Turning off Route 6 and heading towards the water through native bush, this is an easy gravel run that breaks up a West Coast trip nicely. The surface is hard-packed with some loose rocks and ruts here and there, but the going stays gentle enough for a 2WD.

Around 5.6km in the track splits. Tunnel Creek Access carries on to the right while the Whataroa River track heads left. Keep right and it eventually dead-ends in a turnaround, where a foot path is signposted on towards the lagoon, though it isn't always obvious on the ground.

Sweet spot to pull over for lunch, with plenty of birdsong, a good chance of catching some wildlife, and notably few sandflies for the Coast.