Iveagh Bay, Lake Brunner, West Coast

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Leave the coast behind for a while and head inland to Lake Brunner to find one of the best beaches on the West Coast! Iveagh Bay is a great spot to spend some time relaxing by the lake and is the starting point for some hikes (including Mount Te Kinga, the tallest peak you can climb around Lake Brunner). There’s also a camping ground.

Getting to Iveagh Bay

Iveagh Bay is a short drive from Moana, the biggest village on the shores of Lake Brunner. It’s around 30 minutes from Greymouth. If coming from the northern West Coast (Westport, Punakaiki etc.) and you’re heading through Arthur’s Pass you can take State Highway 6 via Lake Brunner (the turnoff is just north of Greymouth), which shouldn’t be too much longer than the main road through Greymouth (some of it is gravel though).

Iveagh Bay

When you arrive at Iveagh Bay you’ll see a small beach area in front of the camping ground. Walk a minute or two along the beach to the right and you’ll find quiet spots to relax.

The photo below was taken at the end of that beach — such a picturesque spot with the mountains in the background and… trees in the foreground. Our son loved playing with the sand / stones there!

Walking Along the Beach

I was curious where you’d end up if you turned left at the main car park area. I scampered around the narrow beach parts and navigated around some fallen trees and found some picturesque sections of beach. You can also walk some of the forest track that leads to the trail up Mt Te Kinga.

READ MORE: West Coast Travel Guide: Tips For a Fun Trip to the West Coast

Other Things to Do in Iveagh Bay

You could do some boating, swimming or fishing or just relax by water. If staying at Iveagh Bay you can explore the rest of Lake Brunner (Carew Falls is a good one to visit). Spend some time in Moana too — it’s a cute little town with great views of the lake. I’ll be writing a post about Moana soon so stay tuned for that!

Are you travelling to the West Coast? Did we convince you to visit Iveagh Bay? Let us know in the comments below!

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Jon Algie

I'm a South Island local -- born in Timaru and raised in Dunedin. I left the island in 2006 and returned 10 years later. Having seen a good chunk of the world I realised how special this place is -- the most beautiful island in the world! Seven years (and almost 400 posts) later I'm still helping locals and tourists alike plan their trips around the South Island.