Pinnacles Track
Putangirua - Aorangi Forest Park
Reviews
Mike Fricker
Ranking: 9/10
01Oct18. We went up to the lookout first then down to the base of the pinnacles. The first part and the return is along the stream bed. A bit heavy going in places. The base of the pinnacles is the same and steep with it so hard work.
As for the pinnacles, it was a bit murky when we were there so not seen in their best light. Perhaps a sunny day would make it a better spectacle. Although a somewhat different place, and continent, check out Brice Canyon, Utah!
In spite of that, you have to go there at least once. Glad we did.
Mike Fricker
Ranking: 9/10
01Oct18. Damp start to the day but not cold. Walked to the lookout then down to the pinnacles base. Good stuff. Hard work walking on gravel but worth it. Don’t think we will go again tho. A bit out of the way. Glad we did it tho.
Teb
Ranking: 9/10
Very impressive and more so the further you go up the streamside path. Beware this path though, for it’s really not a path but a scramble up the streambed. As noted you will be crossing back and forth across it several times and you really do make your own way. Good shoes are a must! It’s posted as 1.5 hours round trip but that’s only if you hustle and it is a challenging scramble both ways. Probably best to plan two hours at least.
Well worth the effort though and push all the way up, the view back down is amazing!
Mark Davies
Ranking: 8/10
This was a really interesting walk amongst almost spooky pinnacles. Easy to see why it was chosen for a lord of the rings scene! We would recommend going up via the lookout first and then returning along the stream bed. 3 reasons for this: it's easy to miss the path up to the lookout from the stream bed, walking among the pinnacles is more impressive than the lookout so best to do second and finally it's just harder work walking up a stream bed! Wear good (preferably waterproof) shoes due to having to cross the river several times. Enjoy!
Anis Quentin
Ranking: 8/10
We made the 'lookout' walk from topside to came back by the river side. The second part was a little bit complicated. Not enough signs. The first part was perfect.
Theo Macer
Ranking: 7/10
The Pinnacles walk itself was OK. There is a viewpoint from where you can see the whole thing but it is all much more impressive when you walk up the gorge and you are looking up at them.
Dan Schmidt
Ranking: 8/10
The stream walk was beautiful with steep pinnacles on both sides. The lookout was so/so. Lovely campsite at the beginning of the walk as well as the beach across the road.
Erik Meier-Diukel
Ranking: 10/10
Nice walk, interesting rocks.
Clarissa Glaser
Ranking: 10/10
Nice walk, interesting spot/view.
Kimmo Kiiski
Ranking: 9/10
We were positively surprised about the rock formations! They looked cool even in the poor and rainy weather we had! Took us about 2h to walk the stream bed up to the pinnacles and return via the lookout path. On the way we needed to carefully cross water streams several times. Good footgear is recommended. Beware of the falling rocks! Many of them fell near us because of the rain.
Ben
Ranking: 8/10
Not well signed, otherwise, great views, especially of the Lord of the Rings filming site.
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Jade Williams
Ranking: 10/10
A good family track to look down on the Pinnacles and there is a free campground at the bottom.
Lucie Revay
Ranking: 9/10
The walk takes you 1.5 hours return, more if you stop often to take pictures (and you will). The scenery is absolutely stunning. The path isn't very comfortable, I recommend steady shoes. Also the walk is very poorly signposted.
Daniel Weber
Ranking: 8/10
Very nice Pinnacles and a nice Lord of the Rings spot.
Milan Maiwald
Ranking: 8/10
Very nice formations, especially as a ton of the early Peter Jackson movie staff got lost in the woods because of some old, forgotten signs but it was an awesome adventure!!
Adele Jacques
Ranking: 7/10
Unusual scenery, a little 'mystic', nice flat walk.
Emmanuel Roux
Ranking: 8/10
From the beginning of the Pinnacles, dangerous but so beautiful.
Lauren Thompson
Ranking: 8/10
Super cool. Unique landscape. Was fun to walk around amongst the Pinnacle bases.
Isabella Sinnesbickle
Ranking: 10/10
Stunning view, there is also a great lighthouse and a seal colony nearby.
Dave O'Brien
Ranking: 10/10
Good walk up to the view point. Amazing features, never seen anything like them. Really nice to have a good explore around the valleys between them at the bottom.
Sarah Boettcher
Ranking: 10/10
Impressive rock formations and film location of the Lord of the Rings. Very large seal colony near the lighthouse of Cape Palliser.
Miroslav Bazala
Ranking: 9/10
9/10 for its natural beauty, 10/10 for Lord of The Rings fans, as some scenes were captured here. The walk can lead you both to the top of the ridge where you can see it all at once, or to the bottom where you can really enjoy the unique landscape it is, so do not skip anything :-)
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Simone De Angiou
Ranking: 8/10
45 minutes to the Pinnacles. Surreal scenery, looks like someone built this but it is all natural.
Jonas Weidner
Ranking: 9/10
Not very popular but in my opinion, it is one of the best walks or places in New Zealand.
Steph
Ranking: 7/10
Featured in Lord of the Rings before Legolas and Gimli go into the land of the dead! Impressive rock formations, but don't get expectations too high based on the films - it is not as large as it looks. Camp at the base of the Pinnacles and do a long walk - lovely beach there to.
Andreas Schiefer
Ranking: 3/10
Very exhausting walk up to the lookout point but not really worth it, had to get down very slippery ground.
Iwona
Ranking: 8/10
Short hike near the area of Cape Palliser. We first made our way up through the riverbed and for the way back we looped over the mountain shoulder. About 1.5 hours, worth itl.
Florian Littmann
Ranking: 10/10
Awesome landscape and perfect for Lord of the Rings fans.
Mike and Caroline
Ranking: 10/10
Great walk. Follow your nose and you won't go far wrong. See how far you can climb in between them! It took us two hours return, which included about half hour there.
Whilst you are here, go further down the road and see the seal colony and lighthouse!
Ralph and Leonie
Ranking: 9/10
Impressive walk, really worth it. When you are there you should also drive to Cape Palliser: visit the lighthouse and the seals.
Johann Maier
Ranking: 10/10
Amazing walk through a riverbed and the awesome Pinnacles.
Roman & Esther
Ranking: 2/10
Path was not easy to see. Only 1 sign on path.
De Blaeij
Ranking: 9/10
Worth to be seen.