Image: DOC
Trampers at Nīkau Palm Gully Reserve.
Nīkau Palm Gully Scenic Reserve walk

Located in Banks Peninsula area in the Canterbury region

Walk to a small forest pocket of nīkau palms and enjoy views of the Akaroa Marine Reserve. The walk crosses private land and is closed from 1 April to 30 September. Respect the seasonal closures.

Follow a farm track from the parking area for about 1 hour 30 minutes. You will wind in and out of several headlands.

The farm track rises and falls gently while offering great views of the Akaroa Harbour. A staircase leads down into the creek bed of a narrow gully.

The track changes from a walking track to a tramping track as you walk down the boulder bed of the creek to where it goes over a waterfall above a sheer cliff.

Keep to the formed track due to fall and rockfall hazards in the area.

Crossing private land

To reach Nīkau Palm Gully you must cross private land. Follow all signage and keep to the track.

The track goes through an active farm so be aware of stock such as sheep and cows. Respect the closure dates of 1 April to 30 September.

From Akaroa, travel 4 km on Haylocks Road. Continue past Ōnuku Marae then turn right onto Hamiltons Road.

Park in the small carpark on the left by the DOC sign. From the carpark, walk up the road past buildings to the start of the track.
  • Stay on the track – there is a  significant fall risk if you venture off the marked track.
  • The area is prone to rockfall after seismic activity so take care.
  • There is no water available on this track, so make sure you take drinking water. 
  • There are no toilet facilities.

Take care near stinging nettle

Urtica ferox (ongaonga) is an endemic stinging nettle and common in this area. Take care not to touch these plants as they have a very strong sting. Ongaonga are an important host plant of Vanessa gonerilla (kahukura), the endemic red admiral butterfly.

The size and number of nīkau palms in the reserve makes this one of the best coastal forest remnants in Canterbury. The nīkau is the only palm tree endemic to New Zealand and this is the southern-most extent of nīkau palms on the east coast of the South Island. The dark volcanic cliffs which soak up the heat of the sun and the mild maritime climate keep the palms frost free. Nīkau palms are slow-growing and can take up to two hundred years to reach their maximum height of 10 to 15 metres.