Oreti Beach & Estuary Walk
Walk the wild 30-km sweep of Oreti Beach on the Foveaux Strait — one of New Zealand's most exposed and dramatic beaches, backed by sandhills and estuary wetlands.
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Oreti Beach Access
Just 9 km from the city centre, Oreti Beach stretches 30 km northwest along the Foveaux Strait — the Southern Ocean roars in from Antarctica just 2,000 km south.
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Sandhill Dune System
Wind-sculpted sand dunes up to 10 metres high back the beach — they shift constantly with the fierce Southland winds and support rare dune plant communities.
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New River Estuary
The estuary at the beach's southern end is a Ramsar-listed wetland — a globally significant habitat for wading birds including rare migratory godwits from Alaska.
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Foveaux Strait View
The strait visible from the beach separates the South Island from Stewart Island / Rakiura — one of the world's stormiest and most productive fishing grounds.
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Toheroa Clam Habitat
Oreti Beach was historically famous for toheroa clams — huge shellfish that once existed in millions on this beach, now protected after near-extinction by over-harvesting.
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Sunset Dune Overlook
The dune crests face west across the Foveaux Strait — on clear evenings the sun sets over Stewart Island and the distant Tin Range, painting the sky vivid orange.