Cape Foulwind

Cook named it Cape Foulwind in 1770 after being blown about off it, and the wind has not improved. The walkway runs about four kilometres along the clifftop between the lighthouse car park and Tauranga Bay, and the colony is at the southern end: New Zealand fur seals breed here, with bulls holding territory from November, pups born in December, and the pups then spending months in a shallow rock pool nursery below the viewing platform where they learn to swim. Watching that from above, at a proper distance, is the reason to come, and the platform means the twenty-metre rule takes care of itself. The walk also passes a replica of the astronomical marker Cook's party left and gives a long view of the Tasman. It is fully exposed - there is no shelter along the clifftop and the wind lives up to the name. Tauranga Bay has a cafe; the lighthouse end has nothing.

What you actually see

• The seal colony - breeding from November, pups from December.
• The nursery pool - pups learning to swim, below the platform.
• The clifftop walkway - four kilometres between the two car parks.
• The Tasman - open ocean the whole length of the walk.

When to go

November to April; December to March for pups in the nursery pool. The wind is the deciding factor - check it before committing to the full walk.

Honest expectations

Fully exposed with no shelter and often strong wind. Stay on the platform and paths; twenty metres from seals applies where the track passes close. Two car parks means either a return walk or a shuttle.

Nearby

Westport is inland; Punakaiki and the Pancake Rocks are south down the coast.