Cape Reinga

Cape Reinga is about 236km from Paihia. It is located at the tip of the long Aupouri Peninsula. Often thought / mistaken to be the northernmost point of New Zealand, it is not. It is 5km short of being so and the northernmost point is Surville Cliffs, 30km east of Cape Reinga. There is no ‘proper’ road to Surville Cliffs and it is out of bound to the people in general, I was told.

The prominent landmark of Cape Reinga is the lighthouse, which is still in use. It is about 15 minute walk from the car park to the lighthouse. This is the point where Tasman Sea (on the west) and Pacific Ocean (on the east) meet. During stormy weather, the water of the sea / ocean generates waves as high as 10m. We didn’t get to see it.

Quote from a guidebook: ‘…looking out over the endless South Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea certainly has an end-of-the-world feel to it.’

Cape Reinga has a powerful Maori spiritual significance. And with the strong wind and the misty air, it somehow added that ‘enigmatic’ feel besides the ‘end-of-the-world feel’. Having said that, being able to stand where I was standing, I felt ‘on top of the world’!

The path to the lighthouse. About 15 min walk.

View on the way (above and below)


Pacific Ocean

Misty afternoon, but cool and nice.

The lighthouse shrouded in mist.

The meeting point – Tasman Sea on
the left and Pacific Ocean on the right.

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