East Cape (New Zealand)

East Cape is located north of Gisborne, and is famous for the East Cape Lighthouse, the first lighthouse in the world to see the sun.

The East Cape Lighthouse

East Cape Lighthouse is accessible to the public. It can be reached on foot from the car park at the end of East Cape Road. Here you face a 20 minute climb up 500+ steps to the lighthouse. There is no public access to enter this lighthouse.

Visible in the base of the lighthouse are the old lenses that were removed when the new beacon was installed.

Today little remains to indicate that there was once housing and associated buildings for three keepers on this site.

From the East Cape Lighthouse, visitors can look out onto East Island where the lighthouse was originally located.

Te Araroa

Te Araroa is located midway between Gisborne and Opotiki on scenic holiday route highway 35.

Te Araroa township is a 21 km drive to East Cape, making it the perfect base to visit the East Cape Lighthouse, and other attractions in the area. Te Araroa township is situated on the foreshore of Kawakawa Bay. A giant pohutukawa tree, reputed to be the oldest and largest of its kind in New Zealand stands in the school grounds.

Te Araroa is famous in the history of Ngati Porou as the chosen home of the tribe's greatest warrior ancestor Tuwhakairiora.

Te Araroa offers a variety of accommodation including campsites, cabins, motel units and hotel facilities with a licensed restaurant. There are convenience stores, postal facilities and a garage.

Punaruku Beach provides safe swimming, good fishing and is a popular surfing beach.

With its mild climate and extensive coastline Te Araroa is a great destination.

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