Cape Palliser Lighthouse Drive

Cape Palliser Lighthouse was built in 1897 out of cast iron. To make the lighthouse stand out with the Aorang range towing behind it, it was painted with red and white strips, only two other lighthouses in NZ have black and white stripes. There were many shipwrecks along the dangerous Cook Strait. Six months before the lighthouse was completed a ship was wrecked taking the lives of 12 people, just miles from the new light house. From 1897 to 1954 oil lamps were used. 1954 to 1967 switched over to a diesel generator. By 1986 Cape Palliser Lighthouse was fully automated and controlled from Wellington. Even today the Cape Palliser Lighthouse is still operating with the 1897 Fresnel lens. Cape Palliser Lighthouse stands 78 meters above sea level and is 18 meters tall. 2×1000-watt incandescent bulb flash 2 times every 20 seconds and can be seen 48 kilometers off shore. Being so isolated in the early days, the stores were delivered to the lighthouse every 3 months by sea, if the weather permitted, otherwise stores would have to be picked up 6 kilometres away at Kawakawa Bay, that is, if the stores were not lost over board. It was not until the late 1950 a road was pushed through from Pirinoa settlement, now the mail and supplies could be deliver once a week.