Carew Falls

Time: 1 hr return
Distance: 2 km return

A good track winds up through forest to reach a waterfall on Carew Creek, which descends from Castle Hill, one of the Hohonu Peaks. Immense water-shaped granite boulders make perfect spots for sitting and enjoying a view out over the western end of Lake Brunner from a height of more than 100 m.

Old pipes seen along the track are from a small hydro scheme that once provided power for the Mitchells Hotel (now Lake Brunner Lodge).

Return via the same track.

Getting there: The track starts on Kumara-Inchboooie Road, about 300 m east of Lake Brunner Lodge.

Bain Bay Walk

Time: 2 hr 30 min return
Distance: 7.2 km return

For the first kilometre, the track runs around the swampy lake margin mostly on boardwalk, with the option of walking on the lake beach in between. Note, both track and boardwalk can be immersed and impassable when the lake level is high.

Cross Drake Point at moderate gradients, through dense forest featuring huge trees including kahikatea, matai and rimu, tall tree ferns and tangles of vines.

At Bain Bay, the boardwalk gives way to a gravel track running close to the lake edge. About halfway around, a double row of piles in the lake are the remains of an old L-shaped wharf. There are also remains of tramways and other equipment that delivered logs to be towed across the lake to a sawmill at Te Kinga.

Return via the same track.

Getting there: Start beside Lake Brunner (Moana) at the end of the short road opposite Lake Brunner Lodge on Kumara-Inchbonner Road.

These walks start on Kumara-Inchbonnie Road, on the south end of Lake Brunner. Lake Brunner is inland from Greymouth, between SH 73 and SH 7.

Turn off SH 73 at Kumara into Kumara-Inchbonnie Road (21 km), or at Jacksons into Lake Brunner Road, which leads into Kumara-Inchbonnie Road (18 km).