Gillespies Beach Miners Tunnel Walk, Westland Tai Poutini National Park, New Zealand

GILLESPIES BEACH MINERS TUNNEL WALK - Westland Tai Poutini National Park.
An easy 1 hour 40 minutes 3.6 km return walk, the first half of which is pretty darn ugly.
Map Data: Google, Digital Globe, Department of Conservation (DOC).

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Gillespies Beach Miners Tunnel Walk, Westland Tai Poutini National Park, New Zealand

GILLESPIES BEACH MINERS TUNNEL WALK - Westland Tai Poutini National Park.
An initially rather unattractive walk through gorse to a rusted old bucket dredge then along an unmaintained track on a barren beach. It gets nicer when e get to the lagoon and then enter the bush. The tunnel provided all-tide access for the miners.

Gillespies Beach Miners Tunnel Walk, Westland Tai Poutini National Park, New Zealand

GILLESPIES BEACH MINERS TUNNEL WALK - Westland Tai Poutini National Park
The first 15 minutes of this track follows a wide track through gorse. Not at all scenic.

Gillespies Beach Miners Tunnel Walk, Westland Tai Poutini National Park, New Zealand

GILLESPIES BEACH MINERS TUNNEL WALK - Westland Tai Poutini National Park
Gorse everywhere. Yuck.

Gillespies Beach Miners Tunnel Walk, Westland Tai Poutini National Park, New Zealand

GILLESPIES BEACH MINERS TUNNEL WALK - Westland Tai Poutini National Park

Gillespies Beach Miners Tunnel Walk, Westland Tai Poutini National Park, New Zealand

GILLESPIES BEACH MINERS TUNNEL WALK - Westland Tai Poutini National Park

Gillespies Beach Miners Tunnel Walk, Westland Tai Poutini National Park, New Zealand

GILLESPIES BEACH MINERS TUNNEL WALK - Westland Tai Poutini National Park
Thank goodness... The beach.

Gillespies Beach Miners Tunnel Walk, Westland Tai Poutini National Park, New Zealand

GILLESPIES BEACH MINERS TUNNEL WALK - Westland Tai Poutini National Park

Gillespies Beach Miners Tunnel Walk, Westland Tai Poutini National Park, New Zealand

GILLESPIES BEACH MINERS TUNNEL WALK - Westland Tai Poutini National Park

Gillespies Beach Miners Tunnel Walk, Westland Tai Poutini National Park, New Zealand

GILLESPIES BEACH MINERS TUNNEL WALK - Westland Tai Poutini National Park
Actually the beach isn't all that scenic either...

Gillespies Beach Miners Tunnel Walk, Westland Tai Poutini National Park, New Zealand

GILLESPIES BEACH MINERS TUNNEL WALK - Westland Tai Poutini National Park

Gillespies Beach Miners Tunnel Walk, Westland Tai Poutini National Park, New Zealand

GILLESPIES BEACH MINERS TUNNEL WALK - Westland Tai Poutini National Park.
But once we get about 40 minutes down the beach, it starts to get more visually appealing...

Gillespies Beach Miners Tunnel Walk, Westland Tai Poutini National Park, New Zealand

GILLESPIES BEACH MINERS TUNNEL WALK - Westland Tai Poutini National Park

Gillespies Beach Miners Tunnel Walk, Westland Tai Poutini National Park, New Zealand

GILLESPIES BEACH MINERS TUNNEL WALK - Westland Tai Poutini National Park
Gillespies Lagoon

Gillespies Beach Miners Tunnel Walk, Westland Tai Poutini National Park, New Zealand

GILLESPIES BEACH MINERS TUNNEL WALK - Westland Tai Poutini National Park

Gillespies Beach Miners Tunnel Walk, Westland Tai Poutini National Park, New Zealand

GILLESPIES BEACH MINERS TUNNEL WALK - Westland Tai Poutini National Park

Gillespies Beach Miners Tunnel Walk, Westland Tai Poutini National Park, New Zealand

GILLESPIES BEACH MINERS TUNNEL WALK - Westland Tai Poutini National Park

Gillespies Beach Miners Tunnel Walk, Westland Tai Poutini National Park, New Zealand

GILLESPIES BEACH MINERS TUNNEL WALK - Westland Tai Poutini National Park

Gillespies Beach Miners Tunnel Walk, Westland Tai Poutini National Park, New Zealand

GILLESPIES BEACH MINERS TUNNEL WALK - Westland Tai Poutini National Park

Gillespies Beach Miners Tunnel Walk, Westland Tai Poutini National Park, New Zealand

GILLESPIES BEACH MINERS TUNNEL WALK - Westland Tai Poutini National Park

Gillespies Beach Miners Tunnel Walk, Westland Tai Poutini National Park, New Zealand

GILLESPIES BEACH MINERS TUNNEL WALK - Westland Tai Poutini National Park
The tunnel was built to allow miners easier access to the beach.

Gillespies Beach Miners Tunnel Walk, Westland Tai Poutini National Park, New Zealand

GILLESPIES BEACH MINERS TUNNEL WALK - Westland Tai Poutini National Park

Gillespies Beach Miners Tunnel Walk, Westland Tai Poutini National Park, New Zealand

GILLESPIES BEACH MINERS TUNNEL WALK - Westland Tai Poutini National Park

Gillespies Beach Miners Tunnel Walk, Westland Tai Poutini National Park, New Zealand

GILLESPIES BEACH MINERS TUNNEL WALK - Westland Tai Poutini National Park

Gillespies Beach Miners Tunnel Walk, Westland Tai Poutini National Park, New Zealand

GILLESPIES BEACH MINERS TUNNEL WALK - Westland Tai Poutini National Park
When we go back, we'll avoid the ugly gorse track and use the beach instead.

Gillespies Beach Miners Tunnel Walk, Westland Tai Poutini National Park, New Zealand

GILLESPIES BEACH MINERS TUNNEL WALK - Westland Tai Poutini National Park
Beware of big waves and keep an eye out for this sign.

Gillespies Beach Miners Tunnel Walk, Westland Tai Poutini National Park, New Zealand

GILLESPIES BEACH MINERS TUNNEL WALK - Westland Tai Poutini National Park