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Location & access
DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route. Check the official route directions before travel.
Official location informationLocation source
DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route.
Reference point: -41.34577, 175.82636. WGS84 coordinates retained at the official service's returned precision; decimal resolution is not survey accuracy. Source positional accuracy is not specified.
DOC Maps walking and tramping reference point (WGS84), exact official-page GUID / Department of Conservation. Checked 2026-10-12.
Key facts
- Distance
- Not confirmed on the checked DOC page; see individual route sections
- Walking time
- 5 - 6 hr return
- Track grade
- Expert
- Location
- Honeycomb Rock area
- Seasonal restrictions
- Closed for lambing during September and October
- 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
Honeycomb Rock is a spectacular outcrop on the Wairarapa coast, so named because of the cell-like weathering pattern which gives the rock a honeycomb appearance.
This DOC directory entry covers Honeycomb Rock Walkway in Wellington, within Honeycomb Rock area. Where DOC groups several walks, times and grades refer to the listed options rather than a single continuous itinerary.
Distance, time and grade
- Distance: Not confirmed on the checked DOC page; see individual route sections
- Walking time: 5 - 6 hr return
- DOC grade: Expert
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.
Seasonal restrictions
Closed for lambing during September and October
Dog access
No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Description
Honeycomb Rock is a spectacular outcrop on the Wairarapa coast, so named because of the remarkable cell-like weathering pattern which gives the rock a honeycomb appearance.
Honeycomb Rock Walkway is entirely within the privately-owned Glenburn Station. The track is flat and easily negotiated, following the coastline across farmland. Shallow bays offer good swimming in calm weather.
Getting there
Glenburn Station, the start of the walkway, is about 60 km east of Masterton. Follow the Gladstone Road to the Te Wharau Road junction about 1 km north of Gladstone. The road is signposted to Glenburn from here and passes through Te Wharau Settlement.
Know before you go
The walkway is entirely within private property, keep to the marked track.
Do not interfere with or disturb stock.
There are no toilets, rubbish bins or suitable sources of drinking water.
The track can be muddy in places so suitable footwear should be worn.
Nature and conservation
A fur sea colony is located about halfway along the walk, on rocks adjacent to the Honeycomb light. Numbers peak during winter when they gather to rest and feed.
History and culture
A few metres to the south of the rock is the wreck of the Tuvalu, a Fijian trader, which ran aground here on its maiden voyage on 11 January, 1967.
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.
