Akaroa Head

The foundations are all that remain of the lighthouse keeper’s family homes, but the original stonework of the supply road down to Haylocks Bay remains along the cliff face, including an original stone culvert at the junction of the road and the small stream. 

Akaroa lighthouse - taken before it was moved to its current location in Akaroa township in 1980

There is an atmosphere of history-past that permeates the air. A visit to Akaroa Heads is still a rewarding experience, even without the lighthouse.

Historic highlights of Akaroa Heads

21 Jan 1875
Akaroa Heads was chosen as a suitable site for a lighthouse.

March 1877
The Marine Engineer came to mark out the site; lantern apparatus were ordered from Europe; the lens and mount came from France, and the mechanism from Scotland.

23 April 1878
A road from Haylocks Bay was constructed first to allow building supplies into site. The road, 500 metre long was dynamited out of solid rock for nearly its entire length and took 10 months to complete.

21 Feb 1879
The derrick and platform were built out of kauri.

7 March 1879
Construction began on the lighthouse. A southerly storm completely demolished the framework of the buildings during construction. The next attempted building was given a double skin, and was partially filled with ballast to help survive future southerly blasts.

30 March 1879
Mr William Black, overseer of the construction work, dies of exposure while travelling from the site to Akaroa Town.

1 Jan 1880
The light shines for the first time. The tower is wooden, 28 feet high. The light itself is 270 feet above sea level and is visible 23 miles (37km) distant. The light is a flashing white light of the second order dioptric, flashing every 10 seconds. Construction costs were more than 7000 pounds.

Dec 1879-1885
Mr Alexander Parks is the first Principal Keeper appointed to Akaroa Heads.

27 Feb 1885
A telephone connection is installed between Akaroa Heads and the post office. Mr Parks - Principal Keeper, makes the first communication.

1911
The lighthouse beacon was the last landfall used by Captain Scott when he sailed from Terra Nova to the South Pole.

1935
Power (kerosene generator) was introduced, putting an end to winding the mechanisms every few hours and the need for night watch.

1951
The Akaroa light was converted from oil to diesel engine power

1950’s
The derrick and shed removed, its kauri timbers used to construct a local fishing boat, ‘Bonita’.

1952
The Principal Keeper's house burns down during the night.

1960
The Assistant Keeper's house was removed

1975-77
Steve O’Neill is the last Principal Keeper stationed at Akaroa Heads.

December 1977
An automatic lighthouse is installed by marine division of MOT to replace the manned lighthouse.

4 October 1980
The lighthouse building and equipment was granted to Akaroa Lighthouse Preservation Society, who moved the tower in sections, to Cemetery Point, Akaroa Town (now known as Lighthouse Point).

1984
The Lighthouse Reserve comes under the management of what is now the Department of Conservation, watched over by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.

Getting there

From Akaroa township on Banks Peninsula, Canterbury, take the Akaroa Lighthouse Road. Warning; this is 11 km of steep, narrow, rough road and more suitable for 4 wheel-drive vehicles.

Know before you go

• The end of Lighthouse road is steep – stop at the flat marked area (2 wheel drive vehicles can get stuck if you go further).
• The area is exposed to adverse weather such as strong winds and can change quickly.
• There are steep cliffs – stay on the track!
• Care must be taken if visitors use Haylocks ladder.
• At Haylocks bay (once down the ladder) be aware of waves and seals – keep a safe distance.

Walking through the reserve

From the car park, wander down the 4-wheel-drive vehicle access, entering the reserve through a gate. The road descends down past the foundations of the lighthouse keeper’s house and other buildings, to the site of the old lighthouse.

From here, follow the old supply road, constructed in 1878 -79, which ends at an iron ladder descending to the rock shelf in little Haylocks Bay. An original stone culvert still remains where the road crosses a small stream.