Castlepoint Lighthouse

The camera looks out over the Wairarapa coast at Castlepoint, where a white lighthouse stands on a rocky reef just offshore. Below it, a long sandy beach curves along the bay, backed by steep green hills. Waves break around the reef and roll toward the shore, and the changing weather over the Pacific shapes the scene from hour to hour.

Early morning often brings soft light across the bay and calmer water, while afternoon winds pick up and push clouds and surf along the coast. Storms and southerly swells make the sea rougher and send spray around the reef. In winter the light is lower and the days shorter, and seabirds are often seen near the rocks and the water's edge.

Castlepoint is a small settlement on the eastern side of the North Island, reached by road through farmland and hills. The lighthouse sits on a reef that becomes an island at high tide, and the long beach and lagoon behind it are popular for walking, fishing and surfing. The area is remote and quiet, with a few holiday homes and a camping ground.