Cape Foulwind Walkway: Seal Spotting, Lighthouse & Epic Ocean Views
Cape Foulwind Walkway is a must-see attraction in the West Coast region of the South Island. This short walk offers views of a historic lighthouse, expansive ocean panoramas, farmland, mountains, a colony of fur seals, striking coastal formations and cliff views. Here is the information you need to visit this extraordinary coastal walkway.
Make sure to save this information for offline, as wifi is unreliable in this remote area.
Table of Contents
Highlights of Cape Foulwind Walkway
- Spectacular coastal trail with dramatic views of the wild West Coast oceans roaring below.
- An imposing historic lighthouse.
- The New Zealand fur seal colony.
- Opportunities to see wekas (New Zealand native flightless birds that look similar to a Kiwi).
Where is this Incredible Walk?
This West Coast coastal walk is 13 kilometres south of Westport. The small town is the second largest in the West Coast region of the South Island.
Westport serves as a gateway to many incredible outdoor adventures.
Read more about them next.
To reach the start of the hike, take a 12-minute scenic drive to Cape Foulwind from Westport.
From Westport, head south across the Buller River and turn left onto Cape Foulwind Road. Follow the road until you reach Lighthouse Road, which leads to the Cape Foulwind Lighthouse car park.
Along the way, you will pass the lovely seaside suburb of Carters Beach, which has safe swimming and a great place to eat with outdoor seating and sea views. Donaldo’s Cafe and Beach Bar is one of our favourite restaurants in the Westport area.
How Long is the Cape Foulwind Walkway
The walk is 3.4 km one way from Cape Foulwind car park to Tauranga Bay car park and takes approximately 50 minutes one way.
This time estimate does not account for any stops you want to make. If you enjoy photography, you may want to make frequent stops to take photos. Additionally, if you walk at a slower pace, you may want to take breaks on the benches to catch your breath and take in the awe-inspiring views.
You will return using the same track. Do not worry; the views are just as stunning on the return walk.
The hike can be done in either direction, so you can start the hike from Tauranga Bay if you prefer to see the seals first.
You also have the option to do just a section of the walk from the Cape Foulwind car park to the lighthouse. The walk to and from the lighthouse takes approximately 15 minutes to return.
For those who only wish to visit the seals, the hike from the Tauranga Bay car park to the Tauranga Bay Seal Colony takes about 20-30 minutes to return.
The last time we did the walk, there was a group of us, and two of us hiked from the Cape Foulwind car park to the Tauranga Bay car park.
The others drove to Tauranga Bay and met us there. This is an excellent option for groups with people who do not want to do the complete walk and only want to visit the seals.
Regardless of which part of the walk you choose to do, the views are spectacular, making this our favourite walk in the Westport area.
The West Coast region has many walks & incredible natural wonders. Read Next:
Truman Track Punakaiki
Best Punakaiki Short Walks
Don’t Miss the Best West Coast Walks
How to see NZ’s Lake Matheson
Guide to the Franz Josef Glacier
Fox Glacier South Side Walkway Guide
Peters Pool, Franz Josef’s Mirror Lake
Callery Gorge to the Turquoise River
Details of the Walk from Cape Foulwind Carpark
The hike starts with a 5 – 8 minute gentle uphill climb on a path through native scrub and flax.
There is a seat at the top where you can catch your breath and admire the view of the 20-metre-high Omau Cliffs and Buller Bay to the north.
You reach the Cape Foulwind Lighthouse within 10 minutes of starting the walk.
Continuing the clifftop trail to Tauranga Bay, much of the trail is on a flat path with occasional gentle uphill sections.
The trail passes through New Zealand coastal bush and farmland with mountain views in the distance. You will see gorgeous bays and ocean panoramas, including 40- 50 metre high cliffs surrounded by rugged ocean.
Along the well-maintained track, you will find informational signs telling the stories of early sea voyages and exploration of the area, including Maori history.
The highlight of the walk is the Cape Foulwind seal colony lookout, which is within a 40-minute walk from the start of the trail.
Further towards Tauranga Bay and at the car park, you often see wekas walking in and out of the bushes.
Overall, we found the walk moderately easy, with a few uphill sections.
Cape Foulwind Lighthouse
One of the most accessible lighthouses in the country, Cape Foulwind Lighthouse, was built in 1876.
However, the original wooden structure rotted and was rebuilt in 1926. The new automated concrete tower signalled the end of an era for keepers. The unstaffed tower still runs today.
On the site, you can see the foundations for the original tower and the original keeper’s houses.
Entry into the lighthouse is closed to the public.
Seal Colony Cape Foulwind NZ
We have done the hike many times from Tauranga Bay car park, walked as far as the seal colony and then returned the same way. We love watching the seals playing!
The New Zealand fur seals can be seen from a large viewing platform that allows visitors to observe them from a distance without disturbing them.
They are hard to spot at first, as they blend in with the colour of the rocks.
Once you notice them, you will have a great time watching their playful behaviour.
We frequently see 20-30 seals lying on the rocks. Sometimes, we see them frolicking, fighting, diving into the water and nurturing their young.
The adorable baby seals are more prominent from November to February (breeding season).
Tauranga Bay
At Tauranga Bay, you can easily walk down to the sea edge.
You will find toilets here, picnic tables and a beautiful stretch of sand to stroll along.
Additionally, Blue penguins / Kororā have been spotted at the southern end of the bay. (Though we have never seen any.)
New Zealand South Island Travel Insider Guide Tips:
- Bring a jacket as the weather can be very windy (thus the name – Foul Wind).
- Wear sturdy hiking shoes, as the path can be slippery when wet.
- Most of the path is flat and smooth. However, keep your children close by, as this is a clifftop coastal walk without fencing.
- In summer, sunblock, a hat and water are essential.
- We love stopping to take photos and are slow walkers who love to stop and sit on benches to admire the views. Therefore, we spent 1 hour & 15 minutes completing this walk one way. However, fast walkers with limited time could quite easily complete this return walk in 1 hour.
Is the Cape Foulwind Walk Worth Doing?
If you love sea views, definitely!
If you love to see wildlife, do not miss the Cape Foulwind seal colony walk.
We frequently walk from Tauranga Bay along the Cape Foulwind Walkway to see the cute seals.
We rate this walk an 8 out of 10. The reason for this rating is it is a quick and relatively easy walk that showcases the most outstanding coastal views. The bonus is seeing the Tauranga Bay seal colony.
We think you may be interested in these posts:
Best Attractions on the West Coast.
Great Coast Road Drive to Greymouth.
Exploring Denniston Plateau.
Off the Beaten Track in Charleston.
Places to Eat near Pancake Rocks.
Fun Activities in Punakaiki.
Punakaiki Cavern: Info for Visiting.
Best Things to Do in Greymouth.
