Cape Reinga

Cape Reinga

Cape Reinga is located at the very northwestern tip of the Aupouri Peninsula in the northwest of New Zealand’s North Island, about 100 kilometers from Kaitaia. Its name comes from the Māori language, meaning “underworld.” In Māori belief, this cape is the place where souls pass into the afterlife after death.

Cape Reinga holds deep spiritual importance for the Māori people and also serves as the turning point for travelers at the northernmost tip of the country, making it one of New Zealand’s most popular tourist destinations. Atop the cliffs of Cape Reinga stands an ancient pohutukawa tree, known as the “place where souls leap,” where legend says that Māori souls jump off the cape and descend via the roots of the pohutukawa tree to the afterlife and back to their ancestral homeland, Hawaiiki. This ancient tree is believed to be around 800 years old but has never bloomed. In 2007, Cape Reinga was added to UNESCO’s tentative list of World Heritage Sites. The iconic landmark here is the famous Cape Reinga Lighthouse, which stands 10 meters tall and is the last lighthouse in New Zealand that visitors can climb. From the top of the lighthouse, visitors can enjoy sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean.

Cape Reinga is considered the boundary between the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Travelers from all over the world come here to witness the vastness of the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean. During peak travel seasons, approximately 120,000 visitors and 1,300 vehicles come here daily.

Cape Reinga

Must-visit reason: One of New Zealand’s most enchanting capes

Continent: Oceania [Oceania]

Country/Region: New Zealand [New Zealand]

Province/State: Northland Region [Northland Region]