Whites Bay tracks
Track category
Walking track
Description
Short walks
Whites Bay Cable Station
Pukatea Walk
Time: 10 min
From the uppermost camping area, the Pukatea Walk meanders down to the cable station alongside Pukatea Stream passing through regenerating forest.
Black Jack Track
Time: 1 hr return or 1 hr 30 min to complete the loop
From Whites Bay the track climbs to a superb viewpoint on the edge of a bluff where Port Underwood, Cook Strait and Cape Campbell can be seen. Children need to be closely supervised here. Return the same way or complete a longer, loop option by winding slowly down through regenerating forest.
Rarangi Bay-Whites Bay Track
Time: 1 hr one way
The Rarangi-Whites Bay Track is a tramping track which must be walked both ways unless transport is arranged. It zig-zags up from Whites Bay to the Port Underwood Road through a pine plantation, then follows the road for about 500m before descending to Rarangi, near the Monkey Bay track.
Monkey Bay Track entrance
Monkey Bay Walk
Time: 20 min return
This short walk leads from the northern end of Rarangi Beach around a rocky point and into Monkey Bay, with its small beach. A lookout point near the beginning of the track offers good views and has signs explaining the way that sea currents have formed Rarangi Beach over thousands of years.
Longer, more strenuous walks
Mount Robertson Track
Time: 8-9 hr return
Access onto the Mt Robertson track is from the Loop Track (tramping track standard) and is well sign posted from two access points on the Port Underwood Road. The Loop Track climbs through regenerating and mature forest to a junction at about 700 metres altitude where the Mt Robertson Track begins. From here the track follows an obvious ridge to the summit through beech forest. This last section of the track takes about two hours. There is no water supply on the track so make sure you take water with you.
At 1036 metres above sea level, Mt Robertson (Toko Maru) dominates the Scenic Reserve to which it gives its name.
For a longer trip, with the added reward of starting from sea level, begin your ascent from either Whites Bay or Rarangi using the tracks described above to get to the loop track starting points.
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Pukaka Valley
Access is via the unsealed Pukaka Road that leaves Pembers Road about halfway between Tuamarina and Rarangi. The carpark is 17km from Blenheim.
This forested valley is part of Mt Robertson Scenic Reserve and provides good tramping and hunting opportunities and gives an alternative access to the Loop and Mt Robertson Tracks.
To the Loop and Mt Robertson Tracks - from the carpark follow the track up Pukaka Stream, crossing it in several places. Eventually the track leaves the stream and climbs up to the Loop Track.
From the carpark allow three hours to Whites Bay and five hours to Mt Robertson summit.
Getting there
Follow State highway 1 to Tuamarina (9 km north of Blenheim or 20 km south of Picton). Turn off and had east via Hunter, Pembers and Rarangi Roads to Rarangi, before climbing steeply over rugged hills to where a short side road leads down to the cable station. Whites Bay is 15 km from Tuamarina. Alternative access involves a 41 km drive from Picton along the historic and spectacular but winding and unsealed Port Underwood Road.
Activities
Child/family friendly activities
There are short walks that are suitable for children.
The shoreline provides both rocky areas for scrambling and exploring and a near-flat sandy beach that is excellent for swimming, if a little cold. It is the only safe swimming spot on the Cloudy Bay coast.
Places to stay
A large camping area is available in Whites Bay. Running water is supplied from the Pukatea Stream and toilets are provided near the beach in the surf club building.
Fees are payable for camping at Whites Bay. These can be deposited at the self registration kiosk.
Fire are not allowed.
About the area
This historic and scenic bay is just 22 km from Blenheim. It is named after a Black American known as Black Jack White who, in 1828, deserted his whaling ship and took up residence with local Maori. They in turn had long used the bay as a base for fishing expeditions in Cook Strait.
In 1866, Whites Bay became the South Island terminus of an inter-island telegraph cable. The original cable station still exists. Some of the original forest also remains, although much was burned in the early years of European settlement and is still regenerating.
Plan and prepare
Please remember
- Hot, dry conditions and strong, cold winds are both common in this area.
- Marlborough has a dry climate and fire is a significant hazard to human safety, natural areas and agriculture. Open fires are not permitted at any of the East Coast reserves and only portable stoves should be used for cooking.
- Please take your rubbish away with you - no facilities are provided.
- Dogs are not allowed.
- Purity of drinking water cannot be assured unless it has been boiled, filtered or treated.
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