Boulder Beach
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45°53′49″S 170°36′45″E / 45.89694°S 170.61250°E
Boulder Beach is a rocky beach on the Pacific Ocean, located on the south side of Otago Peninsula, some 15.7 kilometres (9.8 mi) by road east from central Dunedin, New Zealand.[1] In addition to being relatively difficult to access physically due to the steepness of the surrounding country, it is closed to the public in the summer months (November–February) to protect the yellow-eyed penguins that nest on it.[2]
Highcliff Tracks
Boulder Beach is approximately 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) long, facing almost exactly due south. Near the eastern end a stretch of about 200 metres (660 ft) is sandy; the remainder is covered in boulders, hence the beach's name. To the west the beach ends with the rise of Highcliff, for which the neighbouring suburb of Dunedin is named; Highcliff becomes Pudneys Cliff further west, and ends at Māori Head, beyond which lie Smaills Beach and Tomahawk Beach. To the east Boulder Beach is truncated by a series of headlands which culminate in Seal Point, followed by Sandfly Bay. Northward the land rises steeply to Highcliff Hill, Patrons Hill, and Sandymount. A river called Robertsons Creek flows off Sandymount to cross Boulder Beach about halfway along its length.[1] Though the upper areas of the slopes are farmed, the lower parts near the beach itself are scrubby and partly forested.[3]
Access to Boulder Beach is via the Highcliff Track system.[2] Highcliff Track begins at the end of McMeeking Road, a side-street off Karetai Road, and follows the contours of the land to meet Braidwood Track, a pedestrian extension of Braidwood Road (itself accessible from Seal Point Road) at Robertsons Creek. Karetai Road and Seal Point Road both meet Highcliff Road at the top of the hill.[1] Boulder Beach Track itself follows Robertsons Creek down to the beach.[4] Alternative access to Highcliff Track can be reached via Buskin Track or Paradise Road Track, both leading down from Highcliff Road.[2][4]
