Victory Beach is located on thePacific Ocean coast of theOtago Peninsula, in theSouth Island ofNew Zealand, 24 kilometres (15 mi) by road fromDunedin city centre and 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) from the nearby town ofPortobello. The longest beach on the peninsula, Victory Beach is located northeast of the entrance toPapanui Inlet and stretches for 3.2 kilometres (2.0 mi). The beach's name derives from the wreck of the SSVictory on the beach in 1861.
Victory Beach is approximately 3.2 kilometres (2.0 mi) long and faces close to due east. To the north it ends at the cliffs of Kaika Hill, which project out into the sea to form the headland of Te Wharekaiwi. To the south it peters out in atidal sandflat at the mouth ofPapanui Inlet.[1] The beach is backed by a series of highsand dunes, which protect the swampy area behind called Okia Flat.[2] The beach and headlands to the north and south form Wickliffe Bay, so named for the shipJohn Wickliffe, which – along with thePhilip Laing – brought the first permanent European settlers to Otago.
Okia Flat is dominated by two large outcrops of columnarbasalt known as the Pyramids; respectively the Large Pyramid or Pū-wheke-o-Kia, to the north, and the Little Pyramid or Te Matai o Kia to the south.[3][4] The Little Pyramid has a cave near its base, carved out by wave erosion.[5]
Access to the beach is via Dick Road,[1][6] a narrowmetalled road which begins at the meeting of Weir Road and Papanui Inlet Road. Both of these are most easily accessed fromPortobello on theOtago Harbour coast of the Peninsula – the former via Harington Point Road and the latter via Allans Beach Road and Sheppard Road. At the end of Dick Road, a 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) walking track leads to the beach past the Pyramids. A detour from the walking track leads up the Little Pyramid to a viewing site. The track thereafter splits to form a loop track to the beach with a network of further tracks over the dunes. Joins in the track are marked by yellow and black poles,[5] but these can be inconspicuous.[4]
Administered partly by the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust,[citation needed] the beach is a habitat for many rare species, notablyyellow-eyed penguins. Other notable birds found in the area includeroyal spoonbills, and the beach is located close to theroyal albatross breeding colony atTaiaroa Head. BothNew Zealand sea lions andNew Zealand fur seals are also found in the area.Skinks andgeckos are common in the grass of Okia Flat.[6] Though they are not frequent visitors, the Flat is reputed to be the most likely place in Dunedin forelephant seal sightings.[4]
The nativepīkao grass of the Flat has largely been displaced bymarram grass, as well as other introduced plants such aslupins and exotic grasses. Conservation efforts are under way to restore the pīkao. There are dense thickets oftree nettle, including some about the base of the Little Pyramid. Visitors are advised to avoid skin contact with this plant.[3]
The cave at the base of the Little Pyramid is a major archaeological site.Māorioral history states that it was used for shelter by a warrior recovering from his wounds. There is evidence of occupation from over 500 years ago, including middens, adzes, and bones ofmoa and humans.[5]
The steamship SSVictory departedPort Chalmers bound forMelbourne at 4:30 pm on 3 July 1861, carrying passengers, mail and cargo. It ran aground at the southern end of the beach (45°50′33″S170°43′56″E / 45.8425°S 170.7321°E /-45.8425; 170.7321[1]) at about 6 pm, seven minutes after chief mate George Hand took charge of the ship. Captain James Toogood ran the engines full astern for around 90 minutes, but the ship was embedded in 6–7 feet of sand, so the passengers and mail were unloaded. There were no deaths. Hand was found guilty of being intoxicated and in neglect of duty, and sentenced to serve three months hard labour on 20 July;[7] the court also criticised the captain.[8] On 24 July and the following day the ship's cargo, equipment and hull were auctioned off on the beach, recovering around £1,900 from an estimated value of £25,000.[9]
The beach was used as a location for the television movieOut of Ashes, starringElisabeth Lanz.[10]
Victory Beach is occasionally used bynaturists for nude sunbathing.[11] New Zealand has no official nude beaches, as public nudity is legal on any beach where it is "known to occur".[12]
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)45°49′39″S170°43′56″E / 45.8275°S 170.7322°E /-45.8275; 170.7322
