Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Waikouaiti Beach & Lagoon
Submitted by Richele McKenzie
Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Grunt Factor: 7 ?
Gnarl Factor: 34 ?
6.5km
10m
10m
5m
Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Submitted by Richele McKenzie
Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Grunt Factor: 7 ?
Gnarl Factor: 34 ?
6.5km
10m
10m
5m
Urban fringe
Out and Back
Totally/mostly flat
Plantation/exotic forest
Beach
Coastal
Lakeside
Easy Single Track
Untracked / Route only
Average Uphill Gradient: +0.7%
Average Downhill Gradient: -0.7%
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1:00
Slow
0:40
Moderate
0:25
Fast
This is a short run exploring the lagoon and spotting birdlife.
Starting from the carpark, head onto the beach and run north for approx 900m, then turn into the sandy inlet for the lagoon. Soon you will see a track through the pines on the left. Follow a short distance until you come to a DOC sign for Hawksbury Lagoon Wildlife Refuge. Continue along the causeway, running three small "out and backs" before returning along the beach to the start. Two of these are along the causeway and the third is over a small bridge and along a small lakeside track (turn around at the farm stile). This gives you the chance to read all the information boards and spot many different water birds. Watch for horses (and sea lions) when returning along the beach.
Hawksbury Lagoon - wildlife refuge.
Waikouaiti Beach - horses are trained along the beach at low tide. And if you're really lucky you'll see a sea lion.
Plenty of parking in the carpark.
16 km
14 minutes
Unknown
No
Easy.
Generally good.
Windproof jacket, Whistle, First aid kit, Cellphone, Map
Unknown. Public toilet at the nearby sports ground (unsure of opening times). There is a smaller cafe on Beach street. There are shops, cafes and a public toilet on the main road at Waikouaiti.
Can get very windy. Take care during stormy weather.
Swans and gulls in the lagoon may get a bit angry during nesting season.
Watch for horses along the beach.
Occasionally sea lions sunbathe on the beach - they can be well camouflaged!
Take care at high tide.
The Outpost
Main Road, Waikouaiti
https://www.facebook.com/cafetheoutpost/
Lovely coffee. Good range of Gluten Free and Vegetarian options.
Trail Legend
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
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Just as Richele mentioned, the East track is still very overgrown as of Jan 2024. I'll add that about 250m from the bridge, it turns into Grass Bashing through long grass and Cutty Grass, to the point that the track is unidentifiable. Make up the time on the other two parts of the trail.
January 4
The little track heading east from the lagoon is currently very overgrown with signs warning of tree fall. I managed to spot two different Kōtuku species this time, including Kōtuku ngutupapa (Royal Spoonbill). No sea lions though.
February 9, 2023
N8ce little trail with a mix of track surfaces. Heaps of birds to look at in the lagoon and watch out for seals on the beach.
September 7, 2021
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