Tatapouri to Wainui Beach

Mai i Tatapouri ki te Akau o Wainui

As a “one-way” walk, this coastal walk will take a little planning - it is best walked with a group so a vehicle can be left at the southern end of Wainui Beach at Lloyd George Road, before driving to Tatapouri to start the walk. It is advised to start at Tatapouri Beach around half-tide or a little later, with a falling tide. Take care - the rounded wet rocks can be slippery. You are likely to see New Zealand fur seals in the water and on the rocks around Tatapouri headland. Also shags and New Zealand dotterel, as well as seagulls and terns.

An extensive shore platform at Tatapouri may be still under water at half-tide. The swirling flow patterns in the papa rock, created by turbulence when this was a soft, muddy sediment on the sea floor, are striking. So too are the shapes formed by sea erosion of the shore platform in more modern times.  

At the southern end of Makorori Beach, look out for the narrow “surfers’ track” leading up to the car park near the track over Makorori headland. A lot of work has been done adding flat beach rocks to the cut steps to make the track less slippery. Take care walking along a short section of State Highway 35 (Whāngārā Road) between the surfers' car park and the track entrance on Makorori Headland. 

It is worth a break on top of Makorori Headland, to enjoy the view and look back along the coast to where you have walked and also to where you are heading. There is an informal trail through the Okitu Beach dunes, maintained by the Okitu community. Follow this trail or walk on the beach. The trail continues along Wainui Beach south of The Pines, at Wainui Surf Life Saving Club, although to keep your feet dry, if there has been recent rain, you can make a deviation over the SH35 Hamanatua Stream Bridge.