Cape Reinga, Northland

A place of spiritual significance for Maori, Cape Reinga is the turning point for travellers wandering the far north.

At the northwestern tip of the North Island, Cape Reinga is a place of intense cultural and spiritual significance to Maori. The ancient pohutukawa tree that clings to the cliffs is the reinga, 'the place of leaping'. According to Maori folklore, the spirits of the dead leap off the headland and descend down the roots of the tree into the after life to return to their traditional homeland of Hawaiiki. This tree is believed to be about 800 years and is said to have never blossomed.

The lighthouse at Cape Reinga is a New Zealand scenic icon. Built in 1941, it replaced a lighthouse which was located on nearby Motuopao Island. The light flashes every 12 seconds and can be seen for 19 nautical miles.

If you look north from the cape, you’ll see where the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean collide. Even on calm days, the water is in turmoil as currents fight to gain dominance over each other.