Place
Overview
This is a blink‑and‑you’ll‑miss‑it detour with substance: a flat, grassy spur to the historic miners’ cemetery at Gillespies Beach. It’s about 0.17 miles total (270 m) out and back and takes roughly 5 minutes. Think “quiet moment of West Coast history,” not a scenic hike. The graves are a stark reminder of how tough life was during the gold rush era.
On clear days, the wider Gillespies Beach area offers glimpses toward the Southern Alps, but the cemetery track itself is about the history. Expect an easy, essentially flat stroll suitable for most visitors who can handle uneven grass underfoot.
Best Time to Walk
Year‑round. It’s so short that weather windows are easy to grab between showers. Pair it with other Gillespies Beach tracks if you want views or a longer outing. It’s usually quiet, so you can count on a contemplative stop even in busier seasons.
Getting There & Parking
Gillespies Beach is reached from Fox Glacier township via Cook Flat Road and then Gillespies Beach Road (about 21 km total). Roughly half of Gillespies Beach Road is narrow and unsealed; drive with care and avoid towing. The cemetery side track starts just before the signposted turnoff to the Gillespies Beach campsite and main car park.
Tips
- No dogs. This is an historic cemetery—be respectful and keep off gravesites.
- Weather shifts fast on the West Coast; bring warm, waterproof layers, sun protection, and insect repellent.
- The adjacent DOC campsite requires a booking if you plan to stay; it also has big mountain views on clear days.
If You Want More Nearby
Use the same car park to string together short, history‑rich walks:
- Suction Dredge Walk: 400 m loop, ~15 minutes, with interpretation panels and relics.
- Bucket Dredge Walk: 1.6 km, ~30 minutes return through old dredge tailings to a 1930s dredge site.
- Miners Tunnel Track: 3.6 km, ~1 hr 40 min return over an old glacier moraine to a miners’ tunnel and viewpoint.
- Galway Beach Track: 6.8 km, ~3 hr 30 min return through rimu forest to a remote beach that hosts a winter seal haul‑out; don’t disturb wildlife or get between seals and the sea.
Bottom line: as a standalone, it’s a two‑photo stop; as part of the Gillespies Beach network, it completes the story of the coast’s gold‑mining past.
Pros
- A meaningful dose of goldfield history with almost no time commitment
- Easy add‑on to a cluster of nearby relic walks from the same car park
Cons
- So short it won’t satisfy anyone seeking a real hike
- Access road is partly narrow and unsealed; not suitable for towing
Parking
Park at the Gillespies Beach main car park by the campsite; the cemetery side track begins just before the signposted turnoff.
Caution
Gillespies Beach Road is partly narrow and unsealed and not suitable for towing. Weather changes quickly—carry warm, waterproof layers, sun protection, and insect repellent. Respect this historic cemetery and keep off graves. No dogs.
