Discover the Dune Lake at Ship Creek
Located along State Highway 6 in South Westland on the South Island, Ship Creek is a must-visit destination. The Dune Lake Walk, a short loop track, allows you to explore this remote coastal landscape. It culminates in views over Dune Lake and the expansive curving coastline stretching approximately 90 km to Jackson Bay.
Rainforest and Sand Dunes
Ship Creek's coastline is rugged and faces the Tasman Sea, offering extensive views both north and south. The Dune Lake Walk stands out due to the rare freshwater dune lake hidden behind the dunes. This lake is surrounded by wind-shaped harakeke (flax) and dense lowland rainforest. On calm days, the lake's surface is almost mirror-like, providing a stark contrast to the nearby ocean, just 100 metres away.
Explore the Dune Lake Walk
The Dune Lake Walk is about 1 km long and takes roughly 30 minutes to complete. It begins at the Ship Creek visitor shelter and follows a boardwalk behind the dunes. As you walk, you'll enter a coastal kahikatea forest, where trees are stunted and twisted by the salty winds. A raised viewing platform offers a panoramic view of the dune lake, bordered by wetland plants and flax that blooms red in summer. Informative panels along the way explain the unique formation of this landscape and its rarity on the West Coast.
The loop continues to a second viewpoint above the beach, providing an elevated perspective of the coastline. To the left, you can see the lake behind the dunes; to the right, the beach stretches uninterrupted towards the mouth of the Haast River and then Jackson Bay. You can return via the beach from this point.
How to get there
Ship Creek is accessible from State Highway 6, situated about 20 km north of Haast and 95 km south of Fox Glacier. Look for the signposted turnoff on the seaward side of the road. You may encounter sandflies around the car park and beach, but the walks will probably be sandfly-free.
In addition to the Dune Lake Walk, you can explore the Swamp Forest Walk. Heading south on the highway, you can visit Lake Moeraki and the Monro Beach Walk to Monro Beach for penguin spotting during spring and summer. Heading north, the Haast River Bridge provides views of the river, and Haast Beach is another attractive coastal stop.
