Waituna Lagoon Loop Track: Walking Guide, Time & Access

Route overview

You can stroll the boardwalk, walk through wetland tarns or along the spectacular white quartz beach to the outlet of Waituna Lagoon. Waituna is a Ramsar site internationally recognised as a place of importance for birdlife.

This DOC directory entry covers Waituna Lagoon Loop Track in Southland, within Awarua-Waituna Wetlands. 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: 10 min - 1.5 hr
• DOC grade: Easiest; 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 first part of the Waituna Lagoon Loop Track is a wheelchair-friendly boardwalk leading to a lookout.

Boardwalk

Track category: Easy access short walk, suitable for wheelchairsTime: 10 min returnDistance: 500 m return

The boardwalk winds through low-growing manuka and shrubs, emerging at a viewing shelter that overlooks Waituna Lagoon. Interpretation panels in the shelter provide a wealth of information on the area and its fascinating inhabitants.

The lagoon is periodically open to the sea and its brackish waters are an important habitat for wildfowl, native fish and trout. The viewing platform is a good spot for viewing wildlife.

There is a toilet and picnic table at the carpark at the start of the boardwalk.

Waituna Lagoon Loop Track

Track category: Walking trackTime: 1-1.5 hr returnDistance: 5 km loop track

The track starts on the boardwalk. The first intersection onto the loop track is approximately 50 m from the start of the boardwalk at the carpark.

The loop track is easy walking on both boardwalk and gravel through manuka wetland and past bog tarns.

There are great interpretation panels and rest stops along the way. Listen carefully for fernbirds. This loop track links onto the boardwalk and the viewing platform and will then lead you back to the carpark.

Waituna Lagoon beach access

You can also access the spectacular, white quartz beach off Waituna Lagoon Road. There is no track but you can walk along the beach. The entire walk is 4-5 hr return (9 km one way) from the eastern end of Waituna Lagoon to Waituna Lagoon opening site

The beach walk begins with a gentle climb over a loose gravel bank. Once on the beach walking is easy and can be as long (or short) as you wish.

Don't take vehicles onto the gravel as the gravel is deep and you will get stuck.The gravel is thick and may be sloping and difficult to walk on. Be aware of tides and sea conditions. The gravel beach area is quite steep in places and is exposed.

The Waituna Lagoon is sometimes opened to the sea and the lagoon becomes tidal. You will only be able to walk on the beach up to the site where the lagoon is opened to the sea.

Getting there

Waituna Lagoon is situated 40 km south east from Invercargill at the end of Waghorns Road. Access to the walking track is off the Southern Scenic Route via Waituna Lagoon Road and then Waghorn Road.

Boat ramp access is at two locations: Moffat Road and the corner of Waituna Lagoon Road with Waghorn Road. Waituna Lagoon may not be very deep and may also be tidal so be aware of channels for boat access.

Know before you go

• Waituna Lagoon is situated on the southern coast of Southland. Be prepared for exposed weather conditions.

• The lagoon is sometimes open to the sea so be aware that it may be tidal which can limit both boat and foot access to the lagoon opening site.

• If accessing the coastal beach area the surf can make the beach quite steep and narrow. The beach is not recommended for vehicle access.

• No camping.

• Do not light any fires when visiting the wetland or lagoon. Even though by nature wetlands are wet they burn very easily. In the past fires have swept through hundreds of hectares of the wetland and decades later the vegetation still has not recovered.

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.