Whariwharangi Bay to Wainui
The official 5.7 km northern exit from Whariwharangi Bay to Wainui.
Route overview
Climb from Whariwharangi to a low saddle, then descend beside Wainui Inlet to the road-end car park.
This is the direct final stage for walkers completing the Great Walk to Wainui. Its short distance does not solve the endpoint problem: Wainui has no scheduled water-taxi service, so a vehicle, shuttle or other pickup must be arranged independently.
Trail facts
- Country
- New Zealand
- Region
- Northern Abel Tasman National Park
- Distance
- 5.7 km one way
- Typical duration
- approximately 2 hours
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation gain
- null — not published
- Best season
- Year-round in suitable weather and daylight
- Trail type
- Point-to-point northern exit stage
Access and logistics
- Permits and access
- No day permit; overnight stays require the matching Whariwharangi booking.
Safety context
Confirm pickup before departure and retain enough food, water and warm clothing for a delayed vehicle. Check current official conditions, closures, weather and access rules before departure.
Stranded endpoint, wet track, slippery estuary edge, limited communication and delayed pickup.
Highlights
Whariwharangi Bay, forest saddle, Wainui Inlet and rock pools
Why find a buddy
Strong value for vehicle shuttles, endpoint safety and shared contingency transport.
Primary source
Explore and prepare
Discover hikes by intent, read the hiking guides, review hiking safety, prepare a BuddyPack, or browse hiking plans.
Route conditions, access, services and transport can change. Verify time-sensitive information before departure.