Today we went for a scenic tour from Wellington towards the most southern point of the North Island: Cape Palliser. We stopped at the Putangirua Pinnacles along the way for a nice hike. We decided to stay the night at one of the doc campings but this trip can also easily be done in one day. If you are interested in one of the most beautiful, off the beaten track day tours from Wellington you should continue reading this article!
First stop: The Putangirua Pinnacles
The Putangirua Pinnacles are beautiful rock formations that for some people might look familiar from the Lord of the Rings. This location was used for filming the Dimholt Road in The Return of the King. From Wellington, it will take you approximately 2 hours by car.
Three routes will lead you to the Putangirua Pinnacles or the Pinnacles lookout. We decided to hike ‘Up the streambed’ which took us approximately 2 hours to return. From the carpark, we walked up through a bush and made our way down onto the Pinnacles. Walk up the riverbed and hop over the water flow to eventually reach the Pinnacles.
The hike was easy with only a small elevation. Remember that you have to cross a few river beds that might wed your shoes.
Second stop: Cape Palliser Lighthouse
From the pinnacles to the lighthouse it’s about a 30 min drive. The last part of the road towards the lighthouse is gravel. Once you reach the black sand beach don’t forget to stop at the seal colony! It’s a beautiful view over the bay with many seals playing around and is definitely worth stopping over for. This is one of the North Island’s largest seal colonies and if you’re lucky you might spot some pups.
After driving for 5 more minutes you will reach the lighthouse. The wooden staircase (253 steps) is a challenge, but the view is definitely worth it.
People often shoot directly from Wellington up to Taupo, but if you have the time I would say it’s a must-do day trip from Wellington. Beautiful walks, seals, a lighthouse and an unforgettable, rugged sea view made it definitely worth going. I hope you will enjoy this beautiful day tour from Wellington just as much as we did!
If you want to sleep at one of the most secluded doc campsites in New Zealand I highly recommend Corner Creek. You can easily book this campground via this link: doc.govt.nz
Interested in hiking in Fiordland? Check out this post: Routburn Track
