Cape Foulwind

What a horrid day it must have been when Cape Foulwind earned its name. It was James Cook who cursed into the wind (his ship, the Endeavour, had been blown off course so it was perhaps fair) back in 1770, and on a blustery day, it seems well chosen. But on a good day, there's no walk more spectacular. There is much to see on the well-maintained 3.4km walk from Tauranga Bay to the Cape Foulwind lighthouse car park. From the Tauranga Bay car park (the southern end of the walk), it's only 500m to a New Zealand fur seal or kekeno colony.

A large viewing platform allows visitors to watch the playful seals from a safe distance, allowing them to go about their day snoozing, sunbathing and eating without being disturbed.

The best time to see the seals is from November to

January, but there are usually some basking year-round.

There's also another viewing platform with binoculars that overlooks Wall Island, a significant nesting spot for sooty shearwater, gulls and terns.

The track heads north along the coast, with views down the coast, and glimpses of the cliffs that drop into the volatile ocean below. The lighthouse is near the northern end of the track, a short walk from the car park. The first lighthouse shone from 1876 to 1926 when the automated lighthouse took over. The foundations of the first tower and the keeper's home are visible nearby.

Cape Foulwind is a 15-minute drive south of Westport and both car parks are well signposted. Stop at Carters Beach on the way – one of the safest West Coast beaches – or pop into the Star Tavern for a post-walk refreshment (6 Lighthouse Road).