Cape Brett Lighthouse, Maritime navigation aid in Bay of Islands, New Zealand.
Cape Brett Lighthouse is a white tower standing 11 meters high on the clifftop, serving as a navigation guide for vessels moving through the Bay of Islands. The structure sits on an isolated headland surrounded by water on three sides, making it visible from far distances at sea.
Construction of the lighthouse was completed in 1910 to improve maritime safety in the challenging northern waters of New Zealand. This installation represented a major advancement in navigation technology and vessel guidance for the region at that time.
The headland holds deep significance in Māori navigation history as Rakaumangamanga, a landmark that guided early Pacific voyagers to protected waters. Today, visitors see how the location shaped seafaring routes across the Bay of Islands.
Access is available via an 8-hour walking trail from Paihia or by water taxi, which takes about 35 minutes across the bay. Visitors should know that the walking route is physically demanding, and water taxi service depends on weather conditions.
Inside the structure is the last fully intact giant clockwork mechanism found at any lighthouse in New Zealand. This elaborate system was once used to automatically rotate the lens and project the light across the water.
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