Sandfly Bay Track, Dunedin: Address, Phone Number, Sandfly Bay Track Reviews: 5/5
Sandfly Bay Track
Sandfly Bay Track
5
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1-2 hours
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Restaurants
3 within 5 kms
Attractions
25 within 10 kms
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5.0
64 reviews
Excellent
54
Very good
10
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Sus1952
Palmerston North, New Zealand2,053 contributions
Feb 2022
This is such a beautiful beach and we were very fortunate to see a number of sea lions sheltering in the sand.It was a sunny but extremely windy day when we visited. This made the waves 'dance' in a most interesting way. It is a bit of a scramble to access the beech but is well worth it. Definitely a 'must-see'.
Written 1 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Jensjourney
Auckland, New Zealand127 contributions
Jan 2022
We walked all the way to the end of the beach and back and it is a workout! Half the track is a huge sandhill. But such a stunning beach with sealions and if you were very lucky and went early or late you might see a yellow-eyed penguin
Written 30 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Janene M
20 contributions
Sep 2021
We were really fortunate to see the sea lions interact with each other and chase each other into the sea and how a second mail sea lion came to "protect" what seemed like his cubs, It was truly awesome
Written 7 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Naina-Damani
London, UK1,032 contributions
Feb 2020
We were driven around Sandfly Bay with magnificent views and we stopped at the viewpoint for wonderful experience.
Written 10 January 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Eelkins
Devonport, New Zealand137 contributions
Jan 2021 • Family
Very unexpectedly cool location. Saw several sea lions at either end of the beach. One didn’t seem to be too keen on us getting off the beach - which added to the adventure! Weather was beautiful. Amazing beach. Someone had managed to spot a penguin but we didn’t quite make it. DEFINITELY worth going to.
Written 5 January 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
zhuhai2007
Christchurch, New Zealand48,773 contributions
Oct 2020
An easy drive to the car park and short walk to see NZ fur seals sunning themselves on the sand at low tide.
Written 20 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Neil B
Auckland, New Zealand1,033 contributions
Oct 2020 • Couples
Fabulous windswept beach on the Otago Peninsula. Very steep decent, so the return climb is not to be underestimated!
We were lucky enough to find three sea lions basking in the sun on the beach right at the bottom of the access path.
It was blowing a gale, so the sand was being whipped around. Sand flies for sure.
We were lucky enough to find three sea lions basking in the sun on the beach right at the bottom of the access path.
It was blowing a gale, so the sand was being whipped around. Sand flies for sure.
Written 6 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Rantin rover
Biggar, UK8,443 contributions
Mar 2020
We prepared ourselves to be pestered by those well known little insects which bite however they didn't.
According to a local we met later at the Portobello Hotel, Sandfly Bay got its name from sand flying through the air in the breezy conditions rather than from encounters with the insects. We must have been lucky, we didn't get sand in our eyes either.
Forget the worries about insects and the breeze and prepare yourself for a test of legs and lungs!
There were around 20 parking spaces at the bottom of Seal Point Road and we had no trouble getting one at the time of our visit in March 2020, prior to Covid-19 lockdown.
Little did we realise, as we strolled down the path towards the Bay, that beyond the viewpoint overlooking the beach things become a little more adventurous. Once past an area at the start, where there are small sharp stones mixed with sand, it's probably best to go barefoot. As we descended the track through the dunes it became seriously steep and narrow and comparisons with a couloir in skiing terms sprung to mind! A bit of effort is needed and using your legs to slow yourself down in the deep sand starts to have an effect on the calf muscles, well it did for me. As we passed a couple of poor souls coming back up the route we exchanged a few laughs about how it was all worth the effort. The "path" traverses the dunes towards the bottom of this section before opening up a bit to reach the beach.
The effort was indeed worth it. The beach was pristine, the view out to sea was made interesting with rocky outcrops but most amazing was the light which was catching the water, sand, sky and clouds and almost painting a picture. It was a long stretch of sand and there were very few people there - our type of beach - so we walked its length. We were possibly trying to put off the inevitable, however we did have to climb back up the way we had come. I have never stopped so often to admire the view as I did going up that track through the dunes - even a colourful splash of Purple Ragwort warranted a closer look :-) As if to rub salt in the wounds a young guy overtook us at one point, hardly breaking a sweat.
If you plan to spend some time on the beach you would need to take what you need as there are no facilities. We spent about an hour or so going down, along the beach and back up to the car park. I spent a further 5 minutes towelling my brow.
We found out later that the Bay is apparently a good place to see sea lions and yellow-eyed penguins at dusk. However you would possibly need to tackle the Highcliff Road in darkness when returning and although the section back to Dunedin is not single track, it would not be my idea of fun. The penguins are getting more of a rare sight and on this trip to New Zealand we sadly didn't see any yellow-eyed ones at all in our travels so that would be a factor to consider too.
As mentioned, in our case a refreshing drink and some food was more in mind and the Portobello Hotel, about 15 minutes by car, proved a good choice.
According to a local we met later at the Portobello Hotel, Sandfly Bay got its name from sand flying through the air in the breezy conditions rather than from encounters with the insects. We must have been lucky, we didn't get sand in our eyes either.
Forget the worries about insects and the breeze and prepare yourself for a test of legs and lungs!
There were around 20 parking spaces at the bottom of Seal Point Road and we had no trouble getting one at the time of our visit in March 2020, prior to Covid-19 lockdown.
Little did we realise, as we strolled down the path towards the Bay, that beyond the viewpoint overlooking the beach things become a little more adventurous. Once past an area at the start, where there are small sharp stones mixed with sand, it's probably best to go barefoot. As we descended the track through the dunes it became seriously steep and narrow and comparisons with a couloir in skiing terms sprung to mind! A bit of effort is needed and using your legs to slow yourself down in the deep sand starts to have an effect on the calf muscles, well it did for me. As we passed a couple of poor souls coming back up the route we exchanged a few laughs about how it was all worth the effort. The "path" traverses the dunes towards the bottom of this section before opening up a bit to reach the beach.
The effort was indeed worth it. The beach was pristine, the view out to sea was made interesting with rocky outcrops but most amazing was the light which was catching the water, sand, sky and clouds and almost painting a picture. It was a long stretch of sand and there were very few people there - our type of beach - so we walked its length. We were possibly trying to put off the inevitable, however we did have to climb back up the way we had come. I have never stopped so often to admire the view as I did going up that track through the dunes - even a colourful splash of Purple Ragwort warranted a closer look :-) As if to rub salt in the wounds a young guy overtook us at one point, hardly breaking a sweat.
If you plan to spend some time on the beach you would need to take what you need as there are no facilities. We spent about an hour or so going down, along the beach and back up to the car park. I spent a further 5 minutes towelling my brow.
We found out later that the Bay is apparently a good place to see sea lions and yellow-eyed penguins at dusk. However you would possibly need to tackle the Highcliff Road in darkness when returning and although the section back to Dunedin is not single track, it would not be my idea of fun. The penguins are getting more of a rare sight and on this trip to New Zealand we sadly didn't see any yellow-eyed ones at all in our travels so that would be a factor to consider too.
As mentioned, in our case a refreshing drink and some food was more in mind and the Portobello Hotel, about 15 minutes by car, proved a good choice.
Written 5 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Roman W
Zürich107 contributions
Mar 2020
very nice beach (yes we were very lucky with the weather...) and encountered seals haveng their nap...fun to ride down the dunes , kids love to surf down the sandy slopes, and for the best experience, take off your shoes and feel the
Written 14 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Stephen K
Gold Coast, Australia10 contributions
Feb 2020
I toured Sandfly Bay lookout along with 20 others in our group - we got some really nice scenery photos
Written 3 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
timeisallwehave
Brisbane5 contributions
Hi can you catch an uber or taxi from the cruise ship terminal at Point Chalmers to Sandfly Bay?
pwpete
Bergkirchen, Germany117 contributions
It depends on your uber driver - maybe you'll catch one for the way to the beach, but don't let them drive away -you'll need one for the way back
Frequently Asked Questions about Sandfly Bay Track
- We recommend booking Sandfly Bay Track tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 2 Sandfly Bay Track tours on Tripadvisor
- Hotels near Sandfly Bay Track:
- (3.02 km) Camp Estate at Larnach Castle
- (4.79 km) Hereweka Garden Retreat
- (3.73 km) Larnach Castle Lodge
- (6.05 km) Portobello Motel Cottages
- (10.49 km) Beechwood Boutique Accommodation
- Restaurants near Sandfly Bay Track:
- (4.62 km) Glenfalloch Garden Cafe and Restaurant
- (6.06 km) 1908 Restaurant
- (11.44 km) No.7 Balmac
- (10.72 km) Etrusco at the Savoy
- (10.63 km) Prohibition Smokehouse