Cape Reinga Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
Cape Reinga is the northwesternmost tip of the North Island of New Zealand. It separates the Tasman Sea from the Pacific Ocean.
Cape Reinga is often mistaken as being the northernmost point of the North Island. North Cape's Surville Cliffs, three kilometres to the east of Cape Reinga, are slightly more northerly.
From the lighthouse it is possible to watch the tidal race, as the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean. This makes for unsettled waters just off the coast.
Cape Reinga is located over 100km north of the nearest small town of Kaitaia. It is possible to reach the cape via Ninety Mile Beach or a mixed sealed and unsealed road.
The lighthouse at Cape Reinga was built in 1941 and first lit during May of that year.
The Cape Reinga lighthouse replaced a lighthouse located on nearby Motuopao Island, which had been built 1879. Accessing the lighthouse was difficult due to the rough seas in the area. In 1938, it was decided to move the lighthouse to Cape Reinga for safety reasons. The complete lantern fittings from Motuopao Island were reused at Cape Reinga.
The lighthouse was fitted with a 1000 watt electrical lamp that could be seen for 26 nautical miles (48 km). The lamp was powered by a diesel generator.
In 1987, the lighthouse was fully automated and the lighthouse keepers were withdrawn. The lighthouse is now monitored remotely from Wellington. In May of 2000 the original lens and lamp were replaced by a 50 watt beacon. The beacon is powered by batteries that are recharged by solar cells. The beacon flashes every 12 seconds and can be seen for 19 nautical miles (35 km). This is an Article on Cape Reinga. Page Contains Information, Facts Details or Explanation Guide About Cape Reinga Cape Reinga Lighthouse