Cape Reinga Lighthouse

Cape Reinga Lighthouse

Cape Reinga Lighthouse is located at Cape Reinga in the Northland Region of New Zealand’s North Island. Perched atop a steep headland 290 meters above sea level, it is the northernmost lighthouse in New Zealand as well as an iconic symbol and popular tourist destination. However, it is not open to the public for individual visits.

The Cape Reinga Lighthouse was built in 1941, replacing an older lighthouse on nearby Motuopao Island. The white lighthouse stands 10 meters tall and is the last in New Zealand that visitors can climb. It faces the vast South Pacific Ocean. Locals say the spirits of deceased Māori leap into the sea at Cape Reinga to return to their ancestral homeland, Hawaiki, giving the lighthouse a special spiritual significance as a guide for these spirits. In front of the lighthouse, you can see a yellow compass rose marked with cities such as London, Vancouver, and Tokyo.

The lighthouse flashes every 12 seconds and is visible up to 19 nautical miles away, guiding ships at sea. Even on calm and sunny days, the ocean below the lighthouse is turbulent and awe-inspiring.

Cape Reinga Lighthouse

Must-visit reason: The northernmost lighthouse in New Zealand

Continent where the attraction is located: Oceania

Country/region where the attraction is located: New Zealand

Province/state where the attraction is located: Northland Region