Description

From the car park head towards and past the closest wind turbine. You'll pick up the signs for the WW2 gun emplacements soon with plenty of information panels on route. At the gun emplacements head north down the ridge towards the beach. This can be slippery and steep in places. Once at the beach turn left and follow the coast for approximately 3km. The trail turns into a route around the point where you have to scramble over the rocks, but you can't get lost, just keep heading south.

When it's time to head inland you'll see some DOC signs at Opau Bay pointing inland from the beach. Take the semi-sealed 4WD track steeply uphill past the Opau Loop track exit. At the top of the climb take the entry to the Opau Loop track on your left (the lower track), taking you back to the bottom of the 4WD track you just came up. Head back up the 4WD track but this time take the Turbine Short Walk on your left just above the entry to the Opau Loop track. This will take you back to the car park.

Features of interest

This run takes in the superb views of the rugged west coast, looking out over Cook Straight to the South Island, and both Mana and Kapiti Islands to the north. It contains a bit of everything taking you through open farm past the Meridian Energy West Wind Windfarm, past some old WW2 gun emplacements and camp, along the rocky Makara coast line, through protected native coastal bush and past a wetland. The whole area is full of history and there are plenty of information panels around if you are interested.

More info here: https://www.meridianenergy.co.nz/assets/About-us/Our-power-stations/Wind/West-Wind/West-Wind-Recreation-Area-.pdf

Make Up of Run

Untracked / Route only: 20%

Moderate Single Track: 5%

Easy Single Track: 50%

Farm Road / 4WD Track: 10%

Sealed Road: 15%

Route Data