The Pencarrow Lighthouse was New Zealand’s first permanent iron tower lighthouse. It is situated on a strategic promontory at the entrance to Wellington Harbour, once occupied by Maori. As shipping increased during the 1840s, many vessels, unfamiliar with the hazards of the harbour, foundered on the rocks at the entrance. Although several attempts were made to construct some sort of beacon to assist shipping, it was not until 1851, under the direction of Governor Sir George Grey, that plans were made to build a permanent structure. designed by Edward Roberts, who had been sent to New Zealand in 1847 to assist with the construction and maintenance of military works, and was then seconded as Colonial Engineer. The lighthouse sections were cast in England by the Woodside Ironworks, Dudley, and arrived in New Zealand in June 1858. They were assembled on site by Edward George Wright, who had been especially sent out from England for this task.Following the establishment of provincial government in 1853, the task of constructing the new lighthouse fell to the Wellington Provincial Council.On 1 January 1859 the lighthouse shone for the first time, amid great celebration. Its first keeper was Mary Jane Bennett (the wife of the previous keeper, George White Bennett, who had drowned in the harbour in June 1855 when the pilot boat capsized) New Zealand's only female lighthouse keeper. She stayed in this position with her children for 10 years before returning to England. The light was at first fuelled with colza oil, and then kerosene. In 1863 the lighthouse came under the direction of the Marine Department. It remained operational until 18 June 1935, when it was replaced by an automated light erected at Baring Head east of Pencarrow. The Pencarrow lighthouse was offered to the New Zealand Historic Places Trust in 1966, and the Trust has maintained the building ever since. Owing to occasional fog obscuring the light, the low level lighthouse was built in 1906 and still operates today It is now a popular destination for hikers and bikers, and is surrounded by a recreational reserve.
Getting there: Accessed from the end of the main road past Eastbourne, the general area of the cache is best approached by mountain bike. You can hire one from a chap at the end of the road most weekends. It is an approximately 30-40 minute easy bike ride.
Once near the general area, you can get to the lighthouse either via a track from the harbour side, or if you are feeling particularly fit, you can cycle to the top of the hill by continuing around the Head until the road branches. You will need to go through a couple of gates this way - be sure to close them after you. The cache can also be walked to as well but this will take at least a couple of hours each way to walk ,95% of the way is flat so take a packed lunch and lots of water and make a day of it. the wind can be a big factor on this one i.e the inward and outward journey.
Cache is near a feature not too far from the lighthouse, above ground and invisible from five metres. GPS coverage is excellent.
Ship Rock Cache GCT35A is also out this way so if you have a mountain bike you can continue on around the coastal path to this.