Victory Beach

To the north it ends at the cliffs of Kaika Hill, which project out into the sea to form the headland of Te Wharekaiwi.

[1] The beach is backed by a series of high sand dunes, which protect the swampy area behind called Okia Flat.

At the end of Dick Road, a 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) walking track leads to the beach past the Pyramids.

[5] The steamship SS Victory departed Port Chalmers bound for Melbourne at 4:30 pm on 3 July 1861, carrying passengers, mail and cargo.

It ran aground at the southern end of the beach (45°50′33″S 170°43′56″E / 45.8425°S 170.7321°E / -45.8425; 170.7321[1]) at about 6 pm, seven minutes after chief mate George Hand took charge of the ship.

Captain James Toogood ran the engines full astern for around 90 minutes, but the ship was embedded in 6–7 feet of sand, so the passengers and mail were unloaded.

Hand was found guilty of being intoxicated and in neglect of duty, and sentenced to serve three months hard labour on 20 July;[7] the court also criticised the captain.