Imagine the sound of the sea, the whispering of the wind and, it’s the West Coast after all, the chilly nip in the air and there you are in the presence of rare Fiordland Crested / Tawahi penguins … the wait is worth it.
The lush wet climate creates a mossy forest, thick and dense with tree ferns, moss dripping from trees and covering the ground. It is a luminous green. The trail drops to the beach gently with boardwalks over swampy areas. There is a suspension bridge to add to the fairy like atmosphere of the walk.
Perseverance is required as you could be waiting several hours for the parents to return to their nesting sites to feed their young. Watch the penguins belly flop on the beach as they surf the waves to land on shore.
BEST TIME TO VIEW PENGUINS
The best time of year to see these penguins is nesting season from July to November. In addition to the Monro Beach walk.
You could be waiting several hours, use insect repellent and have a warm blanket and have binoculars.
Keep your distance, humans have directly impacted the decline of all of these penguins, and we need to respect their space and help with conservation efforts if we want to keep them around.
- Length: 5 km
- Grade: Easy, boardwalk and gravel path to the beach. There’s a toilet in the carpark at the start of the track
- Start / Finish: State Highway 6 signposted walk entrance north of Knights Point.
TIP
Spend several days exploring remote wild beautiful Haast, West Coast from glaciers to penguins on a deserted beach. This walk is part of the Unforgettable Day Walks in New Zealand series.
Recommended is a STAY in the Wilderness Lodge, Lake Moeraki. Glorious comfort while you leisurely explore New Zealand’s hidden corners.
<– Ship Creek Cove to Munro Beach
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BEST BITS TRAVEL GUIDE
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