A puzzle cache about New Zealand's lighthouses. 

The geocache is not at the published coordinates: they are at the corner of Canberra Avenue and Caronia Avenue, two passenger liners that no doubt relied on the safety of lighthouses.  The SS Canberra was in the P&O fleet, the RMS Caronia was in the Cunard Line from 1947 to 1967.  Other streets in this area such as Athenic Avenue, Oriana Avenue and Mariposa Avenue are all named after ships.

To the Lighthouse

There's something about lighthouses that captures the imagination. Maritime New Zealand operates and maintains 23 lighthouses in the country.  None of these lighthouses are manned as all are operated from a control room in Wellington.  There are other lighthouses in New Zealand too, operated by local port authorities such as Bean Rock and other decommissioned lighthouses like the one on Manukau South Head.  However this geocache is about the lighthouses under the control of Maritime New Zealand.

The first lighthouse in New Zealand still under the control of Maritime New Zealand to have its light illuminated was the one on Tiritiri Matangi Island back in 1865.  The last lighthouse, and 23rd, was the lighthouse on Cape Reinga completed in 1941.  It replaced the lighthouse at nearby Cape Maria van Diemen.  The lighthouse at Cape Maria van Diemen had access difficulties partly solved by a flying fox between the mainland and the island.  Meant for supplies, it was also used by the keeper and his families to transport themselves across the channel.  

To find the correct coordinates, crack the puzzle below featuring images of some of New Zealand's beautiful lighthouses.

You can shine a little light on this puzzle by using the geochecker.

 

 

 

While we enjoyed making this puzzle, much of the fun is in the hide - don't be shy about asking for hints on this puzzle now that FTF is gone.