Last updated November 2026
The Putanui Point Track is a short walk over a forest-covered point to a lookout in Pelorus Sound, about 33 km from Blenheim. It is boat access only, and you can start from either side of the point. DOC gives it 30 minutes over 2 km one way and grades it as an easy to intermediate walking track.
When we checked on 18 October 2026, DOC’s page also noted that the jetty at Jacobs Bay campsite and picnic area “has been damaged by tree fall and is unusable”, with access there only via the beach. Check DOC before you go for the latest on access.
Track Facts
Tracks can close at short notice for slips, storm damage or maintenance. Check DOC's current alerts for Putanui Point Track on the day you walk.
Current alerts on DOC
Practical Information
- Start
- Either side of Putanui Point, Pelorus Sound (boat access only)
- Distance from the city
- About 33 km from Blenheim
- Walking time
- 30 min one way
- Track length
- 2 km one way
- Grade
- Easy (DOC: easy to intermediate walking track)
- Dogs
- Dogs with a DOC permit only (contact the closest DOC office)
- Track type
- Walking track
- Managed by
- Department of Conservation
- Status
- Open when checked on 18 October 2026. Check DOC before you go.
- Track markers
- On marked bush tracks, DOC and most councils use orange triangles for the walking route. Triangles or tape in other colours, usually pink or blue, mark pest-control lines and traps. They can lead off the track, so don’t follow them.
About Putanui Point Track
This is a walk you plan around a boat trip. With no road access, the track suits people already out on Pelorus Sound by boat who want to stretch their legs on land.
The track crosses a forest-covered point and leads to a lookout. Because you can reach it from either side of the point, you can walk over and be picked up on the other side, or walk in to the lookout and back. At 30 minutes for 2 km one way, it’s a short, manageable outing for most walkers.
The DOC page for the track also lists a backcountry campsite with four non-powered tent sites, non-flush toilets and untreated tap water that needs boiling before use.
Getting There
To reach Pelorus Sound by road, DOC’s directions are to turn off the main road just past Havelock onto Queen Charlotte Drive, the main road in the Sounds; other roads are narrow, winding and mostly unsealed. The track itself can only be reached by boat. Water taxis run from Havelock to parts of Pelorus Sound.
When we checked on 18 October 2026, DOC warned that the jetty at Jacobs Bay campsite and picnic area had been damaged by tree fall and must not be used. Access to Jacobs Bay campsite, the picnic area and the track to Fairy Bay was only possible via the beach, so let your boat operator know.
Before You Go
The weather in the Sounds is generally mild but can change quickly, especially on the water, so check the marine forecast and make sure you have the right gear and experience for your boat trip.
Light fires only in designated areas, boil, filter or treat water before drinking, and in late summer and autumn carry antihistamine if you are allergic to wasp stings.
Where to Learn More
Department of Conservation: Putanui Point Track: track information, alerts and status. Track information: Crown Copyright: Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai 2026. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Department of Conservation: Pelorus and Kenepuru Sounds area: other walks, campsites and alerts around Pelorus and Kenepuru Sounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get to the Putanui Point Track?
Only by boat. Water taxis run from Havelock to parts of Pelorus Sound, and you can start from either side of the point.
How long does it take?
DOC gives 30 minutes for the 2 km one way.
How hard is it?
DOC grades it as an easy to intermediate walking track.
What’s at the end?
A lookout. The track crosses a forest-covered point to reach it.
Can I bring my dog?
Only with a DOC permit. Contact the closest DOC office to get one.
Can I use the Jacobs Bay jetty?
Not when we checked on 18 October 2026. DOC’s page said the jetty had been damaged by tree fall and was unusable, with access to Jacobs Bay campsite, the picnic area and the track to Fairy Bay via the beach.
Is there camping nearby?
The DOC page lists a backcountry campsite with four non-powered tent sites, non-flush toilets and untreated tap water that must be boiled before use.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Sources and data notes 1
- Track Facts: Track facts and line: Crown Copyright, Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai 2026, CC BY 4.0. Elevation: LINZ (LiDAR), CC BY 4.0.