Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations
KAIKŌURA PENINSULA WALKWAY
Duration: 3-4 hours Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 11.7km
Terrain: Wide smooth paths with mostly gentle gradients
Start/end: Kaikōura I-SITE
Take a walk with wildlife on this wonderful circuit of the history-rich Kaikōura Peninsula. The walk takes in a seal colony and wraparound coastal views from the peninsula’s clifftops. The seals are the stars of the show, but the walk is highly scenic in its own right.
STARTING POINT
The walk begins at the I-SITE (there’s a large display on the walkway inside) in Kaikōura’s town centre. There’s metered all-day parking on the I-SITE’S northern side.
01 Kaikōura’s most famous feature is its abundance of marine wildlife, and it extends to this walk as you set out from town along the Esplanade towards a seal colony. Pass through the whalebone
arches in Anzac Park and along the edge of the town’s stony beach. At times, you’re on a footpath; other times just the road verge (but well removed from traffic). Information boards detail local history. Just beyond the beach, you’ll come to the 1885-built Pier Hotel, where you veer right into Avoca St.
02 Avoca St wriggles around the coast, becoming Fyffe Quay beside the former whaling station of Fyffe House. A final section of roadside boardwalk ends at the large Point Kean car park. This is the site of a colony of New Zealand fur seals.
Take some time to wander out onto the rock platforms, among the colony, but keep 10m between yourself and any seals. 03 Cross through the car park and make the short steep climb to the Point Kean Viewpoint, overlooking the seal colony. The cliff top section of the walkway begins here, providing continual ocean views as you walk. Past the predator proof fence of the Te Rae O Atou Titi/ Hutton’s shearwater colony, you’ll come to Whalers Bay Lookout. If you want to revisit the shores, there’s a short track down from here.
04 The walkway now crosses a stile and skirts around a high headland. Across the next stile, the track turns right, but if you turn left, you can follow a side track up to the top of a bluff and an old pā site with views over South Bay and Whalers Bay. Continue down to the South Bay
Viewpoint platform, which, as the name on the tin suggests, has views across South Bay to the Kaikōura Range.
05 Keep descending towards South Bay, following the roads closest to the shore, passing the boat ramp and marina. Continue on Moa Rd (despite the
‘no exit’ sign) to cut across a boat and trailer parking area to South Bay Parade, turning right at the blue walker sign to join the South Bay Track.
06 The final section of the walkway climbs through pine forest to cross the peninsula’s ridge. Atop the ridge, swing right onto Tom’s Track and descend into town. Head straight down Brighton St to the Esplanade, turning left to return to the I-SITE.
TAKE A BREAK
Situated in a primo seaside spot at 1 Avoca St, 2.5km along the walk, the Pier Hotel has a menu ruled by crayfish and paua (abalone). Lunch $15-36, dinner $24-36. Open 11am-late 03-319 5037, thepierhotel.co.nz