Gillespies Beach Seal Colony Walk
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Info
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Reviews 93%
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Similar 9
South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Fox Glacier ▷
Walk along the beach north of Gillespies Beach to visit the seal colony. Keep your eyes open because dolphins like to spend time here. On a nice day, the mountain vista provided by the Southern Alps is breathtaking.
Don't forget your sand-fly repellent as they can be keen and thirsty here!
Photos
Maps
Moderate walk
2 to 4 hours
DOC Managed
Walking track
Access
At the northern end of Fox township turn into Cook Flat Road. Continue past the Lake Matheson turnoff, take the sharp right hander and pass the Peak View Lookout.
From here and for the next 12 km to the coast the road is narrow, winding and unsealed. Not suited to larger campervans. All walks start from the road end carpark where there are toilets and a campground.
13 reviews with the most recent first
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 😍
Monique
Ranking: 10/10
Stunning walk through the rainforest, very muddy, good shoes are needed. Signs say 3.5 hours return. plan with 4 to 4.5 hours. We did not see any deals but the walk was cool.
Jade Templer
Ranking: 10/10
Beautiful, adventurous, exciting and we saw a seal! Felt natural and not disruptive to nature, very enjoyable.
Conservation Campsite Pass
Save up to 70% on campsite fees! Support conservation and experience the natural beauty of NZ. 74 Department of Conservation campsites, one convenient pass.
Sian Templer
Ranking: 10/10
Beautiful, ever changing walk through forest, across streams, beaches. Muddy and a lot of uphill but worth the effort and I saw one seal at the seal colony.
Rhydian Templer
Ranking: 9/10
Exciting walk through jungle like environments to reach the goal of a seal colony. However, I did fall in the mud!!
Top Ranked NZ Deals Pass
Access savings worth hundreds of $$ on Top Ranked NZ Accommodation and Activities for just $1 per day.
Juan Viscegle
Ranking: 7/10
Really nice walk through the forest with an awesome end at the beach. Not so many seals, but we managed to see one.
Susanna Daaike
Ranking: 8/10
Very nice walk through the forest. It can be dangerous /slippery. Colony far away from the lookout.
Wirth Pascal
Ranking: 10/10
Highlight!! Walk takes more than 3 and a half hours. Adventurous track with muddy challenges.
Avoid Camping Fines!
The only camping map where each location is approved by every regional council in NZ. So if it shows on the map, you’re allowed to stay.
The Rankers Camping NZ app, is also in association with…
Udo Wagner
Ranking: 9/10
We did not walk all the way to the seal colony but the walk along the beach to the lagoon and back is great and takes about 2 hours.
Max Brunner
Ranking: 5/10
Long track. Plan with 5 hours return. Also after rained it was really muddy. We didn't see any seals. Even though the walk is cool don't do it because of seals. There are better spots.
Guillemette
Ranking: 7/10
A long track written for 3 hr 30 mins but minimum 5 hours in fact. But very nice.
Camping NZ App
Every camping site on your iPhone™, iPad™ or Android™ phone or tablet. Avoid camping penalties using this council approved app. Featuring offline maps.
Michael Heuer
Ranking: 10/10
4-5 hours return to the colony. You pass a beautiul lagoon and do not miss the short link to the miners tunnel - amazing view.
Hans Bet
Ranking: 9/10
Wild!! Walk with the seals and dolphins.
Indra t Jolle
Ranking: 8/10
Adventurous.
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 😍
Monique
Ranking: 10/10
Stunning walk through the rainforest, very muddy, good shoes are needed. Signs say 3.5 hours return. plan with 4 to 4.5 hours. We did not see any deals but the walk was cool.
Jade Templer
Ranking: 10/10
Beautiful, adventurous, exciting and we saw a seal! Felt natural and not disruptive to nature, very enjoyable.
Conservation Campsite Pass
Save up to 70% on campsite fees! Support conservation and experience the natural beauty of NZ. 74 Department of Conservation campsites, one convenient pass.
Sian Templer
Ranking: 10/10
Beautiful, ever changing walk through forest, across streams, beaches. Muddy and a lot of uphill but worth the effort and I saw one seal at the seal colony.
Rhydian Templer
Ranking: 9/10
Exciting walk through jungle like environments to reach the goal of a seal colony. However, I did fall in the mud!!
Top Ranked NZ Deals Pass
Access savings worth hundreds of $$ on Top Ranked NZ Accommodation and Activities for just $1 per day.
Juan Viscegle
Ranking: 7/10
Really nice walk through the forest with an awesome end at the beach. Not so many seals, but we managed to see one.
Susanna Daaike
Ranking: 8/10
Very nice walk through the forest. It can be dangerous /slippery. Colony far away from the lookout.
Wirth Pascal
Ranking: 10/10
Highlight!! Walk takes more than 3 and a half hours. Adventurous track with muddy challenges.
Avoid Camping Fines!
The only camping map where each location is approved by every regional council in NZ. So if it shows on the map, you’re allowed to stay.
The Rankers Camping NZ app, is also in association with…
Udo Wagner
Ranking: 9/10
We did not walk all the way to the seal colony but the walk along the beach to the lagoon and back is great and takes about 2 hours.
Max Brunner
Ranking: 5/10
Long track. Plan with 5 hours return. Also after rained it was really muddy. We didn't see any seals. Even though the walk is cool don't do it because of seals. There are better spots.
Guillemette
Ranking: 7/10
A long track written for 3 hr 30 mins but minimum 5 hours in fact. But very nice.
Camping NZ App
Every camping site on your iPhone™, iPad™ or Android™ phone or tablet. Avoid camping penalties using this council approved app. Featuring offline maps.
Michael Heuer
Ranking: 10/10
4-5 hours return to the colony. You pass a beautiul lagoon and do not miss the short link to the miners tunnel - amazing view.
Hans Bet
Ranking: 9/10
Wild!! Walk with the seals and dolphins.
Indra t Jolle
Ranking: 8/10
Adventurous.
