Manukau Heads Lighthouse, Auckland Overview

Manukau Heads Lighthouse is located on the top of the Awhitu Peninsula to the South of Manukau Heads. This lighthouse is one of the few accessible and open to public viewing in New Zealand. The site includes an enormous free car park, a wooden lighthouse tower and a signal station. The Manukau Heads Lighthouse is renowned for its magnificent view of the Manukau Harbour, Paratutae, Waitakere Ranges and Auckland. It is also home to one of the rarest species of dolphins in New Zealand, the Manukau Dolphin.

Manukau Heads Lighthouse offers the most spectacular river view from the top. Once you park your car, you have to climb to the top of the lighthouse, which is a rewarding experience. Manukau Heads Lighthouse is also a place that supports several indigenous varieties of plants and trees like Pohuehue, Tauhinu, Korokio, Kowharawhara and succulent plants like Horokaka and Kokihi. These plants can bear winds that keep blowing constantly and are strong enough to take long dry spells.

View from the top of the Manukau Heads Lighthouse — Source

Tips

The Lighthouse follows a zero rubbish policy. You are not allowed to litter and are expected to take the trash with you.
You can consume some amount of alcohol on-site (you are expected to drink responsibly ensuring your stability and security of yourself and others around) but it is strictly prohibited inside the Lighthouse Tower.
The management of the Manukau Heads Lighthouse takes punctuality seriously. After hour visits are not possible.
Dogs are not permitted on the premises of the Lighthouse.
There is no provision for drinking water. Please make sure to carry your own.
You can get your own portable barbecue for picnics.
Open fires are strictly prohibited.
Follow the signage.
Try coming here on a sunny day to make the most out of your experience.
Being close to a water body, at times the place gets cooler than expected. Do carry something warm with you.

Facilities

The entry is free of cost yet they welcome donations.
There is a proper arrangement of toilets on site.
For specially-abled people, there are guided tours that facilitate four-wheel-drive transport.
The parking for cars is free too.

How To Reach Manukau Heads Lighthouse

Hamilton is closest to the Manukau Heads Lighthouse.
Take a left turn from Bombay Hills turning point. From there, proceed to Pukekohe and on to Waiuku. A forty-five-minute drive takes you to the Manukau Heads and lighthouse.
If you start your journey from Auckland, opt for the Southern Motorway to Hamilton and rest continue the journey as mentioned above.
While driving to the Manukau Heads Lighthouse, make sure you drive to the left and drive slow. The road gets very narrow as you traverse along it