Bull Creek - East coast Otago, New Zealand
One of the highlights of our 2010/11 summer holiday was a day visit to the delightful little settlement of Bull Creek, a short drive to the coast from where we were staying in Milton (about 35km south of Dunedin). The locals have cooperated with the council and the Department of Conservation to protect and improve a little patch of coastal rata forest, and the beaches and rock pools are amazing. The following article by
David Thomson, Otago Daily Times, sums it up nicely:
Spectacular surf, rock pools for the kids to explore, a sandy beach to paddle in, picnic spots and a peaceful valley walk through a forest of southern rata can all be found within an easy hour's drive of Dunedin at Bull Creek.
"Private Property: You are welcome if you treat this area with respect," reads the sign as you arrive at this spot, which is one of Coastal Otago's best-kept secrets.
That sign embodies the spirit of Bull Creek, where the families that own the locality's 20-odd holiday homes have worked together to provide amenities that all can enjoy. These include public toilets, changing rooms for those keen to spend time on the beach, and a charming bush walk. The local community has also engaged in pest control and a significant replanting of native plants, especially rata.
Access to the beach and bush is gained by driving along a gravel track past the cribs, which are for the most part traditional Kiwi holiday homes, as opposed to the sprawling mansions that dominate so much of our hinterland. From the community domain, a trail to your left leads to the bush, and another on the right heads for the beach.
The beach offers crashing surf on one side, a more gentle beach on the other, and rocky outcrops between. Swimming here requires considerable respect for the conditions, but exploring the rock pools and paddling are easy options. Watch out for seals though.
At low tide it is also possible to cross the mouth of Bull Creek and explore further along the coast, or to walk up the long, sandy and picturesque inlet to join the start of the bush track. The hour-long bush walk crosses several footbridges as it winds into the Bull Creek Scenic Reserve.
Bull Creek, incidentally, is said to take its name from one or more bulls that frequented the area in the early days of European settlement.
Evidence of earlier Maori presence was discovered at nearby Watsons Beach several years ago.
Bull Creek - East coast Otago, New Zealand
One of the highlights of our 2010/11 summer holiday was a day visit to the delightful little settlement of Bull Creek, a short drive to the coast from where we were staying in Milton (about 35km south of Dunedin). The locals have cooperated with the council and the Department of Conservation to protect and improve a little patch of coastal rata forest, and the beaches and rock pools are amazing. The following article by
David Thomson, Otago Daily Times, sums it up nicely:
Spectacular surf, rock pools for the kids to explore, a sandy beach to paddle in, picnic spots and a peaceful valley walk through a forest of southern rata can all be found within an easy hour's drive of Dunedin at Bull Creek.
"Private Property: You are welcome if you treat this area with respect," reads the sign as you arrive at this spot, which is one of Coastal Otago's best-kept secrets.
That sign embodies the spirit of Bull Creek, where the families that own the locality's 20-odd holiday homes have worked together to provide amenities that all can enjoy. These include public toilets, changing rooms for those keen to spend time on the beach, and a charming bush walk. The local community has also engaged in pest control and a significant replanting of native plants, especially rata.
Access to the beach and bush is gained by driving along a gravel track past the cribs, which are for the most part traditional Kiwi holiday homes, as opposed to the sprawling mansions that dominate so much of our hinterland. From the community domain, a trail to your left leads to the bush, and another on the right heads for the beach.
The beach offers crashing surf on one side, a more gentle beach on the other, and rocky outcrops between. Swimming here requires considerable respect for the conditions, but exploring the rock pools and paddling are easy options. Watch out for seals though.
At low tide it is also possible to cross the mouth of Bull Creek and explore further along the coast, or to walk up the long, sandy and picturesque inlet to join the start of the bush track. The hour-long bush walk crosses several footbridges as it winds into the Bull Creek Scenic Reserve.
Bull Creek, incidentally, is said to take its name from one or more bulls that frequented the area in the early days of European settlement.
Evidence of earlier Maori presence was discovered at nearby Watsons Beach several years ago.