...A sunny day at Nugget Point...
After visiting the Tunnel Hill Walk near Owaka we drove around to Nugget Point to walk out to the Lighthouse. Nugget Point is roughly 20 kilometers north of Owaka and out closer to the coast.
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| Track to Nugget Point Lighthouse |
Nugget Point Lighthouse sits far out on a headland and marks a series of offshore rock pillars that reach out into the surrounding ocean. The coastline here is well known for the number of ships which have wrecked over the last 150 years. Lighthouses are dotted right along the coast from the mouth of the Clutha River to Invercargill.
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| Nugget Point Lighthouse, Kokata, South Otago |
The coastline around Nugget Point is rugged in the extreme with huge 100+ meter sea cliffs, rocky pinnacles and massive waves crashing on the shore. The track is high above the ocean so the views from most points along the walkway are fantastic.
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| Rugged coastline at Kokata Point, Catlins |
This was the second walk we completed in the Catlins and set the stage for several other visits to lighthouses and cliff top view points along the Southern Scenic Route.
Along the Nugget Point Walk:
After driving to the Nugget Point carpark we set off to visit the lighthouse. This was a major tourist spot pre Covid so the track quality and amenities here were excellent.
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| View to the ocean from Nugget Point Lighthouse carpark |
It is roughly 1.5 kilometers to the distant lighthouse and the trip will take you about 20-30 minutes each way. Be sure to take some warm clothing and a rain jacket with you as the track is totally exposed to the elements and it can be cold , windy and wet. Water would also be a good idea as there is none along the track...
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| Map of the tracks at Nugget Point Lighthouse |
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| Map: Nugget Point/Tokata Point |
From the large carpark you are heading uphill to the start of the track down to the Lighthouse. It starts out as an old 4 W/D track to the Lighthouse Keepers Cottage. From the Keepers Cottage it becomes a high quality Great Walk style track.
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| The van parked at the carpark for Nugget Point Lighthouse |
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| Relief map of Nugget Point Lighthouse tracks |
From the carpark the first place the track will take you is to a viewing platform looking down onto the coast near the Kaimataitai Reef. You walk along a gravel pathway for 200 meters through native bush to the platform visible on the near skyline.
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| Track to the Clifftop Viewpoint at Kokata |
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| ...on the track to the Clifftop Viewpoint at Nugget Point... |
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| Clifftop viewing platform at Nugget Point |
The platform is about 150 meters above sea-level so you have fantastic view along the coast in both directions. the hill sides are covered in short grasses and stunted trees so you can clearly see the rugged rocky zone where the ocean meets the land.
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| Coast south of the viewing platform, Kaimataitai Reef, Catlin's |
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| Shags and Petrels nest on the cliffs at Kaimataitai Reef |
It was a calm, clear day so visibility went right out to the horizon. To the north you can see the small headland at Kaka Point and right along the coast to the Otago Peninsula nearly 100 kilometers away.
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| View north to Kaka Point and Otago Peninsula |
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| Otago Peninsula far to the north of Nugget Point |
From the lookout you head along the coast on an old 4 W/D track which takes you to the start of the Nugget Point Track.
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| Nugget Point Lighthouse Track at Nugget Point |
The track to the lighthouse starts near the turn off to the old Lighthouse Keepers House. The Lighthouse Keepers House is usually empty as all the lighthouses around the coast of New Zealand are automated. It is used by DOC Rangers over the summer and by visiting groups of scientists and researchers working with the local wildlife.
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| The quality of the Nugget Point Lighthouse track is excellent |
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| Parts of the Nugget Point Lighthouse are bordered with bush |
The Nugget Point Track sidle's along the side of the hills high above the coast...there are spectacular views right out to the lighthouse from all along the track.
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| View north to Kaka Point from near Nugget Point Lighthouse |
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| First distant view of Nugget Point Lighthouse |
You gradually lose height as you near the lighthouse...the track has to follow the contours of the land to reach the headland the lighthouse sits on. There is a serious drop off on the coast side of the track so keep an eye on where you are going as a fall off here would not be ideal...
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| Nugget Point Lighthouse sits high above the coast |
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| Nugget Point Lighthouse, Catlins |
There are a few spots where weathered bush protects you from the elements but for the most part the track is totally exposed to whatever mother nature decides to chuck at you. For that reason it is best to visit on a calm, sunny day...
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| View down to the rugged coast near Nugget Point Lighthouse |
The tortured, weather beaten look of the trees along the track belies the regular bouts of wind, rain and extreme heat the area is well known for...
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| Contorted bush along the Nugget Point Lighthouse Track |
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| The Nugget Point Lighthouse track is very exposed |
There is a picnic table about halfway to the lighthouse slightly tucked out of the prevailing southerly wind. On a dry, sunny day it would be a picturesque spot to stop for a rest, drink and maybe something to eat.
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| Picnic table mid way along Nugget Point Lighthouse Track |
The last couple of hundred meters of the track crosses a narrow isthmus with rugged cliffs to both sides. It has protective fences as I imagine it would be quite easy to get blown off the track on a very windy day. The views from here are awesome though...
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| Closer view of the Nugget Point Lighthouse |
To the south is Roaring Bay...well named as the savage sound of the surf crashing ashore roars up the cliffs to the track.
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| Roaring Bay, Nugget Point Lighthouse Track |
Out to the south east you can see the rock pillars which break the ocean surface at Kokata Point...
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| Rock pillars in the ocean at Kokata Point |
To the north you are looking down onto a rocky shore far below you with more rock pillars marking the edge of old eroded cliff faces...
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| Closer view of rock pillars north of Nugget Point |
There is a massive sea cliff behind the bay that reaches to 150 meters above the ocean...it is not vertical but it might as well be. It is eroded rock with very little vegetation on it and provides a safe haven for a variety of sea birds that live along this coast.
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| ...150 meter high cliffs at Nugget Point... |
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| Nugget Point Lighthouse and the offshore rock pillars |
There is a viewing area on the isthmus with a stone plaque set into the ground nearby. It contains a poem about the coast here talking specifically about what you can see on either side of the track.
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| Plaque above Roaring Bay, Nugget Point |
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| View north from Nugget Point Lighthouse isthmus |
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| View south from Nugget Point Lighthouse isthmus |
From the isthmus it is just over 100 meters to the Lighthouse and the end of the track. The lighthouse looked like it has been recently painted....that must be a job of work. The lighthouse is unmanned but some maintenance would always need to be done in such an harsh and exposed location.
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| Ridgeline above Roaring Bay, Nugget Point |
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| Nugget Point Lighthouse, Kokata, Catlins |
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| Another angle of the Nugget Point Lighthouse at Kokata |
DOC have built a series of viewing platforms around the front of the lighthouse with spectacular views down to the rock pillars at Kokata Point. You can see for nearly 50 kilometers up and down the coast from here.
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| Viewing platform at Nugget Point Lighthouse |
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| ...there is seating at the Nugget Point Lighthouse viewpoint... |
Nugget Point is the place where the lighthouse is located BUT this is also Kokata Point. Kokata Point is where the rock pillars head out into the Southern Ocean. The pillars are the remains of long eroded headlands and stretch a good kilometer out from the coast. There were a major navigation hazard in times past which is why a lighthouse was constructed here.
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| Rock Pillars of Kokata Point, South Otago |
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| Tidal pool, Kokata Point, South Otago |
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| Closer view of rock pillars, Kokata Point |
Looking south you can see right down to Waipapa Point not far from Invercargill about 45 kilometers away. Out to sea there is nothing till you reach Antarctica over 5000 kilometers distant...
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| View south from the Nugget Point Lighthouse |
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| Antarctica is 5000 kilometers due south of Kokata Point |
Part of the viewing platform at Nugget Point is canter levered out over the sea cliffs so you can see the beach at Roaring Bay and along the southern side of the isthmus.
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| On the viewing platform at Nugget Point Lighthouse |
Kokata Point is the home of Seals, Sea Lions and several species of native birds including Titi. Titi are the famous Muttonbird one of the favored foods for the local Iwi. They would hunt them at a certain times of the year and preserve them in their own fat.
Maori around Bluff are still allowed to gather Titi as it is a customary food source but it is generally not available for sale. I have eaten Muttonbird before and yes it looks and tastes like very oily Mutton so it is well named.
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| Rock pillars at Kokata Point, South Otago |
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| Seals and Sea Lions live around Kokata Point |
There are frequent sightings of Dolphins and Whales here as they fish in the deep waters which come close to the coast here (much like near Kaikoura). We only saw one Fur Seal swimming around the rock pillars but there are many seabirds flying around.
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| Churning surf around the rocks at Nugget Point |
We spent about 20 minutes at the lighthouse before we started to get a bit cold from the brisk breeze. We headed back along the track towards the car park with great views north along the coast and with the walkway clearly visible on the cliff side.
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| Heading back along the Nugget Point Track |
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| View down onto Roaring Bay from the Nugget Point Track |
I think there would be a walkway here even without the lighthouse...that cliff face just back from the lighthouse is massive and would be a destination in and of itself.
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| Narrow point along the Nugget Point Track |
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| Steep drop off on the coast side of Nugget Point Track |
You are walking uphill for most of the return walk but the gradient is very gentle so it is not that difficult. It would be a different story in a howling southerly of course...
Actually that is something I would love to see as I think it would spectacular.
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| Looking back towards the lighthouse at Nugget Point Track |
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| The rocky coast along the Nugget Point Track |
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| Back on the wider section of the Nugget Point Track |
Once back at the apex of the track and on the old 4 W/D road it is all easy downhill to the carpark.
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| Looking down on the Nugget Point Track carpark |
We went to use the facilities before setting off and were perplexed to find a Possum asleep in the toilet. It had tucked itself down behind the toilet bowl which seems like an unenviable location for a snooze but maybe it is bedtime heaven for a Possum.
I have encountered Possums in huts, toilets and woodsheds before when out tramping...they like the easy life of a man made shelter over living in the bush. That is why you must latch hut doors and shut windows when you leave a hut.
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| Possum asleep in the toilet block at Nugget Point |
We headed back to the van for some lunch with a lovely view down to the coast from the carpark before heading back down the hill and along the coast to Kaka Point which is a small holiday settlement along the route to Nugget Point.
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| Lunchtime view from the van to the ocean |
From Nugget Point we headed back to our campsite at Pounawea and set up for the night. We had a very nice location close to the campground amenities and under a couple of mature Totara trees. There were MANY Tui around the campsite and we had a pair right above us serenading each other for nearly an hour.
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| The Britz van at Pounawea Campground |
Later in the afternoon Karen and I walked along the Pounawea Nature Walk which starts from the corner of the Pounawea Camp Ground. But that is another story...
Access: From Balclutha...turn off SH1 onto the Owaka Highway. After 7 kilometers turn off onto Kaka Point Road, then Esplanade Road at Kaka Point. Follow this sealed road for 9 more kilometers to the Kokata Point carpark.
Track Times: The track is approximately 1.5 kilometers long and will take 20-30 minutes one way along the side of the coastal hills.
Miscellaneous: The access road is narrow, winding and climbs to the carpark. Nugget Point is exposed to any weather travelling along this coast so make sure you have warm clothing and a rain jacket if attempting the walk. Steep drop off from the track side so keep a close eye on children at all times. Toilets are located at the carpark at the start.
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