Epic Travel → Asia & the South Pacific → New Zealand → West Coast → SS Lawrence Shipwreck

Location: Mokihinui area, West Coast, New Zealand

Time Required: 1 hour

Red Tape/Notes: Visit around low tide.

What’s Nearby?: Charming Creek Walkway, Chasm Creek Walkway

As I’ve mentioned previously, I like shipwrecks. Even ones where there isn’t much left, as is the case here. You may have more luck when you visit the site – since sands shift periodically, the amount of coverage of the wreck varies depending on your timing. I’ve seen images where much more of the wreck is visible than we had, but it’s so easy to visit this site that it’s worth a try regardless.

The SS Lawrence was built in 1884 and was purchased by the Mokihinui Coal Company in 1889. Only two years later, she damaged her propeller on a sandbar, and subsequently drifted into the beach, where she broke her back and remains to this day. The ribs of the boat are clearly visible, along with the massive boiler, and some other various wreckage around. The coolest thing about the stop may be the weird unmarked gravestone that marks the spot where you enter the beach – cross over the small ridge on a footpath near the gravestone and then head to your right to the wreck site.

Epic Travel → Asia & the South Pacific → New Zealand → West Coast → SS Lawrence Shipwreck