Exploring White Rock Road
White Rock Road is a captivating gravel route in South Wairarapa, leading adventurers from Martinborough to the picturesque coastal area of White Rock Beach. This journey offers travellers a glimpse of the region's unique geological feature, calcilutite, and the stunning beach that shares its name.
Journey to White Rock Beach
Starting from Martinborough's main square, head out on Jellicoe Road. Continue until it transitions into Lake Ferry Road, then take a left onto White Rock Road. The drive to White Rock Beach takes about an hour, with half of the route being unsealed. On occasion, such as when heavy logging machinery is present, the trip may take longer, but the scenic reward is well worth any delay.
White Rock Road, like other backroads in the Wairarapa, offers a window into the region's pastoral beauty. Travellers will encounter expansive views of sheep and cattle grazing across a landscape of mountains, valleys, and rivers.
How to get there
To reach White Rock Road, begin your journey from the main square in Martinborough. Follow Jellicoe Road out of the town centre until it becomes Lake Ferry Road. From there, turn left onto White Rock Road and continue, passing the Tora Road turnoff along the way, until you reach the beach. The route offers a mix of sealed and unsealed roads, making for an adventurous drive through South Wairarapa's stunning countryside.
You can also explore Tora Road, a turn-off from White Rock Road that takes you to more remote beaches a bit further north up the Wairarapa Coast. Alternatively, continue south on Lake Ferry Road to Lake Ferry and then drive east along the coast as far as Cape Palliser on the Cape Palliser Road.
