About | Peach Cove Track
The Peach Cove Track is a great first overnight hike if you’re looking at getting your kids into doing overnight hikes. It’s only a 3-hour return walk so it’s easy peasy, a great walk to start out on. 1.5 hours there and then 1.5 hours back the next day.
The first part of the Peach Cove Track goes up so just keep encouraging them on until they get to the steps and it’ll be 800 or something steps down to the hut and just a short walk to the beach from there. If they’re anything like our boys, they’ll be happily hopping down those steps all the way to the bottom.
The 8 bunk hut is small and has all of the basic things you’ll need. Mattress, pots/pans, inside and outside table and chairs, long drop and water. We had heard reviews from other people that the water was quite dirty so we brought all of our water in for the hike. While you’re there, open up the visitor’s book and have a read of all the awesome adventures and comments people have left behind, and leave you own, too. Lots of comments on the bird calls at night.
On that note, stay up a bit later to hear the bird calls. You can hear them all throughout the night and it’s just wonderful.
If you know you can push your children further, you can choose to go the more scenic way back along the Te Whara Track which will take 3 hours. It’ll take you to Ocean Beach, from Ocean Beach you’ll need to walk 10 minutes back to where you’ve parked the car.
The Peach Cove Track hut is a great overnight experience, have fun and make it fun for the kids and you’ll have a great time!
Nearby
Location
Park your car at Peach Cove Track carpark, off Ocean Beach Road. The track starts from there.
Photos
The weather was nice and sunny, making it hard to get up the energy to get a heavy backpack up a mountain. But it also meant that we didn’t need to worry about rain and that we could possibly go for a swim at the beach.
This was the first time that Ashton had to wear quite a big bag and it definitely took some getting used to.
Though it was uphill most of the way, it didn’t take long. Then there are about 800 steps down to the hut.
Lots of pot and pans, utensils, magazines, etc have been left behind. Also, while you’re there, have a read of the Visitors Book.
The Peach Cove Hut was nice and cute, and allowed 8 people to sleep there. Bunks are on one side and a bench with lots of pots and pans underneath. There were candle holders attached to the wall but the candles had pretty much run out but were a cute idea if anyone wants to bring some candles in. Outside, there’s a little deck with a table and chairs and picnic table.
As for water, there is a tank with a tap. There was also a sink but when we turned the tap on nothing came out. There’s a long drop a short distance away.
After dropping our bags we were keen on checking out the nearby beach, it was only 2 minutes away. Sam went for a swim while the rest of us explored the rocks, too cold for a dip. We went back to the hut where we met the family that we would be sharing the hut with. They had two young girls, about the same age as the boys. Instantly, the boys were off, climbing the roots of the tree on the rock – a great natural play area for the kids.
We heated up our dinner, chicken wraps, and enjoyed it on the outdoor deck. As the sun dipped lower, more bird sounds came out and this was really beautiful to hear.
The sky became dark, the boys headed out for a little night-time bird hunt – eager to spot something. I stayed back but it was funny hearing them and seeing their lights go this way and that – if I was a bird I certainly wouldn’t have been in the area. It’s a work in progress.
There are two beaches that you can walk to from the Peach Cove Hut. This was one of them.
Slipping into our sleeping bags, we were all ready for sleep. It was nice and cosy in the little hut on that warm spring night so we all took our jumpers off, bundled them up and used them as pillows instead. The bird sounds had stopped but in the middle of the night, we heard such loud and close bird calls, it was amazing! If we weren’t so tired we might have headed out for a little explore, we also didn’t want to disturb the family sleeping beneath us.
Morning came and it was time to head back up those 800 and something steps again. And then it was decision time. Would we go the way we came – also the easier way – or would we go the longer and more scenic way along the Te Whara Track and end up at Ocean Beach?
So, we choose the long way..
And the boys groaned about it, especially since they knew the other family at the hut was going the shorter way and wanted to walk with their new friends. But they had been doing so well we thought we might as well hit it.
The walk was harder than we thought, there was lots of twists and turns that it felt like we weren’t ever going to get there and when we didn’t have to walk over rocks it would be tree roots instead and then there were lots of steps, too. We were sure it was going to be just a downhill walk but it went up and then down and all over the place, we didn’t know if we were ever going to get there. But it was all worth it because of the amazing views on the way. The boys loved clambering along the rocks and actually appreciated the views of the ocean, too.
And we were so high up. Be careful with your children that are a little over eager especially by the cliff – there are no barriers and it goes straight down.
Though what you see if views, views. views. It was not like this the whole way and between the views was thick roots we had to step over and stairs. Totally worth it though wouldn’t you agree?
And then finally, the trees opened up and we could see Ocean Beach down below. Our toes were all mushed up in our shoes after going downhill for so long. But then we saw it. Down below in the crashing waves, there was a pod of dolphins. They were swimming with the people surfing the waves! We stopped caring how much our toes were damaged but went running down that hill, eager to get closer to the dolphins.
But by the time we made it down the hill they had gone in a different direction, heading out to sea instead. Disappointed, we were still happy to have made it. And Ocean Beach is one amazing beach – one I’d actually love to spend some more time at.
We dropped our bags, took off our shoes and felt the sand beneath our toes. Amazing.
Hungry, we then had some peanut butter sandwiches which tasted so good, they really are right, everything in the bush tastes amazing. Especially after a walk like that.
Our car was still about a 10-minute walk away, we’d parked at another carpark, but didn’t want to walk on the gravel road. So thankfully, Sam went ahead and brought the car to Ocean Beach, making it so much easier. The boys loved having a play at the beach and hopping along the rocks.
All in all, we’re pretty happy with our first overnight hike at the Peach Cove Hut. Though there was a bit of complaining from the boys, especially at the start as they were walking in the hot sun and with a big bag they weren’t used to, they did spectacularly well and I’m so proud of them for pulling this off. They were amazing. I think we packed well, as well. We had plenty of snacks along the way. Even though there was complaining at the start, Ashton ended up loving his new hiking bag and asked if he could take it to school the next day! Total turn around.
We’re also glad we went the long way around and did part of the Te Whara Track. The views were amaaazing. It was pretty cool, alright. If we’d gone back the way we’d come, it wouldn’t have been nowhere near as challenging but also nowhere near as rewarding. The boys – we all – were pushed past what we thought our limits were and the outcome was so rewarding.
Now, to tend to those blisters…
