Smoothwater Bay Track

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    Gets up before anyone else. A birthplace of the new. Off the track, hongi a local, share a brew. Kia Kaha!
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    After slinking through the sounds and sipping on some Savs, keep the sounds down 'cos the spy base is in town.
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    A diamond in the rough. Get on the offensive, cover yourself in sandfly repellent and tackle the weather & best scenery in NZ head on.
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    Surreal space, if the Dalai Lama wanted to hang out in a southern NZ Tibet, then this is the spot. Get out your incense and get remote.
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    Mount Cook - MacKenzie
    
    Like a great road trip movie, wind down the windows, put on your favourite tunes and prepare yourself for a sensory intake of freedom.
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    Wanaka Region
    
    The outdoor fitness capital of NZ. You get the feeling every local is capable of giving you 10 one-handed push ups, while holding a coffee in the other. All roads from here lead to goodness.
  - Queenstown Region
    
    Queenstown Region
    
    A beautiful place where the locals have devised any conceivable way to scare you silly.
  - Coastal Otago
    
    Coastal Otago
    
    An oddity that works. The Scots did their best to tame the beast but wildlife still prevails. Get a hip flask of whisky, a kilt and stride the coast with purpose.
  - Fiordland
    
    Fiordland
    
    Meditative Milford - Get yourself in a zen state as this place is intense. Once the tour buses depart by 4pm, the locals are in their element (including sandflies). Find yourself in a quiet space and do what you need to do to take it all in.
  - Southland
    
    Southland
    
    A true blue, quirky mix of heartland and bogan, add a dash of the gay in Gore and gregarious local penguins on lonely beaches.
  - Stewart Island

Ranker's Qualmark Silver Award is evidence of a sophisticated tourism operation that consistently exceeds visitor expectations.

Jackson Bay

2 Rankers Reviews

1 Face-to-Face

20 Haast

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Online Maps

Haast, West Coast

Camping near Haast

Photos

Jackson Bay

Ruggedness on Smoothwater Bay Track

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Information

Time: 1 hr 30 min - 2 hr

This track offers a variety of terrain. For the first 45 minutes it follows an old pioneer's track until the Smoothwater River is reached. The more adventurous will continue down this clear-flowing river, keeping to the riverbed. The reward for 40 minutes of wet feet is the beauty and solitude of Smoothwater Bay. Sturdy footwear recommended.

Details

Feature	Value	Info
Organisation	DOC West Coast Central government organisation
Location	South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Haast
Categories	Walking Free

Feature

Value

Info

Organisation

DOC West Coast

Central government organisation

Location

South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Haast

Feature	Value	Info
Track Difficulty	Moderate walk Track Difficulty Considering the track's terrain, safety, facilities - how hard is this walk to complete? Moderate walk	Track Difficulty Considering the track's terrain, safety, facilities - how hard is this walk to complete? Moderate walk
Track Duration	1 to 2 hours Track Duration How long does it take to walk this track on average? 1 to 2 hours	Track Duration How long does it take to walk this track on average? 1 to 2 hours
Payment Requirement	Free access/participation Payment Requirement Is there a cost for this experience or is it free? Free access/participation The experience costs no money to access or take part in.	Payment Requirement Is there a cost for this experience or is it free? Free access/participation The experience costs no money to access or take part in.
Track Length	3km to 10km Track Length What is the physical length of this track? 3km to 10km	Track Length What is the physical length of this track? 3km to 10km
DOC Track Category	Walking track DOC Track Category What type of category does this walking track fall into (as defined by the NZ Department of Conservation)? Walking track Easy to moderate walking from a few minutes to a day. Track is mostly well formed, some sections may be steep, rough or muddy. Suitable for people with low to moderate fitness and abilities. Clearly signposted. Stream and river crossings are bridged. Walking shoes or light tramping/hiking boots required.	DOC Track Category What type of category does this walking track fall into (as defined by the NZ Department of Conservation)? Walking track Easy to moderate walking from a few minutes to a day. Track is mostly well formed, some sections may be steep, rough or muddy. Suitable for people with low to moderate fitness and abilities. Clearly signposted. Stream and river crossings are bridged. Walking shoes or light tramping/hiking boots required.
Track Managing Organisation	DOC Managed Track Managing Organisation What type of organisation operates this walking track? DOC Managed This track is managed by the Department of Conservation. DOC is a New Zealand government organisation.	Track Managing Organisation What type of organisation operates this walking track? DOC Managed This track is managed by the Department of Conservation. DOC is a New Zealand government organisation.

Reviews

Department of Conservation

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heather newby

New Zealand

Ranking: 4/10

My husband and I went on the Smoothwater bay track,The first part to the Smoothwater River was Ok but the second part to the bay along a track was seriously difficult! we had to negotiate slips and a multitude of rain swollen streams and what there was of a 'track" was mud sodden or sinking sand.I`m glad I did it however,, but I would never do it again. We were exhausted! It`s not a track for the fainthearted. I can`t imagine how the pioneers managed in that rain soaked wilderness.

Reviewed over 8 years ago

Thank You - to the thousands of travellers that have contributed to our Top Voted NZ Activities Map - it's free from Rankers.

Kerry Wood

New Zealand

Ranking: 10/10

Remote and lovely.

Reviewed about 12 years ago

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DOC Managed

Thanks to all the good people working for the NZ Department of Conservation - for all your hard work - making NZ more beautiful, accessable and healthy! Cheers 😍

Cymen Crick

West Coast ▷ Haast

Land Activities

4WD Adventures

Bungy Jumping / Swing

Canyoning

Caving

Cycling & Mountain Biking

Horse Trekking

Outside the Square

Railbiking / Railcarting

Snow and Ice

Sphereing

Walking and Trekking

Water Activities

Boat Cruises

Diving

Fresh Water Canoeing / Kayaking

Jet Boating

Marine Animal Encounters

Air Activities

Visitor Centres

i-SITE Visitor Information Centres

Visitor Information Centres

Animal Attractions

Art & Culture Attractions

Natural Attractions

Stargazing

Camping Grounds

Camping Grounds / Holiday Parks

Basic Facility Camping

Freedom Camping

Land Transport

Motorhomes / Campervans / RV

Rental Cars

Shuttle Buses

Water Transport

Air Transport

North Island

Northland

Auckland Region

Coromandel

Bay of Plenty

Waikato

Tairāwhiti Gisborne

Rotorua Region

Taupo Region

Ruapehu

Hawkes Bay

Taranaki

Manawatu - Wanganui

Wairarapa

Wellington Region

South Island

Marlborough

Nelson Region

West Coast

Kaikoura Region

Canterbury

Central Otago

Mount Cook - MacKenzie

Wanaka Region

Queenstown Region

Coastal Otago

Fiordland

Southland