Cape Brett Lighthouse

Cape Brett Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse located at Cape Brett in the Northland Region of the North Island of New Zealand.

The lighthouse and settlement have a rich and well-documented human history. The site was surveyed and chosen in 1908 by Captain John Bollons of NZGSS Hinemoa. The lighthouse was constructed in 1910 as a cast-iron tower and was replaced by a fiberglass tower in 1978 when it was automated. Cape Brett Lighthouse and its associated structures are on the Heritage New Zealand list as a Category 1 Historic Place List No: 7799. It was registered on 26 June 2009.

The Cape Brett Track is a 16 km track that traverses rugged terrain through native and regenerating bush. The track offers dramatic coastal views, steep cliffs, and drop-offs to the side of the track. The Rakaumangamanga/Cape Brett Track begins in Rawhiti, at the Opourua Bay (Oke Bay) Scenic Reserve Entrance. Sea Shuttle Bay of Islands provides a water taxi service from Opourua/Oke Bay to Maunganui Bay (Deep Water Cove) for hikers to do the track one way. The track is challenging and requires a medium level of fitness, taking approximately 7 hours to complete.

Cape Brett Lighthouse stands at the end of the Cape Brett Peninsula, which rises to 360 meters at its northern end. The peninsula is a 15 km long peninsula in the Bay of Islands, in the Northland Region of New Zealand. A noted landmark, the natural arch "Hole in the Rock" of Piercy Island lies about 500 meters off the cape. The head of the peninsula is Cape Brett itself (also known by the Maori, Rakaumangamanga), a promontory which extends north into the Pacific Ocean at the eastern end of the Bay of Islands. For those planning to visit Cape Brett Lighthouse, it is important to take the right gear for your trip, including walking and tramping gear. It is also important to tell a trusted person your plans and when to raise the alarm if you haven’t returned. Visitors can contact the Pewhairangi/Bay of Islands Office or the Kauaeranga Visitor Centre for more information.