East Cape Lighthouse

The East Cape lighthouse stands on a hill at the easternmost point of the New Zealand mainland, which means it is among the first lighthouses in the world to see each sunrise. It was built in 1900 on East Island offshore, but the island proved unstable and prone to slips, and in 1922 the tower was dismantled and re-erected on the mainland hill where it stands now. Getting to it involves two commitments: twenty-one kilometres of unsealed road from Te Araroa, narrow and slow with a few fords, and then a climb of around seven hundred steps from the car park to the top. The step count is the thing people remember, and it is a genuine climb rather than a stroll. From the top the view runs along the coast in both directions with nothing much built on it. The road and land approach cross private property, so respecting signage and gates matters.

What you actually see

• The lighthouse - moved here from East Island in 1922.
• The 700-odd steps - the climb from the car park.
• The easternmost point - among the first lighthouses to see sunrise.
• The empty coast - the view in both directions from the top.

When to go

November to April. Sunrise is the reason many people come, which means driving the gravel road in the dark. Avoid after heavy rain - the fords rise.

Honest expectations

Twenty-one kilometres of gravel road, then around seven hundred steps - both are more than people expect. No facilities at all. The road crosses private land; gates and signage are to be respected.

Nearby

Te Araroa and its ancient pohutukawa are inland; Tolaga Bay and Gisborne are south.