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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 informationLocation source
DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route.
Reference point: -43.71117, 169.26694. 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
- 1 hr 20 min
- Track grade
- Easy
- Location
- Haast, Paringa and Moeraki rivers area / Ship Creek area
- 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
This track passes through luxuriant coastal forest to the remote Monro Beach.
This DOC directory entry covers Monro Beach Track in West Coast, within Haast, Paringa and Moeraki rivers area / Ship Creek area. 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: 1 hr 20 min
- DOC grade: Easy
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
The track begins from the carpark and passes through luxuriant coastal forest to the remote Monro Beach, just north of Knights Point. Birds such as tūī, bellbird and kererū are often seen in the forest on this walk. The track is well formed and easy to follow. Return via the same track.
Monro Beach is a nesting site for one of the rarest species of penguin in the world – the tawaki/Fiordland crested penguin. From September to November, you may see them in the surf and on the beach. Make sure to keep at least 20 meters distance.
Tawaki are protected under the Wildlife Act 1953. It is an offence to disturb or pursue these birds. The current tawaki population is between 2,500 and 3,000 breeding pairs and has been in decline since the 1950s. Stoats and dogs pose a serious risk to tawaki colonies. Stoats prey on both chicks and sick or injured adults, while a single dog has the potential to wipe out an entire colony.
Getting there
This walk is signposted off SH6 as you head north from Haast to Lake Paringa.
The carpark is located 35 km north of Haast.
Know before you go
Check the current track conditions and weather forecasts on MetService 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.
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.
