Tautuku Bay is a sweeping bay surrounded by lowland podocarp forest. A raised flat boardwalk floats you across the wetlands. This is another bird watchers destination. DOC description is, “The track is partly board-walked and also incorporates a section of the Old Coach Road. It starts in podocarp forest then leads out to the estuary flats. Tautuku estuary boardwalk isn’t part of the Reserve but is close by. Access is across the road, on the northern end of the bridge. The estuary is a great location to view the birdlife of the estuary, including the fernbird. There are excellent views of the forest on the south side of the river. A short stroll arrives at a hidden gem of the estuary. It’s the secret world of the fernbird habitat.
The vibrantly coloured jointed rush/oioi glimmers in the sunset creating a photo moment for nature ethusaistics. The Tautuku Peninsula was a former port for timber and flax exports and was the site of a whaling station.
Getting there:
The beach can be accessed via an easy walk through the Tautuku dune forest. Track entrance is opposite the Outdoor Education Centre. Tautuku Bay can be viewed from the Florence Lookout.