Whites Bay tracks
Located in Blenheim area in the Marlborough region
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Introduction
Whites Bay has walks for a range of abilities, including kids - there are rocky areas for scrambling and exploring and a near-flat sandy beach that's excellent for swimming too.Image gallery
Pukatea Walk
Time: 10 min
From the uppermost camping area at Whites Bay, the Pukatea Walk meanders down to the cable station alongside Pukatea Stream passing through regenerating forest.
Black Jack Track
Time: 1 hr return or 1 hr 30 min to complete the loop
The bridge at the start of the track has been removed. Take care crossing the creek, waterflow are changeable. There are several slips - all are passable with care.
From Whites Bay, the track climbs to a superb viewpoint on the edge of a bluff where Te Whanganui/Port Underwood, Cook Strait and Cape Campbell can be seen. Children need to be closely supervised here. Return the same way or complete a longer, loop option by winding slowly down through regenerating forest.
Mountain biking
Grade: 3/Intermediate, 4/Advanced
Distance: 1.9 km section of Black Jack Track
Time: 20 min approximately
Mountain bikers are allowed to use part of the Black Jack Track to access the Mount Robertson Loop Track. You must only travel uphill on the left hand branch (looking up the hill from the Whites Bay end) of the track.
This is a shared-use track. Follow the mountain bikers code: respect others, respect the rules, respect the track.
Rarangi Bay–Whites Bay Track
Time: 1 hr one way
The Rarangi-Whites Bay Track is a tramping track which must be walked both ways unless transport is arranged. It zig-zags up from Whites Bay to the Port Underwood Road through a pine plantation, then follows the road for about 500 m before descending to Rarangi, near the Monkey Bay track. This track is exposed in places and visitors should keep to the formed track.
Monkey Bay Walk
Time: 20 min return
This short walk leads from the northern end of Rarangi Beach around a rocky point and into Monkey Bay, with its small beach. A lookout point near the beginning of the track offers good views and has signs explaining the way that sea currents have formed Rarangi Beach over thousands of years. This track is exposed in places and visitors should keep to the formed track.
Pukaka Valley
Access is via the unsealed Pukaka Road that leaves Pembers Road about halfway between Tuamarina and Rarangi. The carpark is 17 km from Blenheim.
This forested valley is part of Mt Robertson Scenic Reserve and provides good tramping and hunting opportunities and gives alternative access to the Mount Robertson loop and summit tracks.
To access the loop and summit tracks from the carpark, follow the track up Pukaka Stream crossing it in several places (unbridged crossings). Eventually the track leaves the stream and climbs up to the Mount Robertson Loop Track.
From the carpark allow three hours to Whites Bay and five hours to the Mt Robertson summit.
Pukaka Valley Track has flood-damaged areas that are passable with care. However walkers and mountain bikers should allow extra time for their trip.
Mountain biking tracks Whites Bay-Mt Robertson-Pukaka
There are excellent opportunities for mountain bike riding in the Whites Bay area. Tracks range from tight technical downhill tracks to rocky native single track.
Follow SH1 to Tuamarina (9 km north of Blenheim or 20 km south of Picton). Turn off and head east via Hunter, Pembers and Rarangi Roads to Rarangi, before climbing steeply over rugged hills to where a short side road leads down to the cable station.
Whites Bay is 15 km from Tuamarina. Alternative access involves a 41 km drive from Picton along the historic and spectacular but winding and unsealed Port Underwood Road.
- Hot, dry conditions and strong, cold winds are common in this area.
- Open fires are not permitted at any of the East Coast reserves and only portable stoves should be used for cooking.
- Watch out for wasps, especially in late summer and autumn.
Water safety
If you plan to enjoy the water, learn how to stay safe when swimming, boating and fishing.
Whites Bay is named after an American known as Black Jack White who, in 1828, deserted his whaling ship and took up residence with local Māori. They in turn had long used the bay as a base for fishing expeditions in Cook Strait.
In 1866, Whites Bay became the South Island terminus of an inter-island telegraph cable. The original cable station still exists. Some of the original forest also remains, although much was burned in the early years of European settlement and is still regenerating.
Contacts
| Whakatū/Nelson Visitor Centre | |
|---|---|
| Phone | +64 3 546 9339 |
| nelsonvc@doc.govt.nz | |
| Address | Millers Acre/Taha o te Awa 1/37 Halifax Street Nelson 7010 |
| Hours | See visitor centre hours |
