Marios Gavalas
Author And Researcher
I'm Marios, delivering the best of Aotearoa's nature walks to your device.
I've personally walked hundreds of New Zealand's tracks and spent months in libraries uncovering interesting information on New Zealand/Aotearoa. And you'll find a slice of that research on this page - enjoy!
Author Marios Gavalas, Rankers and hundreds of contributors bring you a free web map to help you get lost (and find yourself) in Aotearoa's nature.
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1.4 km return | 30 minutes return
A short walk through lush forest arrives at a promontory with open views of the Tasman Sea. An offshore shelf is battered by the waves. Wooden steps lead to a steeply shelving beach with caves, overhangs and a waterfall. A powerful place.
The beach is unsafe to explore at mid-high tide, or if a big swell is running. DO NOT SWIM!
Never turn your back on a West Coast beach. The rips here are particularly powerful and will drag you in instantly. Once you are in, you will never get out alive and anyone who tries to save you will probably also be pulverised on the rocks. BE WARNED!
Truman Track is signposted 3 km north of the Punakaiki Visitor Centre.
Take care crossing the road to the track start from the parking area.
Nikau palms, large rimu and rata then flax greet you on the way to the coast.
A bench by the coast is perfect for contemplating the power of the place.
The wooden steps down to the beach can be slippery.
Cavers on the far side of the beach make great exploring, but it is dangerous to travel further.
A waterfall disgorges over the bluff, straight onto the beach
Mats of coastal primrose cover the offshore platform.
Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
DOC West CoastCentral government organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Punakaiki |
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Categories |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Feature | Value | Info |
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Track Length |
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Track LengthWhat is the physical length of this track? 1km to 3km |
Track Duration |
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Track DurationHow long does it take to walk this track on average? 30 mins to 1 hour |
Track Difficulty |
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Track DifficultyConsidering the track's terrain, safety, facilities - how hard is this walk to complete? Easy walk |
Payment Requirement |
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Payment RequirementIs there a cost for this experience or is it free? Free access/participation The experience costs no money to access or take part in. |
Large Vehicle Access |
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Large Vehicle AccessCan large vehicles such as motorhomes, housebuses and caravans gain access? Large vehicle accessible The site is accessible with large vehicles such as motorhomes and 5th wheelers. |
DOC Track Category |
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DOC Track CategoryWhat type of category does this walking track fall into (as defined by the NZ Department of Conservation)? Short walk Easy walking for up to an hour. Track is well formed, with an even surface. There may be steps or slopes. Suitable for people of most abilities and fitness. Stream and rivers crossings are bridged. Walking shoes required. |
Disabled Access |
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Disabled AccessDoes this location provide disabled access? No disabled access This location does not provide access for wheelchairs. |
Crowd Factor |
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Crowd FactorHow crowded is this place usually? Some people This place usually draws a average amount of people. You won’t have difficulties to move along, but you won’t have this place to yourself, either. |
Track Managing Organisation |
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Track Managing OrganisationWhat 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. |
Nice little walk through New Zealand bush.
Wide beach, great reflections - astonishing!!!
A gorgeous hidden gem.
Very nice short track.
Awesome beach with a small waterfall.
Rating | Count | Percentage | |
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10/10 | 15 |
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39% |
9/10 | 11 |
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29% |
8/10 | 11 |
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29% |
7/10 | 1 |
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3% |
6/10 | 0 |
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0% |
5/10 | 0 |
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0% |
4/10 | 0 |
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0% |
3/10 | 0 |
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0% |
2/10 | 0 |
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0% |
1/10 | 0 |
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0% |
5.0/5
A gorgeous hidden gem.
Short walk through lush, tropical bush comes out at an amazing g piece of coast. Just up from Punakeiki, this area also has stunning rock formations in sweeping layers and vast overhangs and caves.
Magical.
Reviewed 8 months ago and experienced in January 2024
5.0/5
My favorite place on the West Coast, and favorite beach in the whole country.
The walk is nice but the beach is amazing. The tiny pebbles look like shiny gemstones and there is a waterfall. The wakes crashing on the rocks and foaming on the pebbles is very relaxing. There is even a cave-like overhang to sit under if it rains. It should be on your west coast bucket list.
Reviewed about 4 years ago
5.0/5
A beautiful tiny walk through iconic NZ vegetation with a mighty Rata tree in the middle.
Reviewed almost 7 years ago
5.0/5
Nice short walk through the bush ending at the beach with a perfect view.
Come here to see a gorgeous sunset.
Reviewed about 7 years ago and experienced in March 2017
4.0/5
Lesser known stop - but well worth it.
Great, slightly muddy rainforest walk to a stunning beach, carved stone steps and a pebble beach. Great waves. Definite stop worthy.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017
4.5/5
Great little walk through rainforest to beach and view of the coast - awesome place to explore and get your feet wet on a sunny day.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017
4.0/5
Short walk but comes out to a beach all on its own, would not swim as really rough, but it is a nice place to go to, more enjoyable than the walk to Pancake Rocks.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in December 2016
4.5/5
Beautiful easy walk down to the beach and crashing waves!
Reviewed about 8 years ago
5.0/5
A gorgeous short 15 minute walk to a stunning beach landscape perfect for a sunset.
Take a little wine and enjoy a secluded view of the Tasman Sea, Truman Cove and even a small waterfall onto the beach. Beautiful!!
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016
4.5/5
Nice, short walk through New Zealand bush.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
4.5/5
Nice little walk through New Zealand bush.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
4.5/5
Awesome beach with a small waterfall.
Really enjoyed relaxing at the beach.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
5.0/5
A gorgeous hidden gem.
Short walk through lush, tropical bush comes out at an amazing g piece of coast. Just up from Punakeiki, this area also has stunning rock formations in sweeping layers and vast overhangs and caves.
Magical.
Reviewed 8 months ago and experienced in January 2024
5.0/5
My favorite place on the West Coast, and favorite beach in the whole country.
The walk is nice but the beach is amazing. The tiny pebbles look like shiny gemstones and there is a waterfall. The wakes crashing on the rocks and foaming on the pebbles is very relaxing. There is even a cave-like overhang to sit under if it rains. It should be on your west coast bucket list.
Reviewed about 4 years ago
5.0/5
A beautiful tiny walk through iconic NZ vegetation with a mighty Rata tree in the middle.
Reviewed almost 7 years ago
5.0/5
Nice short walk through the bush ending at the beach with a perfect view.
Come here to see a gorgeous sunset.
Reviewed about 7 years ago and experienced in March 2017
4.0/5
Lesser known stop - but well worth it.
Great, slightly muddy rainforest walk to a stunning beach, carved stone steps and a pebble beach. Great waves. Definite stop worthy.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017
4.5/5
Great little walk through rainforest to beach and view of the coast - awesome place to explore and get your feet wet on a sunny day.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017
4.0/5
Short walk but comes out to a beach all on its own, would not swim as really rough, but it is a nice place to go to, more enjoyable than the walk to Pancake Rocks.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in December 2016
4.5/5
Beautiful easy walk down to the beach and crashing waves!
Reviewed about 8 years ago
5.0/5
A gorgeous short 15 minute walk to a stunning beach landscape perfect for a sunset.
Take a little wine and enjoy a secluded view of the Tasman Sea, Truman Cove and even a small waterfall onto the beach. Beautiful!!
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016
4.5/5
Nice, short walk through New Zealand bush.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
4.5/5
Nice little walk through New Zealand bush.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
4.5/5
Awesome beach with a small waterfall.
Really enjoyed relaxing at the beach.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
5.0/5
One of the most beautiful spots I have seen in New Zealand!
10 minutes walk to the bay! Cute little waterfall, beautiful sandstone and wild waterplay! Only negative aspect are thousands of aggressive sandflies!
Reviewed over 8 years ago
5.0/5
Excellent short track for all fitness levels, 10 minutes each way.
Beautiful trees and ferns then breaks out to fantastic limestone wind and wave sculpted rock formations by the ocean.
Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in April 2014
4.0/5
Cool short walk through rainforest down to the beach, you experience a lot within 30 minutes walking time.
Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014
4.5/5
Very nice short track.
Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in January 2014
4.0/5
Nice walk through little jungle to the beach.
Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014
4.0/5
Easy short walk through the forest to a lovely cove with great views, too dangerous for swimming though.
Parking on the other side of the main road from the signposted track.
Mini blowholes off to the left at the track end, a bit like Pancake Rocks if the tide and sea state is right.
Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014
4.0/5
Easy walk (15 minutes), good views, nice beach and even a small waterfall!
Worth going there when the tide is low because when it's high it's impossible to reach the beach - dangerous!
Reviewed almost 11 years ago
4.5/5
Excellent short walk along an easy, well-maintained track to the beach at low tide and a hanging waterfall or to a view of both at high tide which provides real atmosphere.
Reviewed over 11 years ago
5.0/5
Wide beach, great reflections - astonishing!!!
Reviewed over 11 years ago and experienced in February 2013
4.0/5
Nice and interesting beach after a short walk through rainforests.
Beautiful coastline and rock formation.
Reviewed almost 12 years ago
5.0/5
15 minute walk to the beach with some caves and a lot of starfish at low tide.
Reviewed almost 12 years ago
4.5/5
Brilliant 40min round trip through bush to quiet, spectacular beach with waterfall.
Reviewed about 12 years ago and experienced in March 2012
5.0/5
Fantastic!
Easy to miss but well worth a stop. 15 min walk to the coast and wonderful views.
Reviewed over 13 years ago
4.5/5
An easy walk through rainforest to some awesome sandstone cliffs.
Reviewed almost 14 years ago and experienced in April 2010