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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: -42.21731, 173.83476. 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
- 6 hr | 2hr
- Track grade
- Advanced
- Location
- Okiwi Bay area
- Dog access
- Dogs with a DOC permit only. Contact closest DOC office to get a permit. 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
Walk or mountain bike through varied vegetation and enjoy ocean views.
This DOC directory entry covers Okiwi Bay Seaward Valley Track in Marlborough, within Okiwi Bay 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: 6 hr | 2hr
- DOC grade: 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
Dogs with a DOC permit only. Contact closest DOC office to get a permit. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Description
This track follows old farm tracks and logging roads through a mixture of vegetation types. There are good opportunities to enjoy ocean views and many excellent camping sites along the way.
There is no access to or from Half Moon Bay because of several large slips.
Shorter option
For a shorter walk (1 hr one way), start at Seaward Valley Road entrances. Follow the track through retired farmland up to the saddle. Here you are greeted with superb views of the ocean and Seaward Kaikoura Ranges. From the saddle return the same way back to the car park.
Side trip: Pacific Lookout Track
Walking time: 1 hr 20 min one way
This track branches off the Okiwi Bay Seaward Valley Track and offers expansive views of the coastline and Pacific Ocean.
The track is suitable for mountain bikes, with steep to medium gradients and fairly even surfaces. The surface may be slippery or muddy when wet.
Mountain biking
This is a challenging ride with two major climbs. Steep to medium gradients are combined with a surface that is rutted in places and can be slippery or muddy when wet.
This is a shared-use track. Follow the mountain bikers code: respect others, respect the rules, respect the track.
Getting there
Access points with car parking are located at either end of the track at Okiwi Bay and Blue Duck Valley Road, off SH1. Toilet facilities are located at Okiwi Bay car park.
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.
