Pūponga Hilltop Walk: Walking Guide, Time & Access

Route overview

A day walk with fantastic coastal views. Ending at the beautiful Wharariki Beach, the track travels past the Pillar Point Lighthouse and Cape Farewell.

This DOC directory entry covers Pūponga Hilltop Walk 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: 8 km one way
• Walking time: 3 – 5 hours 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

The full track runs from the car park at Triangle Flat to Wharariki Beach.

It is possible to shorten the walk by finishing at the Pillar Point Lighthouse car park or the Cape Farewell car park.

Arrange to be picked up from the Wharariki Road car park, or return via the same track or walk back along Wharariki Road.

Triangle Flat to Pillar Point Lighthouse

The track starts at Triangle Flat and climbs steadily through open farmland and stunted bush along the Old Man Range to Pillar Point Lighthouse (1–2 hr).

There are panoramic views the entire way. Behind the lighthouse are the ruins of one of New Zealand’s first radar stations, built during World War Two.

For a round trip, continue on the Pillar Point Lighthouse Track (a 4WD track) to Wharariki Road (30 min) and return to the car park via Wharariki Road (1 hr).

This section can be biked. It is a Grade 3 intermediate track.

Pillar Point Lighthouse to Cape Farewell

From Pillar Point Lighthouse, continue along the hilltop track over undulating open farmland to Cape Farewell.

The track is exposed to strong wind gusts and has steep drop offs. Stay well clear of the cliff edge and children should be supervised. The rewards are panoramic views of the rugged coastline.

If you are finishing at this point, it is 5 minutes' walk from the Cape Farewell viewing platform to Cape Farewell car park.

Cape Farewell to Wharariki Road end

From Cape Farewell, the track continues over open undulating farmland, with steep drop offs and panoramic views, to Wharariki Beach. You may spot seals at Wharariki Beach – keep at least 20m away to avoid disturbing them.

From the beach, it is a short walk on the Wharariki Beach Track to the end of Wharariki Road.

Getting there

From Collingwood, follow Collingwood-Puponga Main Road toward Pūponga. This road becomes Wharariki Road when it leaves the coast.

At the start of Wharariki Road, turn right onto Freeman Access Road and follow it to the Triangle Flat car park.

Know before you go

Steep drop-offs

This track has steep drop-offs. For your safety:

• stay well back from cliff edges

• follow marker poles

• supervise children closely

• be careful of wind gusts in exposed areas.

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.

Stay at least 20 m from seals

There are a group of seal pups that use pools on Wharariki Beach to play in. Please respect their home by following these rules:

• Keep a respectful distance (at least 20 metres)

• Do not follow or chase the seals.

It is an offense under the Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978 to harass seals. What to do if you find a seal.

Wharariki is not a swimming beach

There are strong currents and rips at Wharariki Beach, swimming not recommended.

Nature and conservation

HealthPost Nature Trust and Pest Free Onetahua are currently building a 4 km low predator fence across the top of the Old Man Range to protect 2000 ha of habitat. It will be complete by mid-2026.

The fence does not affect public access to the recreation reserve.

Several organisations including DOC, Manawhenua ki Mohua, Pest Free Onetahua and HealthPost Nature Trust are working collaboratively to enhance the unique ecosystem and look after the important native species found at Onetahua/Farewell Spit.

Conservation in Farewell Spit Nature Reserve and Pūponga Farm Park

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.