The view from Cornwallis Peninsula
The view from the tip of Cornwallis Peninsula across the Manukau Harbour to Big Bay on the Awhitu Peninsula. Less than 3 km as the crow flies, but over 120 km by road.
Auckland - West
Mainly West of Queen Street - seen through my lens
Category: Awhitu
From Mount Donald McLean
Late afternoon view from the lookout on Mount Donald McLean. Manukau South Head with a hint of the (replica) lighthouse. Mount Karioi in the distance. Manukau Harbour to the left, big Tasman Sea to the right.
Christmas Trees Waiting for Christmas
It’s probably a nice little sideline for this farm to grow some Christmas trees at the far end of the paddock. Seen by the roadside on Awhitu peninsula.
Carved in Stone
Inscribed into the soft rock at Orua Bay (Manukau Heads).
For more black and white images check out Dragonstar’s Weekend in Black and White.
Manukau Heads Lighthouse -- Looking towards the East
More Skywatch images at the Skywatch Site!
At the highest point (about 240 metres) on the southern promontory guarding the entrance to the Manukau Harbour stands the Manukau Heads Lighthouse. This is a replica, opened in 2006 after efforts by local enthusiasts, and placed on a vantage point for the benefit of visitors. The views are superb, across the expanse of the Manukau Harbour to the east, the Waitakere Ranges to the North, the Harbour mouth with its treacherous sandbar but also Ninepin and Paratutae Islands towards west, and rolling pastures to the south.
Between 1874 and 1986 a succession of lighthouses operated in the vicinity, their importance underlined by the worst maritime disaster in New Zealand, when in 1863 HMS Orpheus sank with the loss of 185 lives, as it attempted to cross the bar into the harbour.
Nowadays, Port Onehunga near the upper end of the harbour serves coastal shipping, and ships are guided through the bar by radio contact from the adjacent signal station.
Gates to the lighthouse are open daily between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Gold coin donation appreciated. The Guiding Lights provide a professional guide service if required (phone (09) 235 1458 or guidinglights@ihug.co.nz).
Manukau Heads Lighthouse
Looking towards the Tasman Sea
More from our trip to Manukau Heads:
The scenery along Awhitu Road is quite varied. Here we see lush green hillsides south of Pollok.
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