WEST-COAST: WESTLAND

The DOC Reserve at Ship Creek offers walks across the sand dunes and through the swamp forest, both richly illustrated with information posters at strategic locations along the way.

We began our trip up the West Coast, starting a Haast, and planning to get up to Hokitika on a beautiful, sunny autumn day. We had barely driven 10 km up the coast road when we noticed the DOC sign for Ship Creek Reserve, and we stopped for a quick look.

What an unexpected surprise! It must have been one of DOC's more recent projects, because it was imaculate, with beautifully illustrated posters providing information about the sand dunes and the swamp forest, as well as some of the geological history of this wild and remote area of our country.

The walk to the beach on a sunny day was quite pleasant, but not so different for many other beach walk around the country. However, the walk through the swamp forest was magical. Large trees growing in a shallow lake. Forest reflections in still water. Even examples of the Kahikatea wood that was used by the early settlers, among other things, for butter containers because it had no odour.

There is also a viewing tower where you can climp to the top and look out over both the beach and the forest.

Our 15 minute stop became over 2 hours, and well worth it.

This would also be a nice location to park overnight, except that DOC has posted No Camping signs. We think that is a pity, as there is plenty of sealed parking, and clean toilets, and it would be quiet and not visible from the road.

Walkway through the Swamp Forest

Viewing tower and Information Centre