The walkway to the lighthouse at Cape Reinga or Te Rerenga Wairua in Maori,
which is located over 100km north of the nearest small town of Kaitaia.
Cape Reinga is incorrectly thought of as the most northern tip of the North Island.
North Cape, specifically the Surville Cliffs on the Aupouri Peninsula, 30km east
of Cape Reinga is in fact the northernmost point of the North Island
The lighthouse at Cape Reinga was built in 1941 and fitted with a 1000 watt
electrical lamp which could be seen for 26 nautical miles (48km) and powered by
a diesel generator. In 1987 the lighthouse keepers were withdrawn when it became
fully automated. In 2000 the original lens and lamp were replaced by a 50 watt
beacon which is powered by rechargeable solar cell batteries. The beacon now
flashes every 12 seconds and can be seen for 19 nautical miles, which is 35km
A yellow Automobile Association signpost
The view west of the lighthouse
The turbulent waters just off the coast, is where the Tasman Sea and
the Pacific Ocean meet
The point below the lighthouse and where, according to Maori Mythology, the
spirits of the dead depart on their journey to Hawaiiki - the ancestral homeland
by leaping off the 800 year old Pohutukawa tree (seen on right hand side on the far
point). Reinga means the leaping off place and Te Rerenga Wairua means the leaping
off place of the spirits
A silhouette of a cabbage tree at Houhora
Sunset at Houhora
How beautiful is that ... ?!
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Suzette Bothma
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