Gillespies Beach

Gillespies Beach is a wild, windswept stretch of black sand on the West Coast, where the Tasman Sea crashes against driftwood-littered shores and the Southern Alps loom in the distance. This remote beach feels like the edge of the world, with a fascinating gold-mining history and a hauntingly beautiful cemetery that tells the stories of early settlers. It's a place for solitary walks, spotting seals and penguins, and soaking up the raw, untamed spirit of the Coast.

Highlights & What to See

• Gillespies Beach Walk – A short track from the car park leads through coastal forest to the beach, where you can stroll for miles along the dark sand, watching waves and searching for jade (pounamu).
• Historic Gold Mining Relics – Remnants of a dredge and old mining equipment are scattered near the beach, offering a glimpse into the area's gold rush past.
• Gillespies Beach Cemetery – A poignant, overgrown burial ground with graves dating back to the 1860s, including those of Chinese miners and early European settlers.
• Monro Beach Walk – A 30-minute walk from the carpark leads to a secluded cove where you can spot Fiordland crested penguins (tawaki) from July to December.
• Seal Colony – New Zealand fur seals often haul out on the rocks at the northern end of the beach, especially during winter.

Suggested Time to Spend

Plan for at least 1–2 hours to explore the beach, the cemetery, and the short walks. If you want to hike the full Gillespies Beach Track (a 4–5 hour return trip along the coast to the Waikowhai Bluff), set aside half a day. The beach is best visited at low tide for easier walking and to see the seal colony.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Fox Glacier – Just 20 minutes' drive away, the glacier offers guided walks and heli-hikes on the ice.
• Lake Matheson – Famous for its mirror reflections of Aoraki/Mount Cook and Mount Tasman, a short drive from Fox Glacier township.
• Okarito – A peaceful lagoon town with a beautiful beach and the Okarito Kiwi Sanctuary, where you can spot the rare rowi kiwi.
• Franz Josef Glacier – About 40 minutes north, with similar glacier experiences and hot pools.
• Whataroa – A small town with the White Heron Sanctuary Tours, where you can see kotuku (white herons) in their breeding colony.

Please check official sources for current details.