A must-do on any trip to the Wairarapa region, complete with (another) lighthouse, is the moderate walk around Deliverance Cove and then the hike up the steep side of 162-metre Matira (Castle Rock) for the classic Instagram shot.
Castlepoint’s attractions also include the beautiful beach, the lagoon in the cove, and the million-year-old uplifted fossil reef that lies across the front of the cove. If you climb up onto the reef, be careful of the tide and weather. The warning sign is there for a reason!
There is also a small holiday town with a shop, cafe, and nearby camping options.
To get there, head northeast from Masterton, the closest town, on the Masterton Castlepoint Road. This is a 65 km scenic drive but windy at times. Allow about an hour each way.
