Farewell Spit
Farewell Spit has a focal height of 30 metres, a tower height of 27 metres and a range of 19 nautical miles. It was built in 1896.
- Focal height
- 30 metres
- Tower height
- 27 metres
- Range
- 19 nautical miles
- Built
- 1896
- Status
- Active
- Coordinates
- -40.55, 173
The Farewell Spit Lighthouse is located in New Zealand's Golden Bay, near the northern tip of the South Island. It stands at the end of the country's longest sand spit and guides vessels entering Cook Strait from the west and south. The lighthouse features a rotating LED beacon that flashes white or red once every 15 seconds, with a range of 19 nautical miles. The tower is 27 meters tall and constructed of an open steel lattice to withstand the abrasive sand and salt-laden winds.
The need for a lighthouse in this location was identified in 1856, due to a growing number of shipwrecks and strandings in the area. The first lighthouse was built in 1870, but it was no match for the harsh environment and was replaced with a steel lattice tower in 1894. The current lighthouse has undergone changes over the years, with the installation of a rotating LED beacon.
The Farewell Spit Lighthouse has an interesting history, with protests and delays in its establishment. The lighthouse has played a crucial role in guiding vessels safely through the treacherous waters of Cook Strait. Today, the lighthouse remains an important aid to navigation, warning approaching vessels of extensive shoaling with its red light. The lighthouse's unique design and construction have allowed it to withstand the harsh conditions of its location, making it a notable landmark in the region.
Light and tower
The light has a focal height of 30 metres. The light has a range of 19 nautical miles. Its recorded status is active.
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Details
- Status
- Active
- Range Nm
- 19
- Year Built
- 1896
- Description
- The '''Farewell Spit Lighthouse''' is located at the end of New Zealand's longest sand spit in Golden Bay / Mohua, near the northern tip of the South Island. It guides vessels entering Cook Strait from the west and south. The LED rotating beacon flashes white or red, once every 15 seconds. It has a range of . Red is shown to warn approaching vessels of extensive shoaling. Standing tall, the tower needs to be taller than the support structures of most lighthouses built on cliffs or headlands, because the sand foundations it is built upon are almost at sea level. The tower is constructed of an open steel lattice to withstand abrasive sand and salt-laden winds.
- Focal Height M
- 30
- Tower Height M
- 27