- Est. Median Value
- $609K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $265/wk
- Safety Score
- 74/100
- Green Space
- 14%
- Current Weather
- 5.5°C
- Median Age
- 50 yrs
~51 crimes/1k/yr
few clouds
Living in Cape Foulwind
Cape Foulwind is the headland west of Westport where Abel Tasman named the cape in 1642 with the navigator's blunt pragmatism - the wind was foul, the name was Cape Foulwind, the report was filed - and the locality has been living up to the meteorological assessment ever since while simultaneously being one of the West Coast's most rewarding coastal walks. The Tasman Sea arrives at this headland with the uninterrupted momentum of several thousand kilometres of ocean, and the result is genuinely dramatic.
The Cape Foulwind Walkway runs the headland from the lighthouse to the Tauranga Bay seal colony, around 4 km of clifftop track with the sea performing at full commitment below and the Paparoa Range as backdrop. The seal colony at the southern end is one of the West Coast's most accessible wildlife experiences - the New Zealand fur seals haul out on the rocks below the viewing platform with the photogenic indifference of animals who have reached an accommodation with the tourist industry.
The lighthouse, built in 1876 and automated long since, stands on the point doing its navigational work with the same pragmatic necessity that Tasman's naming applied to the wind. The residential component of the Cape Foulwind locality is small - a few coastal properties - with Westport 12 km east handling all the practical requirements.
The wind remains foul at statistically significant intervals.
Is Cape Foulwind a good place to live?
Cape Foulwind is home to roughly 246 people across 51.5 km². On Suburb's overall livability scale, Cape Foulwind scores 45 out of 100, with a safety score of 74/100 and 14% green space.
Schools: Cape Foulwind has 1 school in or near the suburb, spanning early-childhood through to secondary education. See the Schools tab below for the full list.
Housing: The estimated median value is around $609K, and weekly rent typically sits around $265.
Lifestyle: Cape Foulwind has cafés, shops and things to do nearby. The current temperature is 5.5°C. See the Weather tab for monthly averages.
Whether Cape Foulwind is right for you depends on what you’re looking for. Use the data and community tips below to decide if it suits your lifestyle, family and budget.
Map
Livability Breakdown
- Safety74
- Amenities10
- Schools41
- Housing Affordability62
- Green space46
- Community56
- Transport15
Property & Economics
- Est. Median Value
- $609K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $265/wk
- Median HH Income
- $51K/yr
- Pop. Growth (5yr)
- +4.6%
- Data Year
- 2023
Key Financial Indicators (NZD)
† Est. Median Value is suburb.co.nz's own estimate, modelled from available public data. We aim for accuracy, but where data is limited, estimates may be imprecise.
Nearby Suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where is Cape Foulwind?
- Cape Foulwind is the headland 12 km west of Westport on the West Coast, where the Tasman Sea meets the Paparoa Range's coastal edge.
- How did Cape Foulwind get its name?
- Abel Tasman named the cape in 1642 when adverse winds prevented his ships from making progress - 'foul wind' in the navigational sense meaning contrary or unhelpful wind. The name has proved accurate since.
- What is the Cape Foulwind Walkway?
- The Cape Foulwind Walkway runs around 4 km from the lighthouse to the Tauranga Bay seal colony, a clifftop track with sea views and one of the West Coast's most accessible fur seal viewing areas.
- Where is the seal colony at Cape Foulwind?
- The New Zealand fur seal colony at Tauranga Bay, at the southern end of the Cape Foulwind Walkway, is visible from a purpose-built viewing platform above the rocks.
- How do I get from Westport to Cape Foulwind?
- By car, around 15 minutes west on the Cape Foulwind Road from Westport. The walkway car parks are at the lighthouse end and at Tauranga Bay.
- Which schools are in zone for Cape Foulwind?
- Children living in Cape Foulwind are in zone for Westport South School. Living in a school's home zone gives a guaranteed right to enrol.
- How do I check my school zone in Cape Foulwind?
- Use the School Zone Checker on this page. Enter your address to check your school zone and see which schools you have a guaranteed right to enrol at.
Schools & Enrolment Zones in Cape Foulwind
Schools in zone for Cape Foulwind
Children living in Cape Foulwind have a guaranteed right to enrol at these school, based on Ministry of Education home zones.
Westport South School
Full Primary · roll 232 · decile 5
Check your school zone
School Zone Checker
Enter your address to check your school zone in Cape Foulwind. School enrolment zones (home zones) decide which schools your child has a guaranteed right to enrol at.
Address matching is approximate and based on OpenStreetMap geocoding — confirm an exact result near a zone boundary directly with the school.
Explore Cape Foulwind
Things to do(3)
Seal Colony
West Coast Surf
Cape Foulwind Walkway
Parks & green spaces(1)
Cape Foulwind Walkway
Healthcare
Pharmacies and clinics for this area haven’t been catalogued yet.
Eat & Drink in Cape Foulwind
Places to eat & drink(2)
The Bay House
Star Tavern
Beauty & Fitness in Cape Foulwind
Beauty & fitness(1)
West Coast Surf
Stay in Cape Foulwind
Places to stay(3)
The Bay House Beachfront Accommodation
Omau Settlers Lodge
Out the Bay
Cape Foulwind Weather
Current conditions: 5.5°C, few clouds
| Month | High (°C) | Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm/day) | Sunshine (hrs/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ☀️ Jan | 20.36 | 14.18 | 6.79 | 11.67 |
| ☀️ Feb | 19.36 | 12.94 | 4.84 | 11.01 |
| 🍂 Mar | 17.1 | 11.54 | 8.71 | 8.88 |
| 🍂 Apr | 16.45 | 11.1 | 8.18 | 7.76 |
| 🍂 May | 14.49 | 9.18 | 9.91 | 5.8 |
| ❄️ Jun | 13.51 | 7.79 | 6.23 | 6.75 |
| ❄️ Jul | 12.45 | 6.62 | 4.68 | 6.72 |
| ❄️ Aug | 12.13 | 5.94 | 9.64 | 7.57 |
| 🌸 Sep | 13.56 | 8.31 | 8.96 | 7.75 |
| 🌸 Oct | 14.23 | 8.57 | 8.57 | 9.3 |
| 🌸 Nov | 15.73 | 9.84 | 6.69 | 9.87 |
| ☀️ Dec | 18.05 | 12.86 | 8.57 | 10.08 |
Cape Foulwind Community
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