm track, a designated public walkway known as Mapiri Track, is open during the day for walking access to Mapiri Beach. It is closed during the lambing season (July through to the end of September). The track provides views of the large area of wetland, inland of the river estuary, that has been restored with extensive planting of native trees and flax (harakeke). Thanks to good pest control, these now mature plantings provide good habitat for wildlife.
The Maraetaha River flows out onto Mapiri Beach. As its river mouth position is constantly changing, getting to the beach may require a stream crossing. Or walk beside the stream and out onto the beach past the river mouth.
Once on the beach, please walk on the sand below high tide mark to minimise the risk of disturbing birds nesting above high tide mark such as NZ dotterel, pied stilt, variable oystercatchers and black billed gulls. Information panels about the shore birds are close to the beach approach. Sections of the beach near the estuary are at times fenced off to protect nest sites.
It is not necessary to phone the Nicks Head Station Farm Office before doing this walk, but it would be courteous to do so, especially if you visit on a week day when there would be more farm staff about. It is a privilege to be able to walk through the farm to access the beach.
Email: admin@nickshead.co.nz
Phone: 06 862 8642
Please note: No dogs are allowed on the farm.
History of the trail
Most of the unstable cliff behind the beach consists of grey papa rock but at Mapiri Point, at the southern end of the beach, the cliff has a more resistant band of fine-grained white (calcium-rich) mudstone. Here, weathered white rocks of various sizes have been deposited on the beach from the cliff. The name Mapiri comes from the white rocks on the beach and in the stream.
Tips & Logistics
To get to Mapiri Track, head south from Gisborne. Turn off sharply to the left immediately after crossing Maraetaha River Bridge No.1 on SH2 (about 1km after driving over the railway line overbridge). Drive through the Nicks Head Station farm gate and veer left. Drive for 200m, past the wool shed, and past the orchard shed. Park under a large oak tree on the right of the farm road, where you will see a small green wooden gate beside a farm gate, with walkway information on it. Note the sign on the farm road at this point advising that it is a private driveway from here.