Cape Palliser Lighthouse Guide 2025: Insider Tips, Maps & Planning

Why Cape Palliser Lighthouse is a Fantastic Walk

The first time I climbed the staircase to Cape Palliser Lighthouse, I was racing the sunrise. My thermos of coffee had leaked, my fingers were freezing, and I could hear fur seals grumbling in the dark below. But as I took those final steps, the South Island loomed across the Cook Strait in a peach-coloured haze, and I remember thinking: This is why we hike.

Cape Palliser isn’t just the southernmost point of the North Island – it’s a place of dramatic contrasts. Towering cliffs meet moody skies. A candy-striped lighthouse clings defiantly to the edge of the world. And down below? One of the largest seal colonies in the country lounges like they own the place. Spoiler: they kind of do.

Whether you’re a lighthouse-lover, keen photographer, wildlife enthusiast, or simply chasing that “I’m at the end of the world” feeling – this short but memorable walk delivers.

“Cape Palliser is one of those places that makes you whisper ‘wow’ out loud – even if you’re walking alone.” – Sandra, Freewalks.nz Walking Specialist

🥾 Walk Overview

Location: Cape Palliser Lighthouse, Wairarapa
Nearest town: Ngawi (10 min), Martinborough (1 hr)
Distance: 1.2 km return (including stairs)
Time required: 20–40 minutes (plus time to soak in the view!)
Difficulty Level: Moderate (mainly due to the stairs)
Track type: Out-and-back
Dog-friendly: No – seals and protected wildlife present
Kid-friendly: Yes – for confident stair-climbers
Wheelchair accessible: No – stairs make it inaccessible
Toilets nearby: Yes – at the car park
Best time to go: Early morning for light and seals, or late arvo for sunset glow
Drones allowed: No – protected wildlife zone
Bikes allowed: No – stairs only

Map location and directions

🚗 Getting There

  • Car park location: End of Cape Palliser Road, just past Ngawi.
  • Parking availability: Around 20 spaces, unshaded, free. Can fill up in summer weekends.
  • Public transport options: None directly. Closest service is to Martinborough – best to self-drive.
  • Entry fees / permits required: None – it’s free access.
  • Signage to the start of the walk: Well signposted. Look for the red-and-white lighthouse in the sky and follow the stairs.

🥾 Track Details

  • Track surface: Gravel path to stairs, then concrete/metal steps (258 in total – yes, we counted!).
  • Track condition: Well maintained; can be slippery when wet.
  • Elevation gain / steep sections: Approx. 60m elevation up stairs. Steep but short.
  • Estimated pace or fitness level required: Moderate fitness – steady climb up, easier down.
  • Any alternative routes or extensions? You can explore further along the coastline or walk through Ngawi’s quirky tractor-lined beach.

🌿 What You'll See

  • Cape Palliser Lighthouse – built in 1897, still working!
  • Massive seal colony (especially June–January)
  • Rugged Wairarapa coastline views
  • On clear days, views of Kaikōura Ranges across Cook Strait
  • Weathered rock formations and dramatic cliffs
  • Wild surf and black sand beach

Walk Directions

  1. From the car park, follow the gravel path toward the base of the stairs.
  2. Climb the 258 steps (take breaks – it’s a leg burner).
  3. Reach the lighthouse platform – walk around the base for 360° views.
  4. Retrace your steps down to the car park.

🧽 Navigation & Safety

  • Phone reception: Patchy at best – don’t rely on data or calls.
  • Map needed? No – it’s a straightforward climb.
  • Common wrong turns? None – it’s a direct staircase walk.
  • Weather considerations: Can get very windy. Wear layers and secure hats or loose gear. Stairs can be slick after rain.

🧲 What to Bring

  • Recommended footwear: Trainers or hiking shoes – avoid jandals on the stairs.
  • Water needed: 1 small bottle is enough for most.
  • Snacks or lunch: Bring some to enjoy at the top or beachside picnic.
  • Sun and weather protection: Hat, sunscreen, windproof layer.
  • Insect repellent? Not necessary here.
  • Optional extras: Camera (views!), binoculars for spotting seabirds or South Island ranges, warm layer even in summer.

🍽 Nearby Facilities

  • Closest café or food option: The Land Girl Café, Pirinoa – 40 mins away. Otherwise, bring your own snacks.
  • Picnic tables or shelter: Picnic spot near car park, but no shelter.
  • Playgrounds or extras nearby: None – this is a wild and remote area.
  • Accommodation nearby: Martinborough has B&Bs, motels, and boutique stays. For campers, Te Awaiti Campsite is closest (DOC-managed).

📍 Useful Links

👤 My Experience on This Walk

  • Date of walk: September 2024
  • Weather and track conditions: Chilly with clear skies and a stiff wind. Stairs were dry but wind gusts made it a two-handrail job.
  • What I personally loved: The sheer drama of the location. It feels like the end of the earth – and those seals! One snorted at me from behind a rock, nearly made me drop my camera.
  • Any unexpected moments: I witnessed a wedding proposal up at the lighthouse. She said yes. We all cheered.


Tips I’d give based on doing it myself:

  • Bring a warm drink and go early for peace and solitude.
  • Don’t rush – the views are worth lingering for.
  • Keep an eye out for seals before stepping over rocks – they’re stealthy loungers.

“The stairs looked brutal, but the view at the top took my breath away more than the climb did!” Jules R., Wellington, walked Nov 2024

🖋️ Final Thoughts

  • What stood out the most: The raw, elemental beauty of Cape Palliser – where land ends, sea roars, and history beams from a red-and-white lighthouse.
  • Who I’d recommend this walk for: Families with older kids, photographers, day-trippers from Martinborough, anyone wanting a walk with maximum wow-factor for minimum distance.
  • Would I do it again? In a heartbeat. Especially at sunrise.
  • What I’d do differently next time: Pack breakfast, start earlier, and spend more time watching the seal pups tumbling in the surf.

Bonus Tips

  • Seal-watching tip: Stay 10m away – they bite if startled and blend into the rocks.
  • Photography tip: Visit in golden hour for soft light and stunning shadows.
  • History geek? There’s a hidden info board near the bottom explaining how the lighthouse was originally accessed by ladder! until the stairs were added in the 1980s.
  • Quirky sight: The tractors on Ngawi beach are legendary – every fisherman has one to haul their boats!

Have you climbed the Cape Palliser stairs yet? Leave us a comment about your experience, we’d love to hear from you.

🚘 Scenic Drive: Martinborough to Cape Palliser Lighthouse

Quick Facts

Start Point: Martinborough
Location: Cape Palliser Lighthouse
Distance: Approx. 70 km one way
Drive Time: 1 hr 30 mins (without stops)
Fuel & Food: Last stop: Pirinoa
Seals on the road? Absolutely – drive slow and keep your eyes peeled
Must-see stop: Ngawi Bay and its legendary fishing tractors
Road condition: Mostly sealed, narrow and exposed near the coast

Getting to Cape Palliser is more than just a drive — it’s a journey through one of New Zealand’s wildest coastal regions. From boutique vineyards to black sand beaches, rural heartland to seal-studded shorelines, this route has it all.

From Martinborough, follow signs to Lake Ferry, Pirinoa, and Cape Palliser. Just past Pirinoa, the landscape starts to feel remote — open skies, crashing waves, and long empty roads with the occasional sheep standing somewhere inconvenient. Soon you’ll be hugging the coastline with the ocean on one side and cliffs on the other.

“This is one of the most scenic drives in the North Island. We saw seals sunbathing metres from our car – and tractors parked on the beach like they were having a tea break!”
 – Graham T., Rotorua, drove April 2024

It’s wild, windswept, and unforgettable — just don’t forget your camera, a warm coat, and your sense of humour.

Photos of my walk

See more of my walks in Wellington