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Key facts
- Distance
- 200 m one way
- Walking time
- 5 min one way
- Track grade
- Advanced
- Location
- Farewell Spit Nature Reserve and Pūponga Farm Park
- Dog access
- No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Checked against official sources on 8 October 2026. Rules and conditions are set by Department of Conservation — confirm with them before you go.
Route overview
A short track to a lookout with spectacular views.
This DOC directory entry covers Cape Farewell Track in Tasman, within Farewell Spit Nature Reserve and Pūponga Farm Park. Where DOC groups several walks, times and grades refer to the listed options rather than a single continuous itinerary.
Distance, time and grade
- Distance: 200 m one way
- Walking time: 5 min one way
- DOC grade: Advanced
Access and alerts
Source checked 2026-10-08. This page is a dated snapshot, not a live track-status report. Check current DOC route information immediately before travelling. An absence of listed alerts does not establish that a route is open.
Dog access
No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Description
This track starts from the Cape Farewell road end car park, off of Wharariki Road. A short walk takes you to a lookout over Cape Farewell.
Cape Farewell is the northernmost point of the South Island.
At the end of the track there is a lookout viewing platform with safety fencing. There are unfenced cliff faces beyond the lookout.
Getting there
From Collingwood, follow the Collingwood-Puponga Main Road toward Pūponga. This road becomes Wharariki Road when it leaves the coast.
Follow Wharariki Road and then turn right down a sign posted road to the Cape Farewell road end car park.
Know before you go
Unfenced cliffs
There are unfenced cliff faces beyond the lookout viewing platform. Keep your children by your side at all times. Take all videos and photos from behind the safety barrier.
Strong winds
The area experiences strong wind gusts.
General visiting rules
No dogs or other pets are allowed.
Firearms are prohibited.
Camping is not permitted on both Farewell Spit Nature Reserve and the Pūponga Farm Park.
Take your rubbish away with you when you leave.
Do not light fires or smoke.
No fishing in the nature reserve.
Visiting Pūponga Farm Park
Seemingly harmless acts, such as leaving a gate open or taking a pet for a walk can have drastic consequences for farm management. Follow these rules when visiting the farm:
Cars and motorcycles must stay on formed roads and car park areas.
Leave gates as you find them; don't be tempted to close an open gate - it's open for a purpose!
Hay and bull paddocks, and the airstrip (during operations), are off limits to visitors.
Livestock, birds and plants are not to be disturbed or interfered with.
At times the farm may be closed to the public. This is usually during lambing or calving, or when the fire risk is extreme. During such times, visitors are asked to keep to roads and car parks.
Sources and reuse
Route descriptions and practical information reproduced from the Department of Conservation, Crown copyright, under CC BY 4.0, subject to DOC's copyright policy. Formatting has been adapted, including flattening page sections; follow the original DOC page for maps, section-specific layout, current notices and linked documents. Outdoor Next is independent and is not endorsed by DOC.
The accompanying photograph is a licensed general hiking illustration, not a photograph of this route.
