AFTER WALKING HERE AGAIN, I DECIDED IT WAS TIME FOR ANOTHER CACHE!
Situated in stunning, coastal surrounds, the Lighthouse Keeper's house at Cape Brett has been converted into a hut. This is a serviced 23-bunk hut in the Bay of Islands area. The hut must be booked online in advance.
Facilities and services
Cooking: 3 x 2 burner units
Getting there
- Walk to the hut via the Cape Brett Track.
- Boat into Deep Water Cove and walk 2.5 hours to the hut (part of the Cape Brett Track).
- You can also come ashore at Cape Brett landing below the hut, and walk up to it. (WEATHER PERMITTING)
Cape Brett is 30 km north east of Russell. You can get to Cape Brett and Whangamumu via Rawhiti Road.
From Russell, take the Russell-Whakapara Road for 13.8 km and turning off at Kempthorne Road. Follow the road through Parekura Bay, continuing on to Manawaora Road. At the top of the road, turn left onto Rawhiti Road.
From Whangarei travel north turning off SH1 at Whakapara. Follow the Russell Road until you get to Rawhiti Road.
To access Cape Brett Reserve by sea, land at either Deep Water Cove or at Cape Brett. A water taxi is available from Russell and Paihia.
THE TRACK
Description
Cape Brett Track traverses through native and regenerating bush. The track runs along the ridge through Maori-owned land before reaching conservation land at Deep Water Cove - Manawahuna for the last 6 km of the track. You can take a side-track (1 hr return) down to Deep Water Cove, where you can enjoy a refreshing swim and snorkel.
Mountain biking is not permitted as the track is unsuitable for this.
From the forested ridges, you can take in spectacular coastal scenery. Towards the Cape, walking alongside the dramatic cliff-face, you can see abundant fish and bird life below - often dolphins and seals will come close to shore.
From Deep Water Cove onwards, the track gets more challenging and becomes quite exposed with steep drop-offs to the sea below.
Although it is not that far to the lighthouse, it will take you about 2-3 hours, and can be quite tiring. The effort is rewarded with outstanding views of the outer Bay of Islands, north to the Cavalli Islands and south to Whangaruru and beyond to the Poor Knights Islands.
Along the track, you will come across an electric fence crossing the width of the peninsula. This was constructed in 1995 to reduce the impact of possums on the coastal bush. Ensure the gate is closed.