Pencarrow Head Lighthouse

Welcome to the rugged, windswept coastline of East Harbour Regional Park in Wellington. You are standing at the beginning of the trail that leads to the historic Pencarrow Head lighthouses. …

As you make your way along the flat coastal track, the sheer scale of the landscape becomes apparent. On your left, steep, scrub covered hills rise sharply, composed of fractured greywacke rock that constantly threatens minor…

After several kilometers of travel, you reach a crucial junction point on the beach, marked by the presence of a newer, automated lighthouse structure situated low near the water's edge. Stop here and take a close look at this…

From the beach junction, turn your attention to the steep, narrow track that zigzags up the side of the cliff toward the Pencarrow Head. If you brought a bicycle, this is where you must dismount and push, or leave it secured at…

Finally, you crest the ridge and stand before the historic Pencarrow Head Lighthouse. This elegant, white painted tower was illuminated for the first time in January eighteen fifty nine, making it the very first permanent…

While the iron architecture is impressive, the true heart of the Pencarrow story is its human element, specifically the legacy of Mary Jane Bennett. She holds the unique distinction of being the first and only female lighthouse…

If you walk a short distance further along the high ridge past the historic lighthouse, you will reach the Baring Head lookout. This vantage point offers one of the most spectacular, unobstructed panoramic views in the entire…

As you begin your steep descent back down to the beach, take a final moment to reflect on the journey to Pencarrow Head. You have traveled along a harsh, unforgiving coastline to reach an icon of New Zealand's maritime history. …