Barrytown Beach

A short 5 minute walk from Gumboot Paradise. Turn right onto Coast Road and left just past Golden Sands Road down the nicely mown grass track to the beach. Best to swim to the north beyond the rocks at mid to low tide. A great place to boogie board or surf when the waves are right.

Swimming Spots

Punakaiki River

My fav swimming spot where the river meets the sea. Float down the river and then be pushed up again by the incoming tide. Swim with the fishes or cross the river into the mysterious caves.

Pororari River

My second fav river swim. Walk for 30 minutes up the track to an amazing deep pool with gorgeous limestone rocks. Watch trout and the occasional kayaker paddle by.

These are just some of the amazing places to swim in the area. Please note that not all beaches are safe to swim. Other spots to explore are Cobden beach, Taylorville at the river and of course the Rec centre in Greymouth which has a heated swimming pool, spa, sauna and hydroslide.

Rapahoe Beach

14 minutes south by car, Rapahoe is a beautiful flat sandy beach to swim and walk where Davy Creek enters the sea. This is the only beach which sometimes has life guards stationed during summer. The Point Elizabeth track also starts here.