Southern Banks Peninsula - Te Oka, Tumbledown and Peraki Bays
To the south of the Banks Peninsular there are a number of bays with lots of opportunities to explore. Here you will find details of two excellent day trips from Te Oka Bay.
Quick Facts
Start / Finish - Te Oka Bay Road, Te Oka 7591
Distance - 6km
Time - 1-2 hours
Difficulty - Medium
Tides -
Cautions - The southern bays are very exposed to weather and swell coming from the south.
Key Planning Information
Wind
Swell
Parking at Te Oka Bay gives the easiest access to the water. As you come down the hill into Te Oka, park on the grass on the right hand side. There is a fence to lift your boats/boards over and a short walk to the water. You can also park at Tumbledown Bay, but the walk is considerably longer - consider using a trolly if you have a kayak!
The road to these bays is unsealed gravel track from shortly after Little River. While there is nothing technical about the driving, this is not for everyone! Especially the section from Tumbledown to Te Oka which is reasonably narrow.
Te Oka to Tumbledown Bay - 2.5km each way
To go from Te Oka to Tumbledown and back is a great, short paddle! Follow the cliffs out of the bay in Te Oka, keeping your eyes peeled for seals! As you leave the bay the views along the banks peninsula will open out in front of you. Until you're at the end of the bay, it's hard to get a sense of the scale of the cliffs. As you round the corner, you'll be under the high cliffs. It's worth taking your time to explore this dramatic scenery!
If the swell allows, head between the stack and the mainland just before you round the corner into Tumbledown Bay.
Te Oka to Peraki Bay - 8km each way
This is a longer and more adventurous journey then heading to Tumbledown Bay. As you head out of Te Oka bay, keep close to the rocks. There is plenty of rock hopping from the start. Around the headland is Te Kaio Bay, here there is a high rocky outcrop sticking out into the ocean. This is called Hells Gate and and has an excellent tunnel to paddle through!
As you paddle on, the first main bay you reach is Robin Hood Bay. If you need a stop this is an stunningly remote bay with no road access. Paddling on from here you'll be onto the next headland with more rock hopping opportunities. As you turn the corner into Peraki Bay keep close to the coastline and explore around all the corners - there are two large caves to paddle into but can be easily missed if you're too focused on getting to Peraki beach!
It's worth stopping at Peraki beach to check out the memorial to George Hempelman, a Prussian sailor who set up a whaling station here in 1837.
