What’s a visit to New Chums Beach without a quick climb up to admire it from above and snap some pics?
The walk to the lookout is only an extra 100 metres off the main track (1km each way) each way (info below), but be warned, it’s pretty steep! You’ll need to scramble over rocks, nothing too intense, but be prepared to use your hands to steady yourself. The views from the top are absolutely incredible and let you truly take in the beauty of this beach. Definitely worth the climb.
To get there, park at the New Chums Beach/Whangapoua Beach car park and walk along the beach towards the rocks. This spot is best visited at low tide, as the trail follows a rocky section before leading into a short bush track. It’s still accessible at high tide (so don’t stress if the tide comes in while you’re there), but you might get a bit wet, and it’s trickier to navigate, so aim for low tide if you can.