When you turn an easy day trip into a mint little overnighter camped up in a valley with no one around. Giant cliffs, amazing views - it can only be Ocean Beach in the Wairarapa!
A short, generally easy beach run from Onoke Spit up to Ocean Beach, at the southern end of the Wairarapa coast in the Wellington region, where Lake Onoke drains out to the sea. It's a straightforward drive along the sand with great views, particularly at sunset, but the setting is completely exposed to the elements. The sand can be soft in places, so recovery gear is advisable and a tyre let-down helps. The main feature to plan around is the lake mouth crossing, where the water depth can vary enormously depending on how the lake is flowing into the ocean. Always stop and check the crossing on foot before committing, as it can become impassably deep. The mouth is also a good spot for fishing. While it's a pleasant short outing, the full exposure means only the finest weather suits it for lingering or camping.
Tucked into Remutaka Forest Park, Corner Creek Campsite sits just a 5 minute walk from Palliser Bay on the Wellington coast. It's a scenic, sheltered spot that's well-liked by those who make the trip, with great coastal views and a number of tucked-away camping nooks among the trees. The ground here tends to be rocky, so flat pitches for ground tents can be limited. Facilities are basic but handy: non-powered tent sites, non-flush toilets, a shelter for cooking, and a fire pit for campfires (except during fire bans). Water can be drawn from the stream, though bringing your own in summer is a sensible idea. There's plenty to keep you busy — fishing, surfing, walking, hunting, and mountain biking are all on offer, and a couple of tracks head up the nearby river beds. Cell phone reception is available, though the tree cover can interfere with Starlink. A stunning, easygoing base near the wild Palliser coast.
On Wellington's rugged south coast, Ocean Beach is a fantastic drive on a fine day. The route is a mix of gravel, dirt and sand with a few small river crossings, leading out to a wild stretch of coastline with views that are hard to beat. It's popular for surfcasting and there's good camping at the beach, including Corner Creek Campsite, making it well worth the trip out. A locked gate at the far end means it's best treated as a return trip rather than a through-route. Heading west, a long-standing slip has narrowed the main track to a point where it's impassable to most vehicles, so plan your run accordingly. Take care on the beaches too, as the soft sand can easily bog a vehicle down. On road pressures the gravel sections are straightforward, but this is exposed coastal country that rewards a sensible, well-prepared approach.