Baring Head
Lighthouse overview
Baring Head is the nearest lighthouse to Wellington city. It was one of the last major lighthouse stations to be built in New Zealand.
| Lighthouse feature: | Details |
|---|---|
| Location: | latitude 41°25’ south, longitude 174°52’ east |
| Elevation: | 87 metres above sea level |
| Construction: | concrete tower |
| Tower height: | 12.2 metres |
| Light configuration: | flashing LED beacon |
| Light flash character: | white oscillating light on for 9 seconds then off for 6 seconds |
| Power source: | mains electricity |
| Range: | 14 nautical miles (29.5 kilometres) |
| Date light first lit: | 1935 |
| Automated: | 1989 |
| Demanned: | 1989 |
Getting to Baring Head Lighthouse
Baring Head Lighthouse can be seen from beaches along Wellington’s western harbour entrance. The lighthouse complex is fully accessible from East Harbour Regional Park (Baring Head/Ōrua-pouanui) with one of the former lightkeepers’ cottages available for overnight stay bookings from 2024.
There is no public access to enter the lighthouse
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The history of Baring Head Lighthouse
In 1932 it was decided to build a new light station at Baring Head to serve both as an approach light to the Wellington Harbour, and as a coastal light for Cook Strait.
The lighthouse was built on land presented to the Government by a local farmer, Mr Eric Riddiford. Work commenced on the buildings, the lighthouse, and radio beacon towers in 1934. The Baring Head light was first lit in June 1935.
Baring Head was the first manned light to be built in New Zealand for 22 years. The previous manned lighthouse, Castle Point, was built in 1913. The lights built between 1913 and 1935 were all unmanned.
The light at Pencarrow Head had guided ships into Wellington Harbour before Baring Head Lighthouse was built. First lit in 1859, the Pencarrow Head Lighthouse was the first major lighthouse to be built in New Zealand. The old Pencarrow light was extinguished when the Baring Head light started operating.
Operation of the Baring Head light
Baring Head was the first light in New Zealand to start operating immediately on electricity. It was initially supplied by diesel generators until mains electricity arrived in 1950.
After the Baring Head light was built, a programme of electrification of all major lights around New Zealand began. This was completed by 1957.
The station was automated in 1989 and the last keeper was withdrawn.
In February 2005, the original light and associated equipment was replaced with a new LED beacon located out on the balcony of the lighthouse.
The new light is powered by mains electricity backed up by battery power in the event of a mains failure.
The light is monitored remotely from Maritime New Zealand’s Wellington office.
Life at Baring Head light station
The light station, being close to Wellington, was a popular posting for lighthouse keepers and their families. Children were able to attend school which was an advantage that most other light stations did not provide.
There were originally two keepers stationed at Baring Head but this was reduced to just one.
Baring Head Lighthouse was used as a signal station by the armed forces during the Second World War. Light keepers were exempt from conscription because their work contributed to the war effort. Keepers were issued with army jerseys to counter the extreme weather conditions under which they worked.