Mautohe Cathedral Cove from Hahei

From the track entrance at the top of Grange Road, where the shuttle stops, the sealed track heads west along the coastal hilltops, with views down to Waimata/Gemstone Bay and Te Karaka/Stingray Bay. After the junction with the private Gateway Trail from Lees Road it drops steeply, with wooden stairs, to Mares Leg Cove. The great arch through to Mautohe Cathedral Cove is at the end of the beach, with the rock pinnacle Te Hoho beyond. Return the same way.

It is 3.4 km there and back with 92 m of ascent; allow about an hour. The grade is Easy: a sealed track with steep sections and steps.

The cove has a history of landslides: DOC closes the track, and the shuttle stops, whenever an orange or red heavy-rain warning covers Hahei, and you should not sit under the cliffs. At high tide or in rough seas waves surge through the arch, so go near low tide. The Hahei Beach Short Walk and the Gemstone Bay track are closed. Take nothing from the marine reserve.

There is no parking at the track entrance. Park free at Hahei Visitor Car Park and take the Park and Ride shuttle, every 15 minutes or so from 9 am ($8 return for adults, children free), or walk up in about 30 minutes.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.