Marfells Beach is a long sandy beach with views over Clifford/Cloudy Bay to the distant North Island mountains. One of the best aspects of Marfells Beach is that it sports a beachside DOC campground—perfect for sunrises and long low-tide beach walks. Expect a FULL campground at Xmas/New Years.
Marfells Beach is probably the best beach walking anywhere near Blenheim and the NE bit of the South. Most every beach near Blenheim is pebbly and tough walking, but Marfells has long expanses of hard-packed sand, perfectly suited to a long contemplative beach walk. Better yet, Marfells beach has a perfect destination for this long beach walk—the South Island’s eastern-most lighthouse at Cape Campbell. The lighthouse is a long steady walk of 80 minutes (7km), one-way. Most of the walk is on solid packed sand—making for easy walking, but there are sections where you’ll have to clamber over some shoreline rocks. The tide is an issue here—a falling tide is the best time to make the long out/back to the lighthouse. The “pinch-point” rocks, the most difficult to get around as the tide rises, are those between Marfells and the nearby point—Mussell Point. Thus, since the trip will take 3 hours (minimum), it’s on the way back that a rising tide will bite you and make you pick your way high over some rough rocks to (hopefully) elude the waves. There is a DOC campground host on site at Marfells Beach who can fill you in on tide-timing details and route planning.
The lighthouse is a worthy goal (there is no public road access to it… you have to walk!) It was built in 1905 and a plaque details its history. Arriving at the site you’ll pass the oft-empty caretaker residence and then climb the 91 stairs to the sweeping view. Pack a lunch, drinks, binoculars, and your NZ atlas map… so you can both search for whale spout and identify all the bits of the North Island that are plain to see on a clear day.
HIKE: 20 minutes to Mussell Point—a good short walk where you’ll get at least a look to the far cape and lighthouse. From Mussell it’s a solid hour more…just you and the waves and the scenic cliffs.
