Te Werahi Beach to Twilight Beach
Alert/Important notice
Track upgrade work 31 January - 31 March 2012.
The track is open but if you approach an area where contractors are working please make your presence known. For further information please contact the Kaitaia Area Office +64 9 408 6014.
Track category
Walking track
Time:
3 hr
Distance:
7.25 km
Description
Dunes between Te Werahi Beach and
Twilight Beach
On this track, you will experience gorgeous peach-coloured dunes, unusual dune grasses, and views of Cape Maria Van Diemen and Motuopao Island. If you are walking this track as part of the Cape Reinga Coastal Walkway, you will find yourself traversing a vastly different landscape than in the first part of your trip along the east coast.
After about 40 minutes, you will pass the turnoff for a side trip to Cape Maria Van Diemen. Continue on the main trail unless you have the 1 hour and 30 minutes spare to detour. After 2 hours, you will come to the north end of Twilight Beach.
If you wish to continue along the Cape Reinga Coastal Walkway, return to Te Werahi Gate, or return back to Te Werahi Beach via the Twilight - Te Werahi Loop Track, you need to walk along Te Werahi Beach takes nearly one hour. The loop can be accessed at the far end of the beach.
Getting there
Cape Reinga and Te Paki are located at the northernmost area of New Zealand on the small, narrow Aupouri Peninsula, approximately 60 km north of Kaitaia. Just follow State Highway 1 north. From Te Paki onwards, follow Cape Reinga Road.
Cape Reinga Road is an unsealed road and gets very busy over the summer months. Please drive slowly and take extra caution.
You can get to Te Werahi Beach and Twilight Beach via the Twilight - Te Werahi Loop Track (access from the Te Werahi Gate car park on Cape Reinga Road).
Or you can get there coming from north via the Cape Reinga to Te Werahi Beach Track, or coming from south via the Twilight Beach to Te Paki Stream Track, both of which form part of the Cape Reinga Coastal Walkway.
Places to stay
Spectacular sunset at Twilight Beach
Twilight Beach offers two suitable sites for self-sufficient camping. There is a small campsite at the very northern end of the beach, among the rushes with a small stream for water (if not dried up). Follow the stream a short ways for a pool where you can collect water.
Alternatively, you can camp at the south end of the beach, where there is a larger and more sheltered campsite behind the dunes just before the orange marker. There is a stream here also, but it is very tiny. It is best to bring water to this campsite.
Plan and prepare
You should carry enough drinking water on this section.
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