Pūtangirua Pinnacles
Huge earth pillars eroded into shape in Aorangi Forest Park, the filming location where Aragorn leads the way along the Paths of the Dead in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
Gravel layers deposited about 120,000 years ago have been eroded by rain into columns, each topped with a stone, some reaching tens of metres in height. From the DOC campsite on the Wairarapa coast, follow the creek bed out and back for about 2–3 hours. A steeper loop trail climbs to a viewpoint overlooking the pinnacles.
Admission is free. The route is mostly loose gravel creek bed, so wear non-slip shoes. It is about 1.5–2 hours' drive from Wellington, and is often combined with Cape Palliser Lighthouse and Martinborough as a day trip.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Cape Palliser Lighthouse
- Martinborough
- Days Bay
- Kaitoke Regional Park
- Pencarrow Head Lighthouse
- Matiu / Somes Island
- Wētā Workshop
- Lyall Bay