A Drive to the South End of Banks Peninsula
Lighthouse Road runs south from Akaroa township to Akaroa Head, the exposed headland at the mouth of the harbour on Banks Peninsula. The full road is 11 km, and the drive alone is worth the journey: steep gradients, narrow sealed corners, rock formations, patches of regenerating native bush, and harbour views as you climb. It is also the starting point for Lighthouse Road walks, including the Akaroa Head Scenic Reserve track.
The Climb from Akaroa
From the township, the road climbs quickly through farmland with deep gullies. The steepest and narrowest section of the road is sealed, though it can still feel moderately demanding on a first visit, with steep drops in places. The road surface is firm and well-formed, but the combination of tight bends and gradient commands your full attention.
As you climb toward the ridge, the walls of the ancient Akaroa volcanic crater open up: the harbour spreads out below, and Brasenose, a rounded peak on the east side of the crater rim, overlooks the road. There are also exposed interesting basalt rock formations and stands of regenerating native bush higher up.
The High Point and Southern View
The road changes from sealed to gravel at Wright Lookout, roughly halfway up the crater rim, and can be slippery in wet or icy conditions from that point. The high point, at approximately 660 metres, sits just past the turnoff to Flea Bay Road.
Looking south, the ridge and road drop away toward the far end of the peninsula. To the east, a deep valley falls away sharply, with Flea Bay Road visible on the far ridge. The landscape feels genuinely remote, and when a southerly wind is up at this elevation, it is genuinely severe.
From the high point, you can also access the start of the Misty Peaks Reserve, a walking track that traverses the ridge around Brasenose and provides views down to the east of the Pacific and west over Akaroa Harbour.
A 4WD is not required for Lighthouse Road itself, though it is recommended if you take the turnoff onto Flea Bay Road. Campervans are not suitable for the road at any point.
The History behind the Road
The original Akaroa lighthouse was built on the southern headland of the harbour in 1880. Its lens and mount came from France, the mechanism from Scotland, and the supply road to Haylocks Bay below was dynamited out of solid rock over ten months in 1878 and 1879. The construction was not without cost: William Black, the overseer of the work, died of exposure while travelling from the site to Akaroa in March 1879, highlighting the intensity of the southerly weather.
The lighthouse operated as a manned light for nearly a century. In 1977, an automatic light replaced it, and in 1980, the wooden tower was moved to Cemetery Point in Akaroa, now Lighthouse Point.
At the end of Lighthouse Road, the Akaroa Head Scenic Reserve and walking track provide access to the site of the original lighthouse and, via an iron ladder, the rock shelf at Little Haylocks Bay.
How to Get There
Lighthouse Road runs south from Akaroa township on Banks Peninsula, approximately 84 km from Christchurch via State Highway 75. From Akaroa, follow Rue Jolie south a short distance to Onuku Road. From Onuku Road, turn left onto the signposted Lighthouse Road. Not suitable for campervans.
Nearby places to visit include Hinewai Reserve, Summit Road, Le Bons Bay, Okains Bay, French Farm Bay and Ōnawe Pā.
