during the southern-scenic route tour, there are two most famous lighthouse u cannot miss, one of them is the Waipapa Point Lighthouse. it's a few distance away from the main road, we got there using 15mins by car. but not hard to find.
This light house is well worth a visit it is a very beautiful rugged location and a must for its wildlife. Waipapa point is famous for seals an sea lions plus lots of sea birds, I doubt that there are many places you can see seals and sea lion so close but make sure you don't get to close!
On a winters afternoon with wind blowing a southerly buster it was stunning. Cold though but coastline amazing with seals sitting on the beach. Sunset was great.
A very out of the way place but so worth the visit On the Southern Scenic Route. Can be a bit cool and windy Sea Lions and seal often basking in the sun on the beach so some caution needed on the beach. A very old Light house with a lot of history Worth the drive on the narrow gravel road
A very small walk from the car park to visit the Lighthouse. Unfortunately it was locked. There are beaches surrounding the lighthouse and you can get down to them. We saw a mum with her 3 pups lying on the beach (sealions) and a few more round and about, great stuff. Nearby there is a graveyard where some unfortunate people lost their lives in a shipwreck of this coast. As you leave there is a field on your right and the graves are situated there
visited the place before sunset with the full moon rising. It was magic light and a cold yet very moving moment for me.. what a beautiful calm ocean with purple sky and the full moon rising in the horizon. It was 3 decrees but I never felt the cold, I was enchanted by pure beauty and well being with the Ocean facing me, no noise, no car, nobody, no tourists around, all alone with e the magic of nature PEACE AND SOLACE.
A windy point with a now closed up lighthouse. However there were sea lions on the beach, and a very good walking track from the car park to the beach - Yes worth the trip !
If you have not seen a lighthouse earlier then this is the place to do that. Likewise for seals. Nice place to spend half an hour. Take the coastal route from fortrose. Quite well marked. Last 4 km is gravel road. Can be extremely windy. Veiwing seals is quite a certainty. The views itself are very nice. There is the lighthouse also. Not sure if one can go in as we had an aggresive seal between us and the lighthouse who was very interested in making friends with us. The road from waipapa point to waikawa also has about 14 km of gravel road including a small section that is open to tidal flooding.
This place is a perfect example of the rugged beauty of the New Zealand coast. Beautiful photo opportunities with spectacular windswept horizontal trees and almost certain viewing of the endangered sea lions and fur seals as well as many native birds. An easy 5 minute maximum walk to the light house and beach. Definitely worth the drive.