Stafford Bay, 5 - 7 August 2016
On Friday I walked over the saddle from Jackson Bay into the Smoothwater River and bivvied in the forest just back from Smoothwater Bay.
An early start on Saturday to catch the low tide at Smoothwater Bay, then along the coast to Homminy Cove and Stafford Hut.
On Sunday, back to Jackson Bay via the Stafford River, Stafford Saddle, Kakapo Creek and the Smoothwater River.
A few notes about the Coastal Route from Smootwhater Bay to Stafford Bay (with references to the map below):
The route is only doable at low tide, and with calm seas.
Point A (100m west of the end of the beech at Smoothwater Bay) is a rock buttress that plunges vertically into the sea. Going around it involves waiding thigh to waist deep water at low tide.
Point B is a sea cave into which waves get channelled with lots of energy, creating strong rips into and out of the cave. Time it carefully between the waves and move across quickly.
Point C is an easy scramble over a rocky point, but it would be dangerous at high tide or in heavy seas.
Trip map. 1 grid square = 1km. Left click on map then select "Sizes -> Original" in bottom right corner of screen to view full size.
Smoothwater River mouth. Smoothwater Bay, South Westland.
StaffordBay007Jackson BayNew ZealandOkahuSmoothwater BaySmoothwater RiverSouth WestlandTrampingWest CoastWestland
On the coastline between Smoothwater Bay and Homminy Cove.
StaffordBay024Homminy CoveJackson BayNew ZealandOkahuSmoothwater BaySouth WestlandTrampingWest CoastWestland
On the coastline between Smoothwater Bay and Homminy Cove.
StaffordBay027Homminy CoveJackson BayNew ZealandOkahuSmoothwater BaySouth WestlandTrampingWest CoastWestland
On the coastline between Smoothwater Bay and Homminy Cove.
StaffordBay028Homminy CoveJackson BayNew ZealandOkahuSmoothwater BaySouth WestlandTrampingWest CoastWestland
On the coastline between Smoothwater Bay and Homminy Cove.
StaffordBay034Homminy CoveJackson BayNew ZealandOkahuSmoothwater BaySouth WestlandTrampingWest CoastWestland
The northern coastline of the Cascade Plateau from Homminy Cove
StaffordBay060Cascade PlateauHomminy CoveJackson BayNew ZealandOkahuSmoothwater BaySouth WestlandTrampingWest CoastWestland
Pīngao / golden sand sedge (Ficinia spiralis). Homminy Cove, South Westland.
StaffordBay091Ficinia spiralisHomminy CoveJackson BayNew ZealandOkahuSouth WestlandTrampingWest CoastWestlandgolden sand sedgepikaopingaopīngao
The northern coastline of the Cascade Plateau from Homminy Cove
StaffordBay108Cascade PlateauHomminy CoveJackson BayNew ZealandOkahuSmoothwater BaySouth WestlandTrampingWest CoastWestland
On the coast west of Homminy Cove
StaffordBay163Homminy CoveJackson BayNew ZealandOkahuSmoothwater BaySouth WestlandTrampingWest CoastWestland
On the coast west of Homminy Cove
StaffordBay172Homminy CoveJackson BayNew ZealandOkahuSmoothwater BaySouth WestlandTrampingWest CoastWestland
On the coast west of Homminy Cove
StaffordBay194Homminy CoveJackson BayNew ZealandOkahuSmoothwater BaySouth WestlandTrampingWest CoastWestland
On the coast west of Homminy Cove
StaffordBay220Homminy CoveJackson BayNew ZealandOkahuSmoothwater BaySouth WestlandTrampingWest CoastWestland
On the coast west of Homminy Cove
StaffordBay226Homminy CoveJackson BayNew ZealandOkahuSmoothwater BaySouth WestlandTrampingWest CoastWestland
On the coast west of Homminy Cove
StaffordBay234Homminy CoveJackson BayNew ZealandOkahuSmoothwater BaySouth WestlandTrampingWest CoastWestland
On the coast west of Homminy Cove
StaffordBay281Homminy CoveJackson BayNew ZealandOkahuSmoothwater BaySouth WestlandTrampingWest CoastWestland
On the coast west of Homminy Cove
StaffordBay377Homminy CoveJackson BayNew ZealandOkahuSmoothwater BaySouth WestlandTrampingWest CoastWestland
On the coast west of Homminy Cove
StaffordBay506Homminy CoveJackson BayNew ZealandOkahuSouth WestlandTrampingWest CoastWestlandcoastcoastline
On the coast west of Homminy Cove
StaffordBay549Homminy CoveJackson BayNew ZealandOkahuSouth WestlandTrampingWest CoastWestlandcoastcoastline
On the coast west of Homminy Cove
StaffordBay649Homminy CoveJackson BayNew ZealandOkahuSouth WestlandTrampingWest CoastWestlandcoastcoastline
On the coast west of Homminy Cove
StaffordBay651Homminy CoveJackson BayNew ZealandOkahuSouth WestlandTrampingWest CoastWestlandcoastcoastline
On the coast west of Homminy Cove
StaffordBay663Homminy CoveJackson BayNew ZealandOkahuSouth WestlandTrampingWest CoastWestlandcoastcoastline
On the coast west of Homminy Cove
StaffordBay666Homminy CoveJackson BayNew ZealandOkahuSouth WestlandTrampingWest CoastWestlandcoastcoastline
On the coast west of Homminy Cove
StaffordBay684Homminy CoveJackson BayNew ZealandOkahuSouth WestlandTrampingWest CoastWestlandcoastcoastline
On the coast west of Homminy Cove
StaffordBay772Homminy CoveJackson BayNew ZealandOkahuSouth WestlandTrampingWest CoastWestlandcoastcoastline
On the coast west of Homminy Cove
StaffordBay785Homminy CoveJackson BayNew ZealandOkahuSouth WestlandTrampingWest CoastWestlandcoastcoastline
On the coast west of Homminy Cove
StaffordBay797Homminy CoveJackson BayNew ZealandOkahuSouth WestlandTrampingWest CoastWestlandcoastcoastline
On the coast west of Homminy Cove
StaffordBay801Homminy CoveJackson BayNew ZealandOkahuSouth WestlandTrampingWest CoastWestlandcoastcoastline
On the coast west of Homminy Cove
StaffordBay810Homminy CoveJackson BayNew ZealandOkahuSouth WestlandTrampingWest CoastWestlandcoastcoastline
On the coast west of Homminy Cove
StaffordBay822Homminy CoveJackson BayNew ZealandOkahuSouth WestlandTrampingWest CoastWestlandcoastcoastline
Stafford River mouth, Stafford Bay
StaffordBay832aJackson BayNew ZealandOkahuSouth WestlandStafford BayStafford RiverTrampingWest CoastWestland
Stafford Hut weather station, Stafford Bay.
StaffordBay845Jackson BayNew ZealandOkahuSouth WestlandStafford BayStafford HutTrampingWest CoastWestlandhut
Mt Campbell, Lopside Knob and Mt Diomede from the Haast Pass Highway.
StaffordBay853Haast Pass HighwayHaast RiverLopside KnobMount CampbellMount DiomedeNew ZealandSouth WestlandWest CoastWestland
Mt Campbell and Lopside Knob from the Haast Pass Highway.
StaffordBay854Haast Pass HighwayHaast RiverLopside KnobMount CampbellNew ZealandSouth WestlandWest CoastWestland
Reef starfish (Stichaster australis). Smoothwater Bay, South Westland.
StaffordBay010EchinodermFaunaJackson BayNew ZealandOkahuSmoothwater BaySouth WestlandStichaster australisTrampingWest CoastWestlandreef starfishstarfish
Sandhopper (Bellorchestia quoyana). Stafford Bay, South Westland.
StaffordBay623Bellorchestia quoyanaFaunaHomminy CoveJackson BayNew ZealandOkahuSouth WestlandStafford BayTalitridaeTrampingWest CoastWestlandsandhopper
Spotted top snail (Diloma aethiops). Smoothwater Bay, South Westland.
StaffordBay016Diloma aethiopsJackson BayNew ZealandOkahuSmoothwater BaySouth WestlandTrampingWest CoastWestlandspotted top snailtop snail
Ornate limpet (Cellana ornata). Smoothwater Bay, South Westland.
StaffordBay018Cellana ornataFaunaJackson BayNew ZealandOkahuSmoothwater BaySouth WestlandTrampingWest CoastWestlandlimpetornate limpet
Brown periwinkle (Austrolittorina cincta). Homminy Cove to Stafford Bay, South Westland.
StaffordBay641Austrolittorina cinctaFaunaHomminy CoveJackson BayNew ZealandOkahuSouth WestlandStafford BayTrampingWest CoastWestlandbrown periwinklegastropodmollusk
Squeaking longhorn (Hexatricha pulverulenta). Stafford Bay, South Westland.
StaffordBay400FaunaHexatricha pulverulentaHomminy CoveJackson BayNew ZealandOkahuSouth WestlandStafford BayTrampingWest CoastWestlandinsectsqueaking longhorn
Seashore earwig / matā (Anisolabis littorea). Stafford Bay, South Westland.
StaffordBay613Anisolabis littoreaFaunaHomminy CoveJackson BayNew ZealandOkahuSouth WestlandStafford BayTrampingWest CoastWestlandmatamatāseashore earwigshore earwig
Wolf spider (Anoteropsis litoralis). Stafford Bay, South Westland.
StaffordBay555Anoteropsis litoralisFaunaHomminy CoveJackson BayLycosidaeNew ZealandOkahuSouth WestlandStafford BayTrampingWest CoastWestlandarachnidspiderwolf spider
Garden orbweb spider (Eriophiora pustulosa). Stafford Bay, South Westland.
StaffordBay639Eriophora pustulosaFaunaHomminy CoveJackson BayNew ZealandOkahuSouth WestlandStafford BayTrampingWest CoastWestlandarachnidgarden orbweb spiderspider
Dave Cassaidy
on April 9, 2018Stunning photos. Thanks so much for sharing them. Definitely showcases how awesome that coastline is. I love that trip. How awesome to do in such nice calm conditions.
Rob Orchiston
on November 3, 2017stellar closeup and scenary photos danilo. i would love to do this trip oneday. a photographers paradise