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Family Friendly
The trip to New Chum Beach is a fun adventure for all ages.
Crossing the inlet is best done at or around low tide. The water can be quite deep at the crossing, and the rocks along the start of the track are more difficult to navigate at high tide with the waves nearing the shore line.
Description
This short track isn’t much to speak of in and of itself, but it is a fun little excursion to reach New Chum Beach. From the car park, head out across the river inlet (best crossed at low tide) and hike along the shore line passing several private residences before heading out along the steep hillside. At this point, you'll be climbing on and over a very rocky shoreline so take your time as the rocks can be slippery or loose.
Once past this stretch along the rocks, the trail turns inland and climbs a small saddle. If you are feeling adventurous and would like a more aerial view of New Chum Beach, there is a spur trail that leads to the true high point of the saddle - this trail is VERY steep and requires scrambling up several rocky sections. From the saddle, the trail descends through a grove of Nikau palms before popping out on the south end of New Chum Beach.
This mile-long beach is shaped like a crescent and has some lovely dunes and stunning rock faces along its edge. It is a unique experience to be on a beach that is truly removed from any signs of civilization as you won’t find any high rises or beach-side cafes or gift shops here. This sense of remoteness and a relatively pristine wilderness setting is a nice pay off for a relatively short, easy, and accessible trail. (Obviously, this beach is pretty popular so don’t expect to be the only one there). Pack a picnic, bring your swimsuit, or simply enjoy a walk on the beach before returning the way you came.
Flora & Fauna
Nikau palms and pohutukawa.
Shared By:
Kristen McGlynn
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