Pūtangirua Pinnacles, rock formation in New Zealand

Putangirua Pinnacles is a rock formation in New Zealand's Wellington Region featuring dozens of tall, narrow sandstone towers that rise at different angles from a broad valley floor. The structures were shaped by wind and water erosion over many thousands of years, creating pointed peaks and curved formations that continue to change slowly.

The Pūtangirua Pinnacles are a badlands formation of earth pillars at the head of a valley in the Aorangi Ranges. Some 7 to 9 million years ago the ranges were an island; eroded material formed alluvial fans on its southern shores, later submerged and re-exposed as sea levels fell. Wind and water have since cut the conglomerate into hoodoos, a process probably under 125,000 years old, accelerating in the last 1,000 years with deforestation. Part of the Paths of the Dead sequence in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King was filmed here in June 2000, as was the opening of Braindead.

The name Pūtangirua was gazetted as the official geographic name in December 2019. The site gained wider public recognition after part of the Paths of the Dead sequence in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King was filmed here in June 2000, and the opening sequence of Braindead was also shot on location.

The walking trail is moderately easy with uneven ground, so sturdy shoes are necessary and the route typically takes about two hours to complete. The site has no facilities like restrooms or cafes, so visitors should bring water, snacks, and wear weather-appropriate clothing.

The pinnacles are thought to be less than 125,000 years old, with major erosion probably beginning about 7,000 years ago and speeding up over the last 1,000 years as the area was deforested. The current erosion rate is roughly 1 cm per year.