Lighthouse
On the reef.
7thChakra — CC BY 2.0 · Pseudopanax at English Wikipedia — Public domain · Thomas Berwing — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Kristina D.C. Hoeppner from Wellington, New Zealand — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Kristina D.C. Hoeppner from Wellington, New Zealand — CC BY-SA 2.0
Castlepoint is a small beach settlement on the Wairarapa coast of the Wellington Region, New Zealand, about 49 km east of Masterton in a straight line, roughly an hour's drive. It is known for a lighthouse on a rocky reef and the massive Castle Rock. Captain James Cook named it in 1770 because Castle Rock reminded him of the battlements of a castle. Its Māori name, Rangiwhakaoma, means where the sky runs. Castle Rock stands 162 metres high. Dolphins frequent the nearby waters, and humpback and southern right whales may be seen from shore during their migrations. The white lighthouse stands near the top of the northern end of a reef about a kilometre long, pounded by Pacific waves. Between the reef and Castle Rock lies a calm blue lagoon sheltered from the surf, edged by a wide sandy beach, and at the southern end is a small island crowded with seagulls. Visitors follow a boardwalk and steps up to the lighthouse on the reef, with views along the whole coast. A track through woods and over bridges climbs Castle Rock in about 45 minutes. The wind on the reef is strong and the waves can be dangerous, so stay on the paths.
On the reef.
162 metres.
Calm water.
Castlepoint, Wairarapa Coast, Wellington Region, New Zealand
Yes, a track of about 45 minutes.
Sometimes, during migration seasons.