Te Rerenga Wairua (Cape Reinga) visitor facilities
New facilities at Te Rerenga Wairua (Cape Reinga) make your visit a memorable experience and give you a greater appreciation of the mystery and spirituality of the whole area.
Completed in March 2009, the $6 million upgrade of the visitor facilities was a result of a close working relationship built up over the years between DOC and local iwi and kaitiaki (guardians) of the area, Ngati Kuri.
Portico / waharoa
A concrete portico or waharoa (the gateway) leads to the beginning of the new walking track and initially only shows glimpses of Cape Maria Van Diemen and Motuopao Island. As you walk through the portico, the entire vista opens up before you, and Te Werahi Beach appears.
Specially designed panels on the portico’s interior depict a historical map, thought to be the first known map of Aotearoa to be drawn by Tuki Tahua over 200 years ago. The roof on top of the portico is made from certified sustainable wood – eucalypt and cedar.
Red chip sealed track
The 600-metre red chip sealed track, which depicts the red colour of the earth at Te Rerenga Wairua, leads from the carparks to the lighthouse. You can enjoy expansive views of the area, particularly of North Cape, Spirits Bay and the rocky coast of Sandy Bay.
The car parks are now sealed and provide better traffic flow and parking for tourist buses and cars. The carparks are set low so that the panoramic views are hidden from visitors, until they enter the portico, where the magnificent views begin to unfold as they make their way down the track to the lighthouse.
Sealed carpark, toilet block, and portico
New toilets, adjacent to the carparks, are an environmentally friendly design that reduces water usage. Hand sanitizer dispensers have been installed in place of sinks.
Interpretation signage at key spots helps you to learn more about the geology, ecology, history and culture of the area.
Over 60,000 native plants grown from seed collected from Te Rerenga Wairua were planted and are beginning to grow. Planting will continue throughout the next few years.