Nugget Point Lighthouse, Historic lighthouse at Nugget Point in Otago, New Zealand

Nugget Point Lighthouse is a stone tower built from locally quarried rock on a headland above the Pacific, at the end of The Nuggets Road. The tower is fenced off, and a viewing platform beside it looks down on the jagged rock outcrops known as The Nuggets.

The lighthouse was built between 1869 and 1870 and began operating on July 4, 1870, using equipment that had originally been ordered for a different coastal station. It became one of the first lights to guide ships safely along New Zealand's southern coastline, which was known for dangerous conditions.

The lighthouse served as a post office from 1901, when Walter Hutton Champion was keeper and his wife Alice lived at the station. The name "The Nuggets" refers to the rocky outcrops below, which resemble gold nuggets scattered in the sea.

A walking track from the signposted car park takes about 20 minutes to reach the viewing platform near the tower, and the path is generally easy to follow. The headland is very exposed to wind, so bringing an extra layer of clothing makes a real difference.

The viewing platform is one of the very few places in New Zealand where yellow-eyed penguins, sea lions, and fur seals can all be spotted in the same visit, without any additional hiking. The animals tend to rest on the rocks directly below, making them visible to anyone who stops to look down.