Cape Reinga Lighthouse
Te Rerenga Wairua
A white lighthouse and Māori sacred site at the northern tip of New Zealand. From the clifftop, you can watch the line where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean.
In Māori, it is called Te Rerenga Wairua. Legend says that the spirits of the dead leap into the sea from here along an ancient pōhutukawa tree and return to their homeland of Hawaiki. It is one of the most sacred places for Māori, so please refrain from eating or drinking here. The lighthouse, completed in 1941, stands about 10 metres tall, and the famous signpost points the way to destinations around the world. From the car park, a paved path leads downhill for about 20 minutes to the base of the lighthouse, where you can look down on the line where the two oceans meet. Entry is free, and it is open all day. It is about 1.5–2 hours’ drive from Kaitaia (around 110 km, all on sealed road), or you can join a 90 Mile Beach bus tour.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Te Werahi Beach & Cape Maria van Diemen
- Tapotupotu Bay
- Te Paki Giant Sand Dunes
- Spirits Bay (Kapowairua)
- Ninety Mile Beach
- Rarawa Beach
- Subritzky-Wagener Homestead
- Gumdiggers Park