Castle Point Lighthouse, located near the village of Castlepoint in the Wellington Region of the North Island of New Zealand, is the North Island’s tallest lighthouse standing 52 meters above sea level and is one of only two left in New Zealand with a rotating beam. It is owned and operated by Maritime New Zealand.   Castle Point lighthouse is situated on the Wairarapa Coast, about 70 kilometers east of Masterton. Close to the Castle Point Township, it was known as the “holiday light”. The Castle Point light was one of the last manned lights to be established in New Zealand. Lighthouse feature: details Location: latitude 40°54’ south, longitude 176°14’ east Elevation: 52 metres above sea level Construction: cast iron tower Tower height: 23 metres Light configuration: 2nd order Fresnel lens, illuminated by a 1000 watt incandescent bulb Light flash character: white light flashing 3 times every 30 seconds Power source: mains electricity Range: 19 nautical miles (35 kilometres) Date light first lit: 1913 Automated: 1988 Demanned: 1988   Getting to Castle Point The lighthouse is accessible to the public. It can be reached on foot from the Castle Point township. There is no public access to enter the lighthouse Castle Point is a popular day trip from Wellington. The History of Castle Point The light was built in 1913 and was originally fueled by oil. It was officially lit for the first time on Sunday 12 January 1913, sending out a triple flash every 45 seconds that could be seen for 35 kilometre In 1954 the oil lamp was replaced with an electric one powered by a local diesel generator. This was subsequently replaced by a connection to the mains grid in 1961. The nearby Castlepoint beach is popular with holidaymakers and the lighthouse itself became a popular tourist attraction, acquiring the nickname “The Holiday Light”. The light was fully automated in 1988 and is now managed from a central control room in Wellington. Early days Built upon a prominent cliff, Captain Cook observed that Castle Point looked like an “old medieval stronghold”. Lighthouse construction The cast iron tower was manufactured at Luke’s foundry in Wellington. Lighthouse timeline 2013 Castle Point lighthouse centenary 2003 Epoxy urethane system applied Original lighthouse coating removed & epoxy urethane system applied. 1988 Lighthouse fully automated Lighthouse fully automated & lighthouse keeper withdrawn. 1977 Slew ring installed Optic roller bearing replaced with slew ring. 1970 Lighthouse keepers reduced Number of Lighthouse Keepers reduced from two to one. 1961 Lighthouse connected to mains Lighthouse connected to mains supplied electricity. 1953 Electric turning motor lamp installed Electric turning motors & lamp installed – 230V from diesel generator. 1947 Foundation bolts tightened Tower shakes in storm, foundation bolts tightened. 1946 Roller bearing installed Optic mercury bearing / float replaced with roller bearing. 1942 Mercury spill Earthquakes cause optic bearing / float to spill mercury. 1934 Lantern room cleaning path install Lantern room cleaning path install (missing from original tower). 1923 Lighthouse keepers reduced Number of Lighthouse Keepers reduced from three to two. 1922 Lighthouse accident Principal Duncan fell to his death from a ladder while fixing telephone line. 1913 Telegraph connected Signal station with telegraph connected. Light first lit Light operational (total cost £9,703). 1912 Light supplied Incandescent apparatus supplied by Chance Bros. (Birmingham). Optic turning apparatus supplied Optic turning apparatus supplied by James Milne and Son (Edinburgh). Optic supplied Optic supplied by Barbier, Bernard and Turenne (Paris). Tower cast supplied Tower cast at Lukes & Co Wellington (cost of tower – £1,375). History The light was built in 1913 and was originally fueled by oil. It was officially lit for the first time on Sunday 12 January 1913, sending out a triple flash every 45 seconds that could be seen for 35 kilometre In 1954 the oil lamp was replaced with an electric one powered by a local diesel generator. This was subsequently replaced by a connection to the mains grid in 1961. The nearby Castlepoint beach is popular with holidaymakers and the lighthouse itself became a popular tourist attraction, acquiring the nickname “The Holiday Light”. The light was fully automated in 1988 and is now managed from a central control room in Wellington.