Gillespies Beach walking tracks: Walking Guide, Time & Access

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Location & access

DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route. Check the official route directions before travel.

Official location information

Location source

DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route.

Reference point: -43.40224, 169.83497. WGS84 coordinates retained at the official service's returned precision; decimal resolution is not survey accuracy. Source positional accuracy is not specified.

DOC Maps walking and tramping reference point (WGS84), exact official-page GUID / Department of Conservation. Checked 2026-10-12.

Key facts

Distance: Not confirmed on the checked DOC page; see individual route sections
Walking time: Various: 5 min - 3 hr 30 min return
Track grade: Easy; Advanced
Location: Gillespies Beach
Dog access: No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.

Checked against official sources on 8 October 2026. Rules and conditions are set by Department of Conservation — confirm with them before you go.

Route overview

A visit to Gillespies Beach offers a scenic drive, lovely views of the Southern Alps Kā Tiritiri o te Moana, an historic cemetery and coastal walks.

This DOC directory entry covers Gillespies Beach walking tracks in West Coast, within Gillespies Beach. Where DOC groups several walks, times and grades refer to the listed options rather than a single continuous itinerary.

Distance, time and grade

Distance: Not confirmed on the checked DOC page; see individual route sections
Walking time: Various: 5 min - 3 hr 30 min return
DOC grade: Easy; Advanced

Access and alerts

Source checked 2026-10-08. This page is a dated snapshot, not a live track-status report. Check current DOC route information immediately before travelling. An absence of listed alerts does not establish that a route is open.

Dog access

No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.

Description

There are five walks at Gillespies Beach.

Miners Cemetery Walking Track

Time: 5 min returnDistance: 270 m Just before the signposted turnoff to the Gillespies Beach campsite and car park there is a short walk to the historic miners cemetery. The cemetery is a reminder of the harsh environment the early gold prospectors lived and worked in.

Gillespies Suction Dredge Walk

Time: 15 min loopDistance: 400 m The Gillespies Suction Dredge Walk is a short loop track starting from the main Gillespies Beach car park. Wander past historical remains of the suction dredge used by the miners in the late 19th century. Interpretation panels take you back to when Gillespies Beach was a bustling gold mining town.

Gillespies Bucket Dredge Walk

Time: 30 min returnDistance: 1.6 km Follow the Miners Tunnel Track from the main Gillespies Beach car park and camping area through gorse-covered dredge tailings to the remains of an old 1930s gold dredge. On a clear day the mountain tops will peak above the gorse. Continue to the Miners Tunnel or Galway Beach or, return the way you came or via the beach.

Miners Tunnel Track

Time: 1 hr 40 min returnDistance: 3.6 km Continue past the bucket dredge and out onto the beach. Walk north along the beach until you reach Gillespies Lagoon. The lagoon is crossed by a bridge 5 minutes inland. Enjoy spectacular views from here on a fine day.

From the lagoon the track follows the line of a gold miners’ pack track, climbing up an old glacier moraine before entering a tunnel built to provide an all-tide access route for miners. The track emerges to a viewing point above the beach – there is no access to the beach from this point.

Galway Beach Tramping Track

Time: 3 hr 30 min returnDistance: 6.8 km Follow the Miners Tunnel Track from Gillespies Beach car park and campsite. Turn off at the Galway Beach sign, just before the miners tunnel. The track weaves through rimu forest and leads to a remote beach. The seal colony at Galway Beach is a haul-out (resting) colony for seals in the winter.

Take care not to disturb the seals and never get between the seals and the sea. Do not try and walk through the colony to Gillespies Lagoon – you must return to the car park via the track.

Getting there

Gillespies Beach is a 21 km drive from Fox Glacier Weheka township. Head west along Cook Flat Road passing the turn off to Lake Matheson and the Peak Viewpoint along the way. After 8 km turn off to Gillespies Beach Road and follow this for 11 km to the end.

Half of the journey is on a narrow, unsealed road – keep left, and keep your speed to a minimum. The road is not suitable for towing vehicles.

Know before you go

Check the current track conditions and weather forecasts on NIWA or at the Westland Tai Poutini National Park Visitor Centre and isite before starting your trip.
Always take warm and waterproof clothing as the weather can change fast.
Carry drinking water, insect repellent and sun protection at all times.

Sources and reuse

Route descriptions and practical information reproduced from the Department of Conservation, Crown copyright, under CC BY 4.0, subject to DOC's copyright policy. Formatting has been adapted, including flattening page sections; follow the original DOC page for maps, section-specific layout, current notices and linked documents. Outdoor Next is independent and is not endorsed by DOC.

The accompanying photograph is a licensed general hiking illustration, not a photograph of this route.