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Castlepoint Road, Wairarapa, Wellington
Photo: Andrew Mcmillan · CC BY 3.0 · cropped

Drives Wellington, New Zealand Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa and Wellington

Castlepoint Road

Masterton Castlepoint Road, Castlepoint Road, Jetty Road · Masterton → Castlepoint

Sweeping37 mi1 hr 5 min2,600 ft climbHigh point ≈ 700 ftOne way
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The drive

Masterton Castlepoint Road runs east from Masterton across the Wairarapa farmland to the coast, about an hour away. The road is undulating and winding for much of the way, rising and falling over the hill country and passing through Tīnui before the sea appears at Castlepoint.

Castlepoint is a small settlement with a big landscape. The lighthouse, completed in 1913 and built of riveted steel sheets, sits on the point, and Castle Rock, 162 m high, stands behind the beach. Captain Cook named the place in 1770 because the rock looked like castle battlements. A reef about 1 km long runs out from the shore, and the beach hosts an annual horse race held since 1872.

The lighthouse is not open to the public. The walk up Castle Rock takes about 45 minutes.

Along the way

  1. Masterton
  2. Tīnui
  3. Castlepoint
Elevation
2,600 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 700 ft
MastertonCastlepoint
Curves
Mostly gentle, with one twisty stretch
MastertonCastlepoint
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • The road is winding and undulating, and safe places to stop for views can be hard to find, so wait for a signed pull-over.
  • NZTA has flagged much of the Masterton to Castlepoint corridor as having high-risk curves, so keep speeds down.
  • Check the Masterton District Council notices page before you go for any roadworks or closures.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check Masterton District Council: public notices and alerts.

Questions about this drive

How long does the Masterton to Castlepoint drive take?

The Masterton Castlepoint Road from Masterton to Castlepoint is 60 km (37 mi) and takes about 1 hr 5 min.

What is there to see at Castlepoint?

Castlepoint has a 1913 steel lighthouse, 162 m Castle Rock, and a reef about 1 km long. The Castle Rock walk takes about 45 minutes.

Can you go up the Castlepoint lighthouse?

No. The Castlepoint lighthouse is not open to the public. It's owned by Maritime New Zealand, and a camera shows a live feed.

Is the Masterton Castlepoint Road twisty?

It's described as undulating and winding. The drive has one marked twisty stretch, with gentle curves for the rest of the way.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Castlepoint Road, from Masterton to Castlepoint