Exploring the Tahakopa Bay Walk
Located in the Catlins, the Tahakopa Bay Walk is a scenic walk through coastal forest along the Tahakopa River estuary, leading to the river mouth at Tahakopa Bay. This easy, 20-minute walk each way can be extended by linking with the more challenging Tahakopa Bay Possumers Track, forming a loop that takes up to three hours.
This loop includes over 2 km of beach walking and access to a podocarp forest featuring ancient rimu, kahikatea, and tōtara trees, as well as occasional rātā trees.
Discovering the Trail's History and Features
The trailhead is located just north of the Tahakopa River bridge, before entering Papatowai on the Southern Scenic Route. Known also as the Old Coach Road, the path follows the route once used by horse-drawn coaches to connect with supply boats before the advent of railways and roads in the early 1900s.
Near the start of the track, you will find the fork for the Tahakopa Bay Possumers Track. Even if you do not plan to walk this track, it is worth a brief exploration to see several ancient tōtara and rimu trees.
The Tahakopa Bay Walk itself is an easy, flat path where remnants of the original coach road can still be seen amidst the encroaching rainforest. While much of the surrounding forest is regenerating, some ancient trees remain near the track's edge.
You can also venture through ferns and scrub to reach the estuary's edge at various points. A notable feature of the walk is the whekī-ponga tree ferns, whose fronds form a dense brown skirt around the tree, creating a unique appearance.
How to get there
To find the trail, drive approximately 25 km southwest of Owaka on the Southern Scenic Route. The trail head, with some room for parking, is on the left just before the bridge over the Tahakopa River estuary.
There are many places to visit on the way and nearby, including Purakaunui Falls, Matai Falls, the Tautuku Estuary Walk and the Lost Gypsy Caravan.
