Cullen Point Lookout

ONE OF THE BEST VIEWS IN NEW ZEALAND

01 DECEMBER 2022

Sienna and Bella

Picture-Perfect Sounds

Marlbourgh is known for its picture-perfect sounds with blue water and lush green bush covering every square inch of the mountains and one of the spots to take in the views is from the Cullen Point Lookout.

We did a loop from Blenheim and back, driving along the beautiful Queen Charlotte Drive (a must do if you're in Marlborough!) and stopped off at the Cullen Point Lookout as we had heard the views were pretty spectacular and we were not disappointed!

The lookout is only a 10-minute walk from the carpark and there is also the Coastal Loop Track that starts at the same carpark and is an hour long. The track is currently under repair as of December 2022 but it's still accessible.

There is a toilet on the track, not far from the carpark. It's most likely a long drop full of plenty of big spiders - enjoy :)

Our girl Bella ready for the walk

Dare you go toilet here?

We had heard the views were incredible so we couldn't want to get to the top

Oh You Are Beautiful, Havelock

Not far from the carpark is this beautiful view of Havelock and Kaikumera Bay. We were there at low tide (oooooobviously) and it was still really beautiful but we're sure it would look even more amazing with the tide in.

If you're short on time, this is a good place to walk to for a good view, then get a view of the sounds from near the carpark which I'll talk about further down.

Kaikumera Bay

The sweeping views across Havelock are seriously beautiful

We could have stayed here all day looking at this view (ok, give the kids 1-minute then they'd be complaining they're bored!)

Incy Wincy Spider

We're all about the weird and wonderful and we certainly found plenty along the way. Our best discovery had to be the huge spider we saw on the tree! Wouldn't want that crawling down the back of your neck... *shudder*.

The light was shining through the trees, onto the forest floor and it made for beautiful backlit photography. We didn't have too much time to spend on the track as we wanted to get to Picton to do another walk (which didn't end up happening because of tired little rugrats) so I didn't get to play around with my DSLR to photograph in the nice light.

Makes you wonder what's lurking in the grass!

He was a big boy!

I loved the texture in this leaf

There is a lot to discover along the track if you take your time to find the beauty

He seemed like a really fun guy

The Track

The track itself is a mixture of flat and stairs, with a few tree roots along the way to trip you up and make life a little more interesting. They were actually really pretty on the track and there was one part which had stones, tree roots and green moss which looked like a work of art.

We really enjoyed the walk as we loved finding the weird and wonderful things and it was pretty much shaded in the bush the whole way which is perfect in summer.

Some parts were a little slippery and muddy from recent rain, so we walked on the side of the path but no one fell on their bum on this walk - not like Sienna at the TSS Waverly shipwreck in Blenheim or up Tokatoka Peak in Northland.

At one point there was a fork in the road which we realised on the way back that was a loop, so it doesn't matter which way you go, you'll end up at the lookout.

Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to the lookout we go

Some of the trees had black parts... some kind of rot or disease perhaps

This part of the track looked so pretty and artsy!

There are some stairs on the track, but you will survive!

This was a fairy house, according to Arabella & Sienna

Sneak Peaks Along The Way

There are a few sneaky peaky points along the way where you catch a glimpse of the beautiful scenery around you and it makes you go just that little bit faster as you know the lookout at the top is going to be even better!

View out to Havelock

The hills in the area are covered in forest and are so lush and green

Our pretty girls, ready to get back to the carpark because not all views impress kids

The Lookout

If you're brave enough to walk a whole 10-minutes to the lookout, then you will absolutely be rewarded for all your hard work and effort with views across the Mahua Sounds.

There are a few clearings at the lookout where you can enjoy the view and one bench seat in one area. We picked a good day to go as it was sunny without too much cloud, but of course we would have preferred to go on a bluebird day!

We stopped for a while, soaking in the views and taking photos and watching the speedboats cruise along below. Bella was hoping to spot a dolphin or some stingrays but alas, no marine life to be seen!

A seat well worthy of your 10-minute slog

Views of the Mahau Sounds

The views do not disappoint

Oh, to be out on one of the boats!

Sienna and her cute backpack

10-Minute Walk Or 10 Meter Walk?

While Lath and the girls were packing stuff into the car after our walk, I headed to the right of the carpark where I caught a glimpse of the sounds and when I got there, I realised the view was pretty damn awesome and almost the same as the lookout above!

Sure, you don't get to see Havelock, but if you're short on time then I'd highly recommend parking up, walking about 10 or so metres to the right of the carpark and soaking in the views there.

The view from beside the carpark

Know Before You Go

The lookout is 10 minutes from carpark
The track isn't suitable for prams
The track can get slippery in parts after rain
If you're short on time, you can see pretty much the same view just to the right of the carpark!
The track can be uneven in a lot of places so watch your footing
The roads are under repair due to the massive flooding in 2022, so you will want to check the road is open before you head across - check here
There is a toilet available up the track, not far from the carpark
There is a longer track at the same entrance - the Coastal Loop Track which takes 1 hour

Mappy McMap Face

Getting There

The Cullen Point Track is located on the Queen Charlotte Drive, just 5-minutes from Havelock, 45-minutes west of Picton and 37-minutes northwest of Blenheim. There are a few carparks at the track and it's the last carpark before you hit Picton.

Conclusion

This is such a great track, full of interesting things to marvel at and the view at the top is absolutely stunning! We recommend going on a bluebird day so you get to see how blue the water is and how lush and green the forests are. It's just a quick 10-minute walk from the carpark and a great place to stretch your legs if you've been driving for a while.