
Denniston: a real ghost-town experience
Take a detour back in time to Denniston, a near-deserted mining town on a bleak, windswept 600-metre plateau, home to the infamous 45-degree Denniston Incline.
Explore this spectacular walkway which features a seal colony, a lighthouse and also provides panoramic views of mountains and coastline.
A well-marked track along the coastline and over undulating farmland with an occasional stile over fences. It starts at Tauranga Bay car park and finishes at Cape Foulwind car park.
There are two sections on the walkway. You can take a short walk to the Tauranga Bay Seal Colony viewpoint and return to the Tauranga Bay car park, or continue on the walking track to the Cape Foulwind lighthouse car park.
From the Tauranga Bay car park at the southern end of the walkway, a fully accessible path brings you to a viewpoint overlooking the New Zealand fur seal/kekeno breeding colony. Kekeno can be seen here all year round, numbers changing depending on the season. The busiest time of year is the breeding season from November to January.
From the Seal Colony viewpoint, the walkway changes to a walking track, and continues northward along the coastal bluffs to pass by the Cape Foulwind lighthouse before reaching the northern end of the walkway and car park.
The walk is one way and you will need to arrange transport from Cape Foulwind car park or return along the same walkway.