A scenic walk along the road, followed by five minutes along a well-formed track crossing private land, takes you to picturesque Harrold Bay, where one of the oldest buildings in New Zealand is located. Venture inside the stone house, built by Lewis Acker in approximately 1835, and imagine life here with his eight children.
Further on, at the end of the track you reach Acker’s Point, where the panoramic views out over the islands and Foveaux Strait are a great reward. In mid-late summer tītī (sooty shearwaters/muttonbirds) can be seen returning to their burrows around this point at dusk and little blue penguins/kororā after dark. A lighthouse used to be situated across the inlet mouth at The Neck but was shifted to the present site in 1927. This was replaced by the current Beacon in 2006.
Time:
3 hr return from the Rakiura National Park Visitors Centre
Getting there:
To get to Harrold Bay and Acker’s Point, turn right at the Halfmoon Bay waterfront and follow the coast road, passing Lonnekers Bay and Leask Bay, until you reach the stile at the end of the road marking the start of the track. Respect the privacy of the landowner while visiting Harrold Bay. Continue along the main track through coastal forest until you reach the lighthouse at Acker’s Point.
