Putangirua Pinnacles Scenic Reserve, on Cape Palliser Road in the Wairarapa, is known for its earth pillars, tall pale spires of gravel with boulders capping them. The Pinnacles Ridge Track climbs from the car park beside the Pūtangirua Stream to a lookout above the pinnacles. The track has no route down to the base of the pillars, because of the risk of falling rocks, so the lookout is the best place to see them. The area was a Lord of the Rings filming location.
The track crosses the stream without a bridge, and the Department of Conservation says it is not recommended during or just after heavy rain, when the stream can flood. Dogs must stay on a leash. The ridge has no water and gets very hot in summer. There is parking, a toilet and a shelter at the track entrance. A campsite sits 500 metres past the turn-off, beside DOC's bookable Te Kopi Lodges. The reserve is about 40 minutes' drive from Martinborough.
Our pick in the Wairarapa for an easy hike to a lookout over the pillars on a dry day.