East Cape Lighthouse stands high on a clifftop at the easternmost point of the North Island, near Te Araroa on the East Coast. As one of the first places on Earth to see each new day, it is a favourite sunrise spot. It was first built offshore on East Island in 1900 and moved to the mainland in 1922. A long climb usually leads up to it, though the steps are currently closed by storm damage, so for now the reward is the drive and the view from the road.
Access note. The steps and track up to the lighthouse have been closed since 2023 because of slips and storm damage, and there is no confirmed reopening date. East Cape Road from Te Araroa is open and the drive is worthwhile, but you cannot currently climb to the lighthouse itself. Check Maritime New Zealand or the local i-SITE for the latest before you go.
| First lit | On East Island, 1900. Moved to the mainland 1922 |
| Tower height | About 15 metres |
| Focal height | 154 metres above sea level |
| Light | Flashing white every 10 seconds |
| Range | About 22 nautical miles, roughly 35 kilometres |
| Automated | 1985 |
| Region | East Cape, Tairāwhiti Gisborne |
| Access | Road open. The steps to the lighthouse are closed by storm damage |
History
The first light here was not on the mainland at all. In 1900 a lighthouse was built on Whangaokeno, or East Island, a small island about two kilometres offshore. Four men drowned during construction when the boat carrying the tower materials capsized. The island turned out to be a poor choice, prone to earthquakes and frequent landslides, and by 1920 the risk was judged too great. The light on the island was put out in April 1922, and a new lighthouse was lit on the mainland clifftop in December 1922, where it still stands. It was automated in 1985.
The tower and the first sunrise
The tower is about 15 metres tall, but perched on the cliff its light sits 154 metres above the sea, among the highest focal heights of any New Zealand lighthouse. It flashes white every 10 seconds and can be seen for about 22 nautical miles, roughly 35 kilometres. East Cape is the easternmost point of the New Zealand mainland, and one of the first inhabited places on Earth to see the sun each morning. It is a friendly argument rather than a settled fact, since low-lying Pitt Island in the Chathams has a rival claim and some Pacific nations cross into the new calendar day earlier, but few places greet the actual sunrise sooner than this clifftop.
Explore the data. See how East Cape fits with every other light around the coast, with build years, heights and access notes, on our interactive New Zealand lighthouses map.
Visiting East Cape Lighthouse
The lighthouse is reached from Te Araroa, at the far end of the East Coast, along East Cape Road. The road is open and runs about 20 kilometres, mostly gravel, taking around 30 to 40 minutes each way along a scenic stretch of coast. In normal times a steep climb of around 700 steps leads from the road up to the lighthouse, and many people make it before dawn to watch the sunrise from the top.
For now, though, the climb is off limits. The steps and track were badly damaged by slips in 2023, after the storms that battered the East Coast, and they remain closed with no confirmed reopening date. The drive out is still worth doing, and the sunrise can be enjoyed from the road end and the coast, but plan on not being able to reach the lighthouse itself, and check for updates before setting out.
Frequently asked questions
Can you visit East Cape Lighthouse right now?
You can drive out to East Cape on East Cape Road from Te Araroa, but the steps and track up to the lighthouse have been closed since 2023 because of slip and storm damage. Check Maritime New Zealand or the local i-SITE for the latest before you go.
How many steps are there at East Cape Lighthouse?
Around 700 steps climb from the road up to the lighthouse when the track is open. It is a steep walk, which is why many people do it before dawn to reach the top for sunrise.
Is East Cape the first place to see the sunrise?
It is one of the first. East Cape is the easternmost point of the New Zealand mainland and among the first inhabited places on Earth to see each new day, though Pitt Island in the Chathams has a rival claim and some Pacific nations cross into the new calendar day earlier.
Related guides and sources
- New Zealand Lighthouses Explorer, our interactive map of every major light around the coast.
- Tairāwhiti Gisborne on Te Araroa and East Cape, including current access.
- Maritime New Zealand on the East Cape light.
Make a day of it. East Cape is the end of a long, beautiful drive around the East Coast from Gisborne or Ōpōtiki, past Tolaga Bay’s long wharf, the church at Tikitiki and the pōhutu coast, with Te Araroa and its giant pōhutukāwa tree near the turn-off.