Conway Flat & Inland Kaikōura Walk
Drive south of Kaikōura to the Clarence River mouth and the Conway Flat for a coastal walk through farmland and river estuary with mountain views and exceptional birdlife.
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Clarence River Mouth
The Clarence River meets the sea 50 km north of Kaikōura — a remote, wild estuary where the braided river fans across a grey shingle delta, and black-fronted terns nest in the shingle.
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Kaikōura Coastal Highway
State Highway 1 between Kaikōura and Blenheim was completely destroyed by the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake and rebuilt over 2 years — the new road hugs the mountainside in a remarkable engineering achievement.
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Lyell Creek Estuary
The Lyell Creek estuary north of Kaikōura provides habitat for wading birds — stilts, herons, and various shorebirds feed in the shallow water at low tide.
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Coastal Farmland Walk
The flat farmland between the mountains and the sea south of Lyell Creek provides walking access with full mountain views — the entire Seaward Kaikōura Range is visible from the flat.
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Hapuku River Mouth
The Hapuku River estuary is one of the best birdwatching spots near Kaikōura — royal spoonbills, white herons, and little egrets all feed in the estuary on their seasonal migrations through.
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Mountain Reflection Pool
Still water in the estuary reflects the Seaward Kaikōura peaks on calm mornings — a photographic composition that captures the essence of this extraordinary coastal mountain landscape.