Red Rocks Reserve (Pariwhero)

Getting there If you're taking public transport, the 29 Metlink bus line can get you near Ōwhiro Bay Parade (dropping you on Happy Valley Road). It's around a 15-minute walk along Ōwhiro Bay Parade to the Te Kopahou Visitor Centre and the start of the trail.

Drive to Ōwhiro Bay and park at the Te Kopahou Reserve visitor centre. The walking track follows the coast approximately 2 km to the red rocks area. Can I swim at Red Rocks? No — the south coast at Pariwhero is rocky and exposed with strong surge.

The fur seals are only supposed to be at Sinclair Heads from May – October and it's certainly true that there are more there during the colder months BUT you can see seals there year round – they can just be hard to spot as they're so camouflaged against the rocks.

Various Māori legends explain the red colouration: Maui stained the rocks with blood from his nose (blood which he used to bait his hook before catching Te Ika a Maui - the North Island); Kupe wounded himself on paua; Kupe's daughters, fearing for their father's safety on a long voyage, gashed themselves on the rocks.