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Cape Foulwind

Cape Foulwind 1

Lighthouse overview 

Cape Foulwind is south of Westport on the west coast of New Zealand’s South Island. 

 

Lighthouse feature: 

Details 

Location: 

latitude 41°25’ south, longitude 171°28’ east 

Elevation: 

70 metres above sea level 

Construction: 

concrete tower 

Tower height: 

9 metres 

Light configuration: 

LED flashing beacon 

Light flash character: 

white light flashing once every 12 seconds 

Power source: 

batteries charged by solar panels 

Range: 

10 nautical miles (16 kilometres) 

Date light first lit: 

1876 

Automated: 

1926 

Demanned: 

1926 

  

There is no public access to enter the lighthouse

The Cape Foulwind tower remains much the same as when it was first built. You can see the foundations for the original tower in front of the current tower. The foundations for the original keepers’ houses are also visible.

Find Cape Foulwind Lighthouse on the map (opens in new tab)

History of Cape Foulwind Lighthouse 

The first light was lit in 1874. 

The original tower, built of Rimu, suffered from rot. The new concrete tower was built behind the original tower in the mid-1920s. The light in the new tower was first lit in 1926. 

 

 

Operation of the light 

The original light in the new tower was an automatic acetone-powered light. It provided automatic operation and was also very efficient, only requiring refuelling twice a year. 

This light, with its automatic operation and improved efficiency, spelled the end for the keepers. The final keeper was withdrawn in 1926 when the light became operational. 

In the mid-1950s the acetone light was converted to electricity, simplifying maintenance even further. 

The original beacon has since been replaced with an LED beacon on the tower balcony. The beacon is powered by battery banks charged by solar panels.