New Zealand is home to some pretty incredible places, rugged mountains, lush bush and epic coastlines. To help keep its rocky coastlines safe, there are some pretty awesome lighthouses dotted all over the country. Lighthouses aren’t the first thing that jumps to mind when you think of all the things you want to see in New Zealand, but they will be pretty high up there once you realise how beautiful these ones are!
New Zealand is definitely home to some of the world’s most stunning lighthouses. Tucked away on high cliffs, shining over notoriously treacherous coastlines and creating dramatic silhouettes on the horizon, these lighthouses are truly something to behold. They aren’t always easy to access; some require a decent hike or a drive on rather winding, narrow coastal roads. But all of them are worth the adventure to get to them and the views they have out over the ocean. We’ve listed our 5 favourite lighthouses for each of the North and South Islands here. Don’t miss them on your adventures around the country!
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North Island Lighthouses
Cape Reinga
Starting at the very top of the North Island with Cape Reinga Lighthouse, one of the more special places you can visit on this list. Not because of the lighthouse itself but the significance of the cape on which it stands.
Te Rerenga Wairua is referred to as the most spiritual place in Aotearoa. It is here that Māori spirits travel to start their journey to the underworld and the land of their ancestors Hawaiiki-A-Nui. This is an incredibly Tāpu (sacred) place, and we are privileged to be able to visit. Please take note of the tikanga or cultural protocols that all visitors here are asked to observe. You are asked not to consume food here and to stay on the path as you walk out to the cape and the lighthouse that sits here watching over the oceans beyond.
The Cape Reinga Lighthouse is a gorgeous little lighthouse perched proudly on the edge of the cape. The cliffs drop steeply just metres from its base and provide incredible views out over the criss-crossing waves of the ocean. It’s a beautiful and peaceful place to visit with an air of importance all around you. It’s hard to miss the cultural and spiritual significance of this place; you can feel it in the salty air and the peace that seems to surround the area even in the midst of rolling waves.
Castlepoint
When you think of a lighthouse, you’ll probably be picturing one that looks almost identical to the lighthouse at Castlepoint. Standing tall and proud above the Wairarapa’s dangerous coast, this impressive lighthouse is the tallest on the North Island and sits at 52 metres above sea level. To make the lighthouse that much more dramatic, there is a light show every night after sunset with a coloured light projected onto the lighthouse that changes through the colours of the rainbow every 15 minutes. It’s definitely worth being here at night and during the day to catch the lighthouse in all its glory. There is freedom camping at the beach here, making it super easy to stay overnight.
You can walk right out to the lighthouse and enjoy the views from the little island cliff it is perched on by crossing the beach. Alternatively (or let’s be honest, as well), you can follow a track further around the bay to see the view of the coast and the lighthouse in one. This little walk was our favourite way to view the lighthouse, as the coast here is so interesting with sweeping bays and sandbars that come and go with the tide. It’s a peaceful place to be by the beach and feels almost as if you have stepped back in time.
Baring Head
The closest lighthouse to Wellington is Baring Head Lighthouse, which you can see from the western entrance of Wellington Harbour. To get up close and personal with it, you will have to go on a little hike through the Baring Head Ōrua-Pouanui East Harbour Park. It’s a beautiful walk to the lighthouse complex where you can learn a little about the lighthouse and the people who ran it in some of the outbuildings that have been converted into little museums. Interestingly, it was the very first lighthouse in New Zealand to begin operating on electricity in 1950.
To get to the lighthouse, follow the signs for the Ōrua-pouanui Grand Loop track, a 6.5 km loop track that takes roughly 2 hours to complete. There are a few steep hills to get up the cliff and onto the headland, but the views are incredible. We got rained on when doing this one, which was fine because we had our raincoats, and then great because we got to see a gorgeous rainbow over the ocean!
Matiu (Somes Island)
This gorgeous little lighthouse is tucked into the cliff of Matiu Island, shining its light out over Wellington Harbour and 16 miles into the Cook Strait. It’s a beautiful lighthouse with blue trimmings and the coolest blue door. To see it up close, you’ll need to take a ferry out to the island. Be sure to spend the day on the island wandering the paths and looking out for the birds that call this predator-free island home.
There has been a lighthouse here since 1866, but the lighthouse you see here today began shining its light in 1900 after calls for a brighter light on the island were realised. Look out at Wellington Harbour at night, and you should be able to see the lighthouse keeping the waters of the harbour safe for everyone at night.
Cape Palliser
The Cape Palliser lighthouse is iconic with its red and white stripes and the hundreds of steps you’ll have to climb to get right up to its base. I’m not joking either; there are roughly 250 steps to climb to get to the top of the rocky outcrop the lighthouse stands on. It’s a narrow set of steps, and only one side has a handrail. There is a little platform about halfway where you can catch your breath and allow people to pass you either on their way up or down the steps. It’s worth the climb for the view at the top!
Looking out over the rugged coastline, it’s easy to see why the lighthouse was necessary. Once you’ve taken in the lighthouse, be sure to stop at all the other lookouts along Cape Palliser, namely the seal colony just below the lighthouse and the Putangirua Pinnacles a little further up the road. For more info on the area and Wellington itself, check out our Wellington blog post here.
South Island Lighthouses
Nugget Point
When you think of lighthouses in New Zealand, Nugget Point is the one that comes to mind for most people. It is an iconic lighthouse that makes it onto many a travel list and must-do blog post for the South Island, if not the entire country. It’s an easy lighthouse to get to, just a short walk from the carpark. However, it is in the Catlins, which is a little drive away from most tourist hotspots. You’ll want to make sure you are out this way for a decent few days to make the most of the area with all its waterfalls and epic beaches.
When you do get to the lighthouse, we highly recommend coming out for sunrise. That’s when we came, armed with the camera, a tripod and a thermos full of hot chai for me and one full of coffee for Nathan. Watching the light slowly changing and the sun rising right next to the lighthouse was magical. There were only a couple of other people there at the early hour too, which made it much more peaceful than during the day.
Once you’ve sat back and watched the sunrise, be sure to walk out to the lighthouse and the viewing platform at its base to take in all the little islands that give Nugget Point its name.
Waipapa Point
Another lighthouse located in the Catlins and well worth visiting is Waipapa Point Lighthouse. It’s a short stroll to the lighthouse from the carpark to view this cute little wooden lighthouse. It was built in response to New Zealand’s worst-ever civilian shipwreck, where a passenger steamer wrecked on a reef just off the point.
The light was first lit on New Year’s Day in 1884, 2 years after the wrecking. A visit to the lighthouse will tell you more about the wreck and life at the lighthouse after it was built. As you walk along the grassy sand dunes to the lighthouse, keep an eye out for sea lions, as they can sometimes be seen on the grass basking in the sun or along the beach playing together.
Cape Campbell
This stunning black and white striped lighthouse is a true gem, but like any treasure, it’s not easy to access. It’s only accessible at low tide by walking along Marfell’s Beach from the DoC campsite on the beach. This makes it a great lighthouse to see if you have a van or a love for camping. We stayed at the Marfell’s Beach campground and hiked out to this lighthouse on a whim. It’s a decent 4-hour walk along the beach to get to the lighthouse, with a bit of a climb at the end up the sand dunes and then up the hill the lighthouse sits proudly on.
Be sure to pack a decent day-hiking bag with lunch and plenty of snacks to enjoy along the way. Tiff hiked the majority of this walk with no shoes, as it’s along the beach with plenty of opportunity to get your feet wet! Nathan, on the other hand, went for the shoe option and managed to keep them nice and dry. Whatever you decide to wear on your feet, just be sure to check the tide times before going out and plan your walk accordingly so you don’t get stranded or find yourself unable to reach the lighthouse.
Akaroa Lighthouse
The Akaroa lighthouse adds a definite beachside feel to the sleepy town of Akaroa. With its white wooden cladding and red accent features, it sits proudly just out of town, adding to the already stunning coastal scenery. The lighthouse itself is no longer used and was moved from its original site to where it now sits as a point of interest to visitors of the town.
You are able to access the inside of this lighthouse and climb to the top for a small donation. Or you can simply walk down the road from the town to get a better look at it from the outside. Either way, it’s worth the visit when you are in Akaroa.
Tuhawaiki (Jacks) Point
Tuhawaiki Point Lighthouse is, in our opinion, the most unusual lighthouse in New Zealand. Its narrow base gives way to a tall tower and surrounding balcony that leaves you with the impression it would be easy to topple over by a giant hand giving it a little flick. It does have a cool history, though; originally lighting up Mātiu (Somes) Island, it was relocated to Tuhawaiki Point in 1903. In 2020 solar panels were installed and the mains power disconnected, making this a very eco-friendly lighthouse indeed!
The walk out to the lighthouse is an easy enough stroll up the hill from Ellis Rd Beach. Sitting on the high cliff face offers you a wonderful view out to the ocean, with plenty of sea birds circling the point.
BONUS
Cape Egmont Lighthouse, North Island
Sadly, when we visited Taranaki, we didn’t know about the Cape Egmont Lighthouse. We found out about it shortly after we visited when we really got into visiting and photographing lighthouses in New Zealand. We really wanted to come back and visit before we left, but unfortunately we just didn’t have the time. So we don’t have a photo of this one, but we don’t want you to miss out like we did! So be sure to add this onto your Taranaki adventures, and don’t just drive past it without knowing it’s there like we managed to do.
Taiaroa Head
Whilst this is a cool lighthouse, it is rather hard to visit. You can see it for free from the parking lot, but you can’t get up close and personal without doing a tour at Taiaroa Head. We did in fact do a tour here, but we chose to just do the Albatross tour by itself and not the tour that combines the history of Taiaroa Head with the viewing of the albatross.
We highly recommend going on the Albatross tour, as you get to watch them from up close, and if you go during the right season, you can see baby albatross in their nests! Whilst you can see the birds soaring around the head without going on the tour, you just don’t get the same views as the tour offers. Plus, you learn a heap about the birds whilst also contributing to the ongoing conservation work to protect these amazing birds.
Keen for more inspo? Be sure to check out:
- Day Hike – Rakiura Track
- Which New Zealand Hot Water Beach Should You Visit?
- 10 Stunning New Zealand South Island DoC Campgrounds
