A month ago we descended upon Owhiro Bay in search of red rocks and seals only to leave defeated after a day filled with neither.
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| Where, oh, where could those Red Rocks be?! |
This time, we were not to be deterred. Nothing would stop us! To prove our mettle to the world, we set out on foot. We walked four miles from Miramar to Owhiro Bay and then a further four miles to
Sinclair Head. All told the journey, complete with a quick stop off at The Bach (pronounced "batch") for lunch, took 7.5 hours.
Once we got over the hill separating Kilbirnie from the great wild yonder we found ourselves at Houghton Bay, this took approximately an hour. The rest of the walk is right along the coast so dress accordingly!
The weather along the coast can be quite temperamental. The first time we made the journey the waves were high, the air was cold, and the wind was vicious. That day we were all bundled up in winter jackets. Just a month later, on what was essentially the Southern Hemisphere's equivalent of the Northern Hemisphere's December 29th, I kept alternating between a winter jacket, a jumper, and a tank-top depending on our elevation and the shade.
The walk from Houghton Bay to The Bach is approximately 30 minutes and takes you through Island Bay, past the
Marine Education Centre. I have heard many good things about the Education Centre, including the fact that they have baby octopi, but unfortunately they are only open on Sundays.
The Bach is the only food establishment along the walk, and the journey to it from Houghton Bay is a mere thirty minutes. The food is fairly pricy, a meal for two will run you $40, but the portions are generous. Unfortunately, you get far more for your money when ordering fish and chips than their vegetarian option, fried mushrooms with beetroot and sweet potato.
Once you are filled up on good grub, it's just a mere ten minutes to Owhiro Bay and fifteen more to the entrance of the
Red Rocks Walkway. The entrance of the walkway features a car park, toilet, and a small information centre. There is also a water bowl for any furry companions you may have brought along.
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| Cars driving on the Red Rocks Walkway |
After the information centre the road devolves into the beach, but cars are still permitted every day except Sundays. As a pedestrian you need to watch out for vehicles, ATVs, motorbikes, and bicycles. The journey to Red Rocks takes approximately 30 minutes, but it really depends on your walking speed and how often you are stopping to take photos.
The Red Rocks are not as vibrant as one might think, so on a cloudy day it might be easy to bypass them.
Between the months of May and October, if you walk 25 minutes more to Sinclair Head, you will be greeted with a lovely surprise.
Yes, Sinclair Head is home to a fur seal colony! In the winter months male seals who were unsuccessful in mating retreat to Sinclair Head to rest and prepare for the next mating season. Since they are no females around this colony is incredibly docile, though they are still wild animals and should be treated accordingly. Be sure to respect the seals space and never, ever get between a seal and the ocean, that is their escape route.
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| Voguing. |
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| Can you spot all the seals? |
If you want to get the all the classic New Zealand views, I highly recommend you walk the whole coastline between Houghton Bay and Sinclair Head. On clear days you can even catch a glimpse of snow-capped mountains on the South Island. It is the perfect day trip for a traveler on a budget.
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| The sunset returning from our walk |
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| Lyall Bay & Kilbirnie |
