Pounawea nature walks
Located in Catlins coastal area in the Otago region
|
Introduction
These short walks travel through a forest that is full of birdlife. It also travels along a sand spit that is home to wading birds.Pounawea Nature Walk
Time: 15 min round trip
This loop track in the Pounawea Scenic Reserve takes you through bush typical of the area, and has info panels with plant and tree labelling.
Pounawea Bush Walking Track
Time: 45 min round trip
The track starts from Pounawea Motor Camp. It passes through a stand of virgin podocarp forest, well populated by birdlife. It returns to the start via a loop through a salt marsh and estuary.
The estuary shows an intact sequence of vegetation from shoreline to forest. The sand spit near the estuary mouth is home to wading birds, including godwits who annually return from northern Asia.
The saltmarsh section of the track is only accessible at low tide.
Turn on to Pounawea Road at Owaka from SH92, the Southern Scenic Route.
The track starts from the Pounawea Motor Camp, on the foreshore at the end of Pounawea Road. Vehicles should be parked outside the camping ground.
Dogs are not permitted on Tunnel Hill, Barrs Falls and Surat Bay Wildlife walks.
The Otago coast is frequented by sea lions, other marine mammals and vulnerable bird life. Don't disturb them.
Each year, godwits return to the sandspit at the mouth of the estuary.
Contacts
| DOC Customer Service Centre | |
|---|---|
| Phone | 0800 275 362 |
| invercargill@doc.govt.nz | |
| Address | DOC offices |