45°53′49″S170°36′45″E / 45.89694°S 170.61250°E /-45.89694; 170.61250
Boulder Beach is a rocky beach on the Pacific Ocean, located on the south side ofOtago Peninsula, some 15.7 kilometres (9.8 mi) by road east from centralDunedin,New Zealand.[1] In addition to being relatively difficult to access physically due to the steepness of the surrounding country, it is closed to the public in the summer months (November–February) to protect theyellow-eyed penguins that nest on it.[2]
Boulder Beach is approximately 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) long, facing almost exactly due south. Near the eastern end a stretch of about 200 metres (660 ft) is sandy; the remainder is covered in boulders, hence the beach's name. To the west the beach ends with the rise of Highcliff, for whichthe neighbouring suburb of Dunedin is named; Highcliff becomes Pudneys Cliff further west, and ends at Māori Head, beyond which lieSmaills Beach andTomahawk Beach. To the east Boulder Beach is truncated by a series of headlands which culminate in Seal Point, followed bySandfly Bay. Northward the land rises steeply to Highcliff Hill, Patrons Hill, andSandymount. A river called Robertsons Creek flows off Sandymount to cross Boulder Beach about halfway along its length.[1] Though the upper areas of the slopes are farmed, the lower parts near the beach itself are scrubby and partly forested.[3]
Access to Boulder Beach is via the Highcliff Track system.[2] Highcliff Track begins at the end of McMeeking Road, a side-street off Karetai Road, and follows the contours of the land to meet Braidwood Track, a pedestrian extension of Braidwood Road (itself accessible from Seal Point Road) at Robertsons Creek. Karetai Road and Seal Point Road both meet Highcliff Road at the top of the hill.[1] Boulder Beach Track itself follows Robertsons Creek down to the beach.[4] Alternative access to Highcliff Track can be reached via Buskin Track or Paradise Road Track, both leading down from Highcliff Road.[2][4]
Boulder Beach is often visited byNew Zealand fur seals andNew Zealand sea lions. The scrub adjacent to the beach is a favoured nesting spot foryellow-eyed penguins, and since these birds are very shy about nesting or breeding where they may be seen by humans,[5] Boulder Beach Track has been closed to the public during their breeding season since 2005,[6] initially from December to February, but more recently from November to February.[2]
Boulder Beach conservation is administered by theDepartment of Conservation (DOC) in two blocks: Boulder Beach / Highcliff Block and Boulder Beach / WWF Block.[7]
The Highcliff Track system is popular withtrampers, and considered moderately challenging.[2][3][4] Boulder Beach is considered a reasonably consistentsurfing beach, offering both left- and right-hand waves.[8] It is occasionally used bynaturists for nude sunbathing.[9] New Zealand has no official nude beaches, as public nudity is legal on any beach where it is "known to occur".[10]
