Cape Palliser Seal Colony and...

Cape Palliser Seal Colony and Lighthouse Walk

Cape Palliser Seal Colony and Lighthouse Walk

47 Rankers Reviews

38 Face-to-Face

9 Seal Watching

1 Ngawi

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Marios Gavalas

Author And Researcher

Nau mai, haere mai

Nau mai, haere mai

I'm Marios, delivering the best of Aotearoa's nature walks to your device.

I've personally walked hundreds of New Zealand's tracks and spent months in libraries uncovering interesting information on New Zealand/Aotearoa. And you'll find a slice of that research on this page - enjoy!

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Cape Palliser Lighthouse
This will test your fitness 250 steps

Information

Cape Palliser Seal Colony and Lighthouse Walk

1 km return | 20 minutes return

Just getting to Cape Palliser is dramatically scenic. As you near the destination the road follows the edge of the coast, providing unstoppable views of the Bay.

The climb to the Cape Palliser lighthouse will test your fitness. There are 250 steps to climb...counted them.

During the 19th century, there were about 20 ships wrecked in or near Palliser Bay, once at the top its easy to see why.

The fur seal colony here is the North Island's largest.

Walking Track

Access

3.6 km after Pirinoa, turn left into Whangaimoana Road (signposted Ngawi and Cape Palliser). The road is later renamed Whatarangi Road and leads 37 km to Cape Palliser. The road is both sealed and unsealed and towards the cape is severely threatened by active erosion. There is a gravel parking area near the base of the steps to the lighthouse.

Track

There are 258 steps to climb to reach the lighthouse. These replaced a steep slippery rocky path with a winch to the top, used during the times when the lighthouse was manned.

Geology

The drive to Cape Palliser involves witnessing the ferocious power of the ocean at close quarters. The fearsome swells sometimes struggle to make it to shore, hindered by the offshore winds that peel off plumes of spray. You could be forgiven for thinking the waves are on fire. Explosions of foam greet the arrival of waves on the offshore stacks and enormous breakers crash up the black shingle beaches and retreat in a chaotic maelstrom of white water. The sounds of the wind and foaming seas mingle in a raw orchestrated duet that sums up this stretch of coast.

Fauna

The North Island’s only colony of breeding fur seals are resident at Cape Palliser. They sunbathe and rest on the rocks between feeding at sea. Keep landward side of the seals and keep dogs under control.

Seals are known as pinnipeds (wing footed) because of their webbed flippers (replacing paws or feet). Streamlined bodies and blubber keep them warm, while their ears and nose flaps close when diving. They feed on squid, octopus and hoki.

European History

The Cape was named by Captain Cook after his mentor Rear Admiral Sir Hugh Palliser. Cook’s entry into his journal reads “..the land ends in appoint and is the southernmost land of Aeheinomouwe which I have named Cape Palliser in honour of my friend Captain Palliser…”

The 18-metre lighthouse tower was established in 1897, following the recommendation of the Shipmaster’s Association, who thought there a dire need for such a facility. At that time there were 12 other marine lights in New Zealand. The materials for construction, including the cast iron sections (later bolted together) were brought ashore by lighthouse tenders (not an easy task given the ferocity of the swells). A solid concrete pad was laid, then the other materials winched up a tramway to the top.

Colza oil (extracted from rape seed) originally powered the light until 1900 when paraffin was used. In 1954 it was converted from oil to diesel generated electricity and then in 1967 converted to mains electricity. The light is 78 metres above sea level, flashes twice every 20 seconds and can be seen for 26 nautical miles (48 km). The 1000 Watt lamp is automated, and controlled and monitored by a computer in Wellington.

Children of early lighthouse keepers were educated by correspondence and lived at the lighthouse for 11 months of the year. They baked their own bread and ate a lot of fish. Keeper’s families had a strict code of behaviour, a response by authorities to the episodes of drunkenness exhibited by some employees to pass the time in lonely exposed places.

Feature

5km before the Cape Palliser is the small fishing settlement of Ngawi. You can stop and look at the line of fishing craft above the beach. Tractors aren’t sufficient in these parts, so bulldozers in all manner of shapes, colour and states of disrepair are needed to heave the boats up the steeply shelving black shingle beaches.

Details

Feature Value Info

Organisation

DOC Wairarapa

Central government organisation

Location

North IslandWairarapaNgawi

Categories

  • Activity__walking_and_trekkingWalking
  • Activity__seal_watchingSeal Watching
  • Free

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-41.6106936687525

175.275192260742

Latitude
-41.6106936687525
Longitude
175.275192260742

Nearby

Reviews

    • Really beautiful landscape, still wild.
    • We were very lucky.
    • Long drive out but beautiful coastal drive.
    • Absolutely lovely place.
    • 30Sept18.
    Rating Count Percentage
    10/10 26
    55%
    9/10 13
    28%
    8/10 7
    15%
    7/10 1
    2%
    6/10 0
    0%
    5/10 0
    0%
    4/10 0
    0%
    3/10 0
    0%
    2/10 0
    0%
    1/10 0
    0%
  • 5.0/5

    I was there for the sunrise and even if I couldn't see the sun appear from the sea horizon, that was a great show.

    Hi,

    I was alone to watch the top of the waves illuminated by the orange sun.

    I edited a short video about the beauty I saw.

    Cheers,

    Reviewed over 5 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    30Sept18.

    The lighthouse is good. How many steps! A lot and steep and it was very windy when we were there. The gravel road is actually quite good. We made the mistake of walking about 3kms to get there. On the plus side we did see a lot of seals.

    Reviewed about 6 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Long drive out but beautiful coastal drive.

    Lighthouse was pretty and the fur seals are great fun to watch!

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

  • 4.5/5

    Driving the last bit of Cape Palliser Road there are plenty of opportunity to see seals!

    Lovely animals not afraid of us and beautiful landscapes as well.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

  • 4.5/5

    Really beautiful landscape, still wild.

    Lots of seals. You can also find some Paua on the rocks!

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in December 2016

  • 5.0/5

    See a huge seal colony at Cape Palliser, it is just amazing to watch the bulls, the cows and their babies!

    A nice lighthouse, amazing rock formations, nice beaches and lovely nature!

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in December 2016

  • 5.0/5

    A cool place to go see if you are a tourist.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in November 2016

  • 5.0/5

    Absolutely lovely place.

    The coast is wonderful. The view from the lighthouse is stunning. There are 248 stairs that lead to the lighthouse. Unfortunately no seals whatsoever at this time of year (December).

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Nice to be that near to seals!

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016

  • 5.0/5

    We have never seen seals in the wild, lots of small seals, they play together.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016

  • 4.5/5

    A lot of nice walks and an awesome scenery.

    Nice view and seals are next to the road.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016

  • 5.0/5

    I was there for the sunrise and even if I couldn't see the sun appear from the sea horizon, that was a great show.

    Hi,

    I was alone to watch the top of the waves illuminated by the orange sun.

    I edited a short video about the beauty I saw.

    Cheers,

    Reviewed over 5 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    30Sept18.

    The lighthouse is good. How many steps! A lot and steep and it was very windy when we were there. The gravel road is actually quite good. We made the mistake of walking about 3kms to get there. On the plus side we did see a lot of seals.

    Reviewed about 6 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Long drive out but beautiful coastal drive.

    Lighthouse was pretty and the fur seals are great fun to watch!

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

  • 4.5/5

    Driving the last bit of Cape Palliser Road there are plenty of opportunity to see seals!

    Lovely animals not afraid of us and beautiful landscapes as well.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

  • 5.0/5

    See a huge seal colony at Cape Palliser, it is just amazing to watch the bulls, the cows and their babies!

    A nice lighthouse, amazing rock formations, nice beaches and lovely nature!

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in December 2016

  • 4.5/5

    Really beautiful landscape, still wild.

    Lots of seals. You can also find some Paua on the rocks!

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in December 2016

  • 5.0/5

    A cool place to go see if you are a tourist.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in November 2016

  • 5.0/5

    Absolutely lovely place.

    The coast is wonderful. The view from the lighthouse is stunning. There are 248 stairs that lead to the lighthouse. Unfortunately no seals whatsoever at this time of year (December).

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    A lot of nice walks and an awesome scenery.

    Nice view and seals are next to the road.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016

  • 4.0/5

    Nice to be that near to seals!

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016

  • 5.0/5

    We have never seen seals in the wild, lots of small seals, they play together.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016

  • 5.0/5

    Lots of small seals, really nice and cute.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016

  • 4.5/5

    This place is very beautiful and there is a colony of seals which was very amazing.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

  • 4.0/5

    Long gravel road to the lighthouse but the view and the beach near the lighthouse are awesome!

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016

  • 5.0/5

    We were very lucky.

    Weather was brilliant, seals were everywhere and we were able to almost touch them! Walk to the lighthouse is a great idea, especially if you want to take breathtaking pictures!

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016

  • 4.5/5

    We saw a lot of freedom seals.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016

  • 5.0/5

    Huge seal colony with babies.

    You can see them in their natural habitat. Very cut. Free.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016

  • 4.5/5

    Incredible place in the most southerly point of the North Island.

    No people around, just the sound of the wind and waves. And then the biggest colony of sea lions there are in the North Island.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in October 2015

  • 5.0/5

    Cape Palliser with lots of babies and seals playing in the water, jumping on rocks.

    That was so good to see them wild and free.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in December 2015

  • 5.0/5

    The 5 hours I have spent here made it one of the most memorable days of my life.

    The whole area is 10/10 beautiful and that is only a bonus to the main attraction of watching seals. Went there in March and the place was full of very young seals playing with each other. Couldn't get any better.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    The stairs up to the lighthouse are a bit vicious but it is all worth it for the view.

    Plus the hundreds of fur seals that live along the coast made this one of my favourite spots in New Zealand thus far.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016

  • 4.0/5

    Seeing seals for the first time really close, nice lighthouse but too far away.

    Reviewed almost 9 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Great experience to see the seal colony and the lighthouse.

    A long gravel road to travel but worth the trip. Also possible to spend the night here for free.

    Reviewed almost 9 years ago and experienced in December 2015

  • 5.0/5

    Lots of seals playing on the rocks of the beaches near the lighthouse.

    Easy to see and observe them.

    Reviewed almost 9 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Absolutely amazing place, beautiful scenery, lovely drive although tight in some areas so take your time, it's well worth it.

    We got to see many fur seal adults and pups but most memorable we were lucky to have an enormous elephant seal only ten metres away sunning with the others just the most memorable sight ever. This is definitely worth taking the time to drive out and experience this beautiful location.

    Reviewed about 9 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Nice seal colony.

    Reviewed over 9 years ago and experienced in December 2014

  • 5.0/5

    You get amazingly close to wild seals, so cool and there is a cool lighthouse with a great lookout as well.

    Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014

  • 4.0/5

    Lighthouse, seal colony, really remote place with some rough shores and beaches.

    Is really beautiful

    Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014

  • 5.0/5

    Beautiful landscape and amazing seal colony.

    Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014

  • 4.0/5

    Lovely place and what a surprise to see many seals.

    Good experience, a bit scary.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014