Wharariki Beach is the iconic location featured in the Windows 10 screensaver and one of the most isolated places in New Zealand.

To see the beach, you'll follow the Wharariki Beach Track over farm paddocks and through a section of forest before bringing you to the wild, windswept coast. This walk is very easy and almost entirely flat.

The best time to do this walk is at low tide, when you can walk the entire length of the beach and see seal pups playing in the pools around the archways. If you spot seals, remember to keep at least 20m away to respect their space.

How to get there

To get there, travel through Takaka and Golden Bay (two areas that are both so beautiful in their own right!) To Collingwood. Once you arrive in Collingwood, you’ll follow the Collingwood-Puponga Main Road toward Pūponga and then Wharariki Road to the car park at the end. Park your car and then take the 1km/20-minute walking track to the beach.

If you’d like to do other walking tracks while you’re in the area, make sure you check out the walk to Cape Farewell or Puponga Hill Top Track!