Paturau River enters the Tasman Sea on the northwest coast of the South Island, towards the end of Dry Road. There is a small hamlet, but otherwise, it is remote. If you cross the bridge onto Cowin Road, you will see a short access road to a reserve in front of the beach and river mouth.
The main features are the beach, the river estuary and the surrounding cliffs. The top of the beach is covered in a multitude of stones that have been polished and rounded over time. It is quite a delight if you like collecting rocks. The beach is sandy, but only as the tide goes out. Walking south along the beach, some very unusual white-to-yellowish rock formations also exist.
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