Castle Point Lighthouse Walk

1.30 kms • 1 Hour return walk on an excellent track • Easy • 1 hour drive from Masterton in the Wellington Region.

1 April 2021
Walked by: Sandra from Freewalks

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Drive to the end of the road, park your car, then follow the wooden walkway towards Castle Point Lighthouse.

Enjoy incredible views along the way. Even at full tide, you can still walk without getting your feet wet. Walk (carefully) around the cliff edge and admire the waves crashing below you. If you look back to the big hill you’ll see the Castlepoint Deliverance Cove Track winding its way to the top of Castle Rock.

Quick Facts about this walk

Location: East coast North Island, Wairarapa
Distance: 1.30 kms
Time needed: 1 Hour
Difficulty: Easy
Wheelchair Access: No
Route: Round Trip
Elevation: 33m
Wet Feet: No
Toilets: Yes
Dogs: On a leash only
Mobile Coverage: Yes
Last Updated: November, 2019

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Summary points about this walk

Walk Highlights

Great views of the coast line and far out to sea. Good fishing in the area.

Track Quality

Really good with a lovely wooden walkway to use at full tide.

Hazards

Cliffs surround the lighthouse

Transport

You'll need to make your own way to Castlepoint village.

Water

at Castlepoint village

Driving Instructions

North of Masterton shopping centre on the main highway 2. Just over the bridge is the turn off to Castlepoint. (64ks). The road is slow and twisty, farm trucks also use the road. And on occasion, stock will be running freely along to road, so drive with caution.

Shops & Restaurants Nearby

Only one shop in Castlepoint the Castlepoint Store, you'll get fresh fish and chips there.

Area & Trail History

The light shone for the first time in 1913, it stands 52m above sea level. While its 23m frame was being built in the Wellington foundry of S. Luke and Co during 1911-1912, the lighthouse frame consists of 10 1.8m-tall rings, decreasing in diameter from 5.4m at its base to 3m at its top, above which is the light-tower. It was the tallest lighthouse in the North Island and the third tallest in New Zealand. In 1922 the principal lighthouse keeper was killed after falling from the tower while fixing telephone wires. His ghost was said to live on in the (now demolished) principal keeper’s house at Castle Point station for years afterwards. It became known as the “holiday light” as children could attend the nearby school, the shops provided groceries, and there was even a hotel where friends and family could stay.

Read more about the Castle Point Lighthouse history here.

Map of Castlepoint Lighthouse walk location

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Points of interest along the walk

Point 1: Castle Point Lighthouse Walk – Start

Drive to the end of the road, past the Castlepoint Store and the public toilets. You can’t miss the wooden walkway over to the lighthouse. At low tide you can walk on the sand without getting your feet wet. As you walk over the bridge, look over to your right, you will see all the fishing boats parked up on the sand waiting for high tide, go over and have a look, see how they push a 10 tone boat into the surf. The walk is very easy; the path is sealed and concerted all the way to Castle Point Lighthouse. If you are staying the night, walk to the lighthouse after sun set, you will not need a torch, but take a pair of sun glasses she is one, strong light.

Point 2: Castle Point Lighthouse Walk - Views from the top

Fantastic views from the top, look over to the 162m Castle Rock, this is where the Castlepoint Deliverance Cove Track walk goes. The views are even better from that viewpoint. The views from Castle Point Lighthouse are still stunning. To the right, you can see Castlepoint Store and the caravan park and Castle Point station which owns most of the land you can see, including the caravan park.

Point 3: Castle Point Lighthouse Walk - Cliff edge

If you consider yourself a fisher person, take a fishing rod with you, you will also need a net to pull the 12kg snapper up the 30m cliff face! You can walk around the edge of the rock, but be very careful, there is no fence. If you survive the fall the waves will crush you on the rock face, no matter how good a swimmer you are.