Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023

Beginner - Intermediate

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I've done it Done

Anderson's Lagoon Shag

Palmerston, Otago

Submitted by Kev Knowles

Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023

Beginner - Intermediate

Save Trail Save

I've done it Done

Open

Grunt Factor: 19 ?

Gnarl Factor: 56 ?

11.0km

350m

350m

50m

  

  

  

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Trail Map

Type of Run

Front country - easily accessible

Out and Back

Undulating, small hills only

Native bush

Plantation/exotic forest

Beach

Coastal

Run Makeup

20%
40%
40%

Easy Single Track

Moderate Single Track

Untracked / Route only

Average Uphill Gradient: +3.9%

Average Downhill Gradient: -3.9%

Trailhead

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Estimated Times to Run

1:30

Slow

1:10

Moderate

0:50

Fast

From the carpark the route takes a path down to the dunes and turns north to the mouth of the Lagoon. You may get your feet wet here. Steps take you up onto the top of the cliffs where a path between a deer fence and a thin strip of plantation continues with a series of undulations along the cliffs. In places you have to pick your way through tree branches.

This path will eventually drop onto Shag Beach and you can follow this to the Shag River mouth. [At low tide it is possible to drop onto the beach early [Look at the gpx track.] Once at the Shag River, rejoice in the splendour of the isolation, try not to get chased by sea lions and the re-trace your steps back to the start!

Spectacular views as you run along the cliffs.
Lots of nesting seabirds as well as sea lions on the beach section
You probably won't meet another person on this route...

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Parking on grass beside a fence and stile.
No options for public transport.

7 km

12 minutes

Unknown

No

Moderate.

Watch out for the access points to the beach.
NOT RECOMMENDED at high tide

Tide info: NIWA Tide Forecaster.

This site gives you the actual height of the tide so you can pick exactly which is the lowest tide. This computer model is expected to be accurate to within 0.1 m in tide height and 10 mins in tide time.
• Input Shag Beach coordinates in degrees/minutes/seconds format: Latitude 45 30 20 S and Longitude 170 47 20 E.
• Choose Datum: Lowest Possible Tide.

Patchy.

Lightweight fleece top, Long-sleeved thermal top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Gloves, Beanie/thermal headwear, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone, Map

You cross a few streams but these all drain off farmland so I would use it as a last resort and definitely treat it before drinking.

Plan to do this at low tide.

Sea Lions on the beach
Cliffs
Low branches

Trail Legend

SP

Sonia Panapa

has completed Anderson's Lagoon Shag once in the last year.

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Trail Reviews

Track is very overgrown! But a fun adventure anyway. We crawled under a lot of stuff 🤦🏽‍♀️ We got about 600m from the end but 3 big seals were blocking the beach and we couldn't get through the trees.

Chelsey Johnston

October 22, 2023

Neat to go check out this little piece of coastline. I would have given an extra star but I stood on the only dogshit in the area as soon as I got out of my car.

Andrew Glennie

June 22, 2021

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