Alexander Parkes

Cape Terawhiti seen from onboard the Cook Strait ferry

Location of Cape Terawhiti

Cape Terawhiti is the southwesternmost point of the North Island of New Zealand.

The cape is located 16 kilometres to the west of Wellington, the nation's capital city, and, along with Perano Head on Arapawa Island in the Marlborough Sounds marks the narrowest part of Cook Strait.

It is also the closest point in the North Island to the South Island, with West Head, at the mouth of the Tory Channel being only some 28 kilometres away (ironically this point in the South Island lies to the northwest of Cape Terawhiti).

At the southern end of Cape Terawhiti is Oteranga Bay, where the inter-island Cook Strait power cable terminates onto the North Island.

Cape Terawhiti is made up of mostly rugged, farmed and private land as part of the Terawhiti Station.

Gold was found near Cape Terawhiti in 1862 and was mined for several years.