Waipapa Point Lighthouse

Dramatically guarding the entrance to Foveaux Strait, this coastline, home to a sea lion colony, witnessed New Zealand’s worst civilian shipping disaster. The wreck of the SS Tararua in 1881 ran aground on the rocks on a dark and stormy night. 131 lives were lost.

The still-active lighthouse at Waipapa Point was built after the shipwreck.

Pay your respects to some of its victims buried in the small graveyard in a paddock a short walk from the lighthouse (Tararua Acre) and picture the farmer’s son’s terrible ride on horseback through the night to sound the alarm and summon help, ultimately too late.