Cape Reinga / Te Rerenga Wairua Lighthouse Walk
Your Nature Guide
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Marios Gavalas
Author And Researcher
Nau mai, haere mai
Nau mai, haere mai
I'm Marios, delivering the best of Aotearoa's nature walks to your device.
I've personally walked hundreds of New Zealand's tracks and spent months in libraries uncovering interesting information on New Zealand/Aotearoa. And you'll find a slice of that research on this page - enjoy!
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Information
Cape Reinga / Te Rerenga Wairua Lighthouse Walk
600 m return | 20 minutes return
Cape Reinga is the most northerly accessible point on the New Zealand mainland. A steady stream of tour buses and visitors, both domestic and from overseas, make the pilgrimage to this wondrous and awe-inspiring place.
Watch the mighty Pacific Ocean meet the Tasman Sea in a swirling maelstrom of confused water. A waypoint for spirits departing Aotearoa, with deep spiritual meaning for Maori. Respect and enjoy!
Walking Track
Access
The start of the track is signposted from the carpark at the end of Cape Reinga Road.
There are toilets nearby.
Track
The sealed track is wide and even, descending to the lighthouse above Cape Reinga.
Geology
The frothing water to the west is Columbia Bank, a swirling maelstrom of confused water, where the calm female waters of the Pacific Ocean meet the furious disturbed waters of the male Tasman Sea. The upwelling of nutrients attracts abundant fish and marine life.
Polynesian History
According to Maori mythology, the final leg of a spirit’s journey involves travelling down the exposed root of the legendary pohutukawa at Te Rerenga Wairua (Cape Reinga). From there it travels to the Manawa-Tahi (Three Kings Islands), and on to Hawaiki.
The pohutukawa tree is named ‘Akakite-reinga’ and is just visible between the two prominent humps which form the cape.
European History
The concrete tower of Cape Reinga lighthouse is 10-metres-tall and stands 165 metres above sea level. The lens was shipped from England and installed on Motuopao Island in 1879. Cape Reinga lighthouse started operating in 1941.
Feature
Cape Reinga is 3km south of Surville Cliffs, which are 1km north of North Cape. Cape Reinga is the most northerly accessible point on the New Zealand mainland. A steady stream of tour buses and visitors, both domestic and from overseas, make the pilgrimage to this wondrous and awe-inspiring place.
To the north, the Three Kings Islands were named on the eve of Epiphany by Abel Tasman, to commemorate the Three Wise Men of the East, who followed the star to Bethlehem.
Details
| Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
DOC NorthlandCentral government organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Kaitaia |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Walking
Nearby
Reviews
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5.0/5
24May24.
A special place. Nice walk. Good facilities. Spend some time and enjoy the sights.
Note - some of the walks are currently closed. Check with DoC beforehand.
MF![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(95,55,203)" /><path d="m 150 733 Q 149 151 -433 150 Q 149 149 150 -433 Q 151 149 733 150 Q 151 151 150 733 z" fill="rgb(241,212,123)" /><path d="m 150 530 Q 255 45 -230 150 Q 255 255 150 -230 Q 45 255 530 150 Q 45 45 150 530 z" fill="rgb(14,43,132)" /><path d="m 150 207 Q 244 56 93 150 Q 244 244 150 93 Q 56 244 207 150 Q 56 56 150 207 z" fill="rgb(160,200,52)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Lots of cultural history here.
Take the time to read the posted signs to learn about the area which includes no food or drinks allowed for cultural reasons. Very busy place with lots of tour buses coming by. Worth the walk to the light house to see where the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean collide.
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5.0/5
Beautiful views, clean bathrooms (hand sanitizers only), drinking fountain and lots of walking trails.
It’s a uphill incline on the way back so be prepared. There are a couple benches so people can take breaks.
AL![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(24,73,220)" /><path d="m 150 630 Q 150 150 -330 150 Q 150 150 150 -330 Q 150 150 630 150 Q 150 150 150 630 z" fill="rgb(101,122,251)" /><path d="m 150 521 Q 182 118 -221 150 Q 182 182 150 -221 Q 118 182 521 150 Q 118 118 150 521 z" fill="rgb(154,133,4)" /><path d="m 150 195 Q 110 190 105 150 Q 110 110 150 105 Q 190 110 195 150 Q 190 190 150 195 z" fill="rgb(231,182,35)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
The end of the world feeling!!
A great walk to the lighthouse of Cape Reinga. Amazing views!!
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5.0/5
Very beautiful view, see the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean join, amazing.
A very good place!
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5.0/5
Well worth the drive.
One of the most amazing places I have seen in nature. Reading and learning about the Maori people and culture gave the experience a personal, spiritual nature. Although it was very busy all visitor were respectful.
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4.0/5
Unfortunately, we had bad weather conditions and could not see anything from the top, but the lighthouse is lovely.
With good weather a great spot.
MR![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(139,233,66)" /><path d="m 150 655 Q 101 199 -355 150 Q 101 101 150 -355 Q 199 101 655 150 Q 199 199 150 655 z" fill="rgb(138,195,131)" /><path d="m 150 438 Q 122 178 -138 150 Q 122 122 150 -138 Q 178 122 438 150 Q 178 178 150 438 z" fill="rgb(117,60,124)" /><path d="m 150 223 Q 271 29 77 150 Q 271 271 150 77 Q 29 271 223 150 Q 29 29 150 223 z" fill="rgb(116,22,189)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
On the top of New Zealand.
You can enjoy the perfect scene and the power of nature that all real travellers need to find at least once.
G![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(86,125,210)" /><path d="m 150 541 Q 257 43 -241 150 Q 257 257 150 -241 Q 43 257 541 150 Q 43 43 150 541 z" fill="rgb(144,206,160)" /><path d="m 150 374 Q 158 142 -74 150 Q 158 158 150 -74 Q 142 158 374 150 Q 142 142 150 374 z" fill="rgb(111,49,95)" /><path d="m 150 329 Q 191 109 -29 150 Q 191 191 150 -29 Q 109 191 329 150 Q 109 109 150 329 z" fill="rgb(169,130,45)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Safe (and big) carpark, clean and new facilities, beautiful place, great access and clean.
Signs about Maori history and culture.
LF![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(108,120,91)" /><path d="m 150 711 Q 124 176 -411 150 Q 124 124 150 -411 Q 176 124 711 150 Q 176 176 150 711 z" fill="rgb(158,254,198)" /><path d="m 150 379 Q 230 70 -79 150 Q 230 230 150 -79 Q 70 230 379 150 Q 70 70 150 379 z" fill="rgb(97,1,57)" /><path d="m 150 331 Q 234 66 -31 150 Q 234 234 150 -31 Q 66 234 331 150 Q 66 66 150 331 z" fill="rgb(147,135,164)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Great atmosphere, pure nature, awesome view, silence although there is tourism, amazing.
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5.0/5
24May24.
A special place. Nice walk. Good facilities. Spend some time and enjoy the sights.
Note - some of the walks are currently closed. Check with DoC beforehand.
MF -
5.0/5
Lots of cultural history here.
Take the time to read the posted signs to learn about the area which includes no food or drinks allowed for cultural reasons. Very busy place with lots of tour buses coming by. Worth the walk to the light house to see where the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean collide.
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5.0/5
Beautiful views, clean bathrooms (hand sanitizers only), drinking fountain and lots of walking trails.
It’s a uphill incline on the way back so be prepared. There are a couple benches so people can take breaks.
AL -
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5.0/5
The end of the world feeling!!
A great walk to the lighthouse of Cape Reinga. Amazing views!!
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5.0/5
Very beautiful view, see the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean join, amazing.
A very good place!
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4.0/5
Unfortunately, we had bad weather conditions and could not see anything from the top, but the lighthouse is lovely.
With good weather a great spot.
MR -
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5.0/5
Well worth the drive.
One of the most amazing places I have seen in nature. Reading and learning about the Maori people and culture gave the experience a personal, spiritual nature. Although it was very busy all visitor were respectful.
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5.0/5
On the top of New Zealand.
You can enjoy the perfect scene and the power of nature that all real travellers need to find at least once.
G -
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5.0/5
Safe (and big) carpark, clean and new facilities, beautiful place, great access and clean.
Signs about Maori history and culture.
LF -
5.0/5
Great atmosphere, pure nature, awesome view, silence although there is tourism, amazing.
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4.0/5
If you stand on top of the mountain, you get the impression that this is the end of the world.
Stunning view, crystal clear water and a gorgeous beach.
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4.0/5
We struck bad weather for three days, but were impressed by the area, the beaches and the cleanliness of the area.
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4.5/5
Really, really nice!
A negative point for me is that there was a flying camera. It is a place to enjoy without such noises.
M![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(2,176,83)" /><path d="m 150 612 Q 253 47 -312 150 Q 253 253 150 -312 Q 47 253 612 150 Q 47 47 150 612 z" fill="rgb(247,136,251)" /><path d="m 150 527 Q 178 122 -227 150 Q 178 178 150 -227 Q 122 178 527 150 Q 122 122 150 527 z" fill="rgb(8,119,4)" /><path d="m 150 254 Q 132 168 46 150 Q 132 132 150 46 Q 168 132 254 150 Q 168 168 150 254 z" fill="rgb(253,79,172)" /></svg>)
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