Northern Start
Junction of Colac Bay Rd and SH99, Colac Bay
Southern End
Junction of SH99 and Bay Rd, Riverton
Distance
13km
Time
4hr
Track Standard
Road margin   Footpath   Easy tramping track   Tramping track   Route   Mixed grade  
Potential Hazards
  • Vehicles on road or track Take care when walking along roads
  • Farming operations
  • Tides, waves & rivers - safer at low tide
  • Small stream crossings
  • Track exposed to sun, wind or cold
  • Weather extremes
  • Few water sources
Description
(North to South)

This coastal track connects Colac Bay with Riverton and is mostly near the coast.

Before the climb up to Mores Reserve the track crosses sections of private farm land. Keep to the marked track here and be aware that this section is closed during September and October for lambing. It is also foot access only and dogs are prohibited.
To reach Riverton during the lambing closure, continue on Tihaka Beach Rd to Orepuki Riverton Highway (SH99). Turn right here and walk the road shoulder into Riverton.

The track formally begins at the Colac Bay Rd/SH99 junction (with the Colac Bay Tavern and campground adjacent). If the tide is right, head east along the beach. Alternatively, at high tide, walk the initial section on the Foreshore Rd frontage then descend to the beach when the road turns inland. Continue along the beach then ascend the formed sand track to Tihaka Beach Rd.
When this road veers inland Te Araroa remains on the coast (unless you’re here during the lambing closure). Keep to the track, which follows marker poles along the beaches and across the headlands.
From the final deer fence the track leaves the coast and heads up towards, then through, Mores Reserve to emerge at a car park at the end of Richard St.There are public toilets here. Walk down Richard St towards Riverton.
At the bottom of Richard St turn left onto Bay Rd and walk around to the Palmerston Rd Bridge. The Tihaka Beach Track ends at the junction with SH99 just before the bridge.
Downloads

  Download Map 1 (map137)

  Download Map 2 (map138)

  Download Trail Notes (Tihaka Beach Track)

Note: Map is indicative only
Toggle Track
Extra Info

Riverton

General information
Te Hikoi and Riverton Visitor Information Centre - 172 Palmerston St, Riverton - P: 03 234 8260 or 0800 834 4564 
E: tehikoi@xtra.co.nz

Getting there/away
Travel Head First - Bottom Bus Tours - P: 03 477 9083 - Daily shuttle to/from Invercargill and Te Anau

Accommodation
Riverton Holiday Park - 43 Richard St, Riverton -  P: 0800 234 813 or 03 234 8132 - E: wylie@xtra.co.nz - studio units & campsites
Monkey's Backpackers - 144 Palmerston St, Riverton 9822 - P: 020 41205732 - E: monkeysbackpackers@gmail.com - backpackers and tent sites with free WiFi (ask for the Te Araroa discount!)
Riverton Rock Guesthouse - 136 Palmerston St, Riverton - P: 03 234 8886 - E: stay@rivertonrock.co.nz                                            
Riverton Lodge Hotel - 57 Princess Street, Riverton - P: 03 234 9945 - E: rivertonlodge@gmail.com - 28 beds available (14 bunkroom and 3 double rooms), communal kitchen, coin operated laundry facility. Onsite Pub and Restaurant 
 
Hill 106/Taiheke - Basic but clean and comfortable self-contained hut sleeping 1-2 people. Set on property with 10 ha of protected native forest, bush walks and amazing views over Foveaux Strait and the Longwood Range. Located near the Tihaka end of Colac Bay Beach (off Longwood Road) and just a 1.8km detour inland off Te Araroa. Sleeping arrangement is one double bed and one camp stretcher. Own linen only. No power (solar lights only), no hot running water, laundry facilities or heating. Long drop toilet, fresh rain water tank. Pick-up and/or drop-off from Long Hilly, Riverton or Colac Bay may be available on request. $35 per person per night. Price for pick-up/drop-off negotiable. Payment: cash or bank deposit.
Contact: Kiri or Chris 03 234 9343, Kiri 021 1660112, Chris 021 1286486

Luna Sea Lodge  641 Orepuki-Riverton Highway.  Tel: +64 (0)27 601 5744 Email:lunasealodge@gmail.com, facebook.com@lunasealodge  Only minutes from Tihaka Beach, we have individual rooms for rent with shared facilities in a warm homely environment. 

 
Resupply
Supervalue Supermarket - 163 Palmerston St, Riverton - P: 03 234 8541  

 

Requirements
  • Keep to the track
  • Respect private land
  • Open daylight hours only
  • No dogs
  • No horses
  • No firearms
  • No bikes
  • No camping
  • No fires
Environment
  • Take all rubbish with you
  • Use toilets provided at start and end of route
  • Bury toilet waste well away from water
  • Conservation Area - No domestic animals allowed (i.e. includes dogs, cats or birds)
Amenities
(Start)
  • Car park at Colac Bay Tavern
  • Toilets at Colac Bay Tavern
  • Standard Campsite at Colac Bay Campground, adjacent to Tavern
  • Accommodation and meals at Colac Bay Tavern
Amenities
(On Route)
  • No amenities
  • Carpark
  • Toilets at Mores Reserve
  • Accommodation just past Mores Reserve
Amenities
(End)
  • Full range of amenities in Riverton
  • Carpark
  • Picnic area
  • Toilets
  • Shop
  • Accommodation
Closest Town(s)
Riverton
Northern Start
Junction of Colac Bay Rd and SH99, Colac Bay
Southern End
Junction of SH99 and Bay Rd, Riverton
Distance
13km
Time
4hr
Track Standard
Road margin   Footpath   Easy tramping track   Tramping track   Route   Mixed grade  
Description
(North to South)

This coastal track connects Colac Bay with Riverton and is mostly near the coast.

Before the climb up to Mores Reserve the track crosses sections of private farm land. Keep to the marked track here and be aware that this section is closed during September and October for lambing. It is also foot access only and dogs are prohibited.
To reach Riverton during the lambing closure, continue on Tihaka Beach Rd to Orepuki Riverton Highway (SH99). Turn right here and walk the road shoulder into Riverton.

The track formally begins at the Colac Bay Rd/SH99 junction (with the Colac Bay Tavern and campground adjacent). If the tide is right, head east along the beach. Alternatively, at high tide, walk the initial section on the Foreshore Rd frontage then descend to the beach when the road turns inland. Continue along the beach then ascend the formed sand track to Tihaka Beach Rd.
When this road veers inland Te Araroa remains on the coast (unless you’re here during the lambing closure). Keep to the track, which follows marker poles along the beaches and across the headlands.
From the final deer fence the track leaves the coast and heads up towards, then through, Mores Reserve to emerge at a car park at the end of Richard St.There are public toilets here. Walk down Richard St towards Riverton.
At the bottom of Richard St turn left onto Bay Rd and walk around to the Palmerston Rd Bridge. The Tihaka Beach Track ends at the junction with SH99 just before the bridge.
Potential Hazards
  • Vehicles on road or track Take care when walking along roads
  • Farming operations
  • Tides, waves & rivers - safer at low tide
  • Small stream crossings
  • Track exposed to sun, wind or cold
  • Weather extremes
  • Few water sources
Description
(North to South)

This coastal track connects Colac Bay with Riverton and is mostly near the coast.

Before the climb up to Mores Reserve the track crosses sections of private farm land. Keep to the marked track here and be aware that this section is closed during September and October for lambing. It is also foot access only and dogs are prohibited.
To reach Riverton during the lambing closure, continue on Tihaka Beach Rd to Orepuki Riverton Highway (SH99). Turn right here and walk the road shoulder into Riverton.

The track formally begins at the Colac Bay Rd/SH99 junction (with the Colac Bay Tavern and campground adjacent). If the tide is right, head east along the beach. Alternatively, at high tide, walk the initial section on the Foreshore Rd frontage then descend to the beach when the road turns inland. Continue along the beach then ascend the formed sand track to Tihaka Beach Rd.
When this road veers inland Te Araroa remains on the coast (unless you’re here during the lambing closure). Keep to the track, which follows marker poles along the beaches and across the headlands.
From the final deer fence the track leaves the coast and heads up towards, then through, Mores Reserve to emerge at a car park at the end of Richard St.There are public toilets here. Walk down Richard St towards Riverton.
At the bottom of Richard St turn left onto Bay Rd and walk around to the Palmerston Rd Bridge. The Tihaka Beach Track ends at the junction with SH99 just before the bridge.
Downloads

  Download Map 1 (map137)

  Download Map 2 (map138)

  Download Trail Notes (Tihaka Beach Track)

Note: Map is indicative only
Toggle Track
Extra Info

Riverton

General information
Te Hikoi and Riverton Visitor Information Centre - 172 Palmerston St, Riverton - P: 03 234 8260 or 0800 834 4564 
E: tehikoi@xtra.co.nz

Getting there/away
Travel Head First - Bottom Bus Tours - P: 03 477 9083 - Daily shuttle to/from Invercargill and Te Anau

Accommodation
Riverton Holiday Park - 43 Richard St, Riverton -  P: 0800 234 813 or 03 234 8132 - E: wylie@xtra.co.nz - studio units & campsites
Monkey's Backpackers - 144 Palmerston St, Riverton 9822 - P: 020 41205732 - E: monkeysbackpackers@gmail.com - backpackers and tent sites with free WiFi (ask for the Te Araroa discount!)
Riverton Rock Guesthouse - 136 Palmerston St, Riverton - P: 03 234 8886 - E: stay@rivertonrock.co.nz                                            
Riverton Lodge Hotel - 57 Princess Street, Riverton - P: 03 234 9945 - E: rivertonlodge@gmail.com - 28 beds available (14 bunkroom and 3 double rooms), communal kitchen, coin operated laundry facility. Onsite Pub and Restaurant 
 
Hill 106/Taiheke - Basic but clean and comfortable self-contained hut sleeping 1-2 people. Set on property with 10 ha of protected native forest, bush walks and amazing views over Foveaux Strait and the Longwood Range. Located near the Tihaka end of Colac Bay Beach (off Longwood Road) and just a 1.8km detour inland off Te Araroa. Sleeping arrangement is one double bed and one camp stretcher. Own linen only. No power (solar lights only), no hot running water, laundry facilities or heating. Long drop toilet, fresh rain water tank. Pick-up and/or drop-off from Long Hilly, Riverton or Colac Bay may be available on request. $35 per person per night. Price for pick-up/drop-off negotiable. Payment: cash or bank deposit.
Contact: Kiri or Chris 03 234 9343, Kiri 021 1660112, Chris 021 1286486

Luna Sea Lodge  641 Orepuki-Riverton Highway.  Tel: +64 (0)27 601 5744 Email:lunasealodge@gmail.com, facebook.com@lunasealodge  Only minutes from Tihaka Beach, we have individual rooms for rent with shared facilities in a warm homely environment. 

 
Resupply
Supervalue Supermarket - 163 Palmerston St, Riverton - P: 03 234 8541  

 

Requirements
  • Keep to the track
  • Respect private land
  • Open daylight hours only
  • No dogs
  • No horses
  • No firearms
  • No bikes
  • No camping
  • No fires
Environment
  • Take all rubbish with you
  • Use toilets provided at start and end of route
  • Bury toilet waste well away from water
  • Conservation Area - No domestic animals allowed (i.e. includes dogs, cats or birds)
Amenities
(Start)
  • Car park at Colac Bay Tavern
  • Toilets at Colac Bay Tavern
  • Standard Campsite at Colac Bay Campground, adjacent to Tavern
  • Accommodation and meals at Colac Bay Tavern
Amenities
(On Route)
  • No amenities
  • Carpark
  • Toilets at Mores Reserve
  • Accommodation just past Mores Reserve
Amenities
(End)
  • Full range of amenities in Riverton
  • Carpark
  • Picnic area
  • Toilets
  • Shop
  • Accommodation
Closest Town(s)
Riverton