Cape Farewell, New Zealand

For the cape in Greenland, see Cape Farewell, Greenland.
Cape Farewell
Map showing the location of Cape Farewell
Location South Island,
New Zealand
Coordinates 40°29′54″S 172°41′01″E / 40.498267°S 172.683706°E / -40.498267; 172.683706Coordinates: 40°29′54″S 172°41′01″E / 40.498267°S 172.683706°E / -40.498267; 172.683706
Offshore water bodies Tasman Sea
Area Oceania

Cape Farewell is a headland in New Zealand, the most northerly point on the South Island. It is located just west of Farewell Spit. First mapped by Abel Tasman, it was named by British explorer Captain James Cook in 1770 —it was the last land seen by his crew as they departed on the ship's homeward voyage.[1]

Owing to its remote location it is one of the less visited of New Zealand's major capes. The "Clifftop walk" (2-3 hours one-way along the heights of the coast East of the cape) joins the area with the beginning of Farewell Spit, and has stunning vistas of the Tasman Sea to one side, of the sand dunes in the northeast and of the towering cliffs and rocky, primal landscapes to the shoreward (east) side.

Cape Farewell area satellite image. The cape is the topmost land to the west of the sandy spit.
Cape Farewell Arch from viewing platform.

Geology

The cape and its cliffs are composed of late Cretaceous quartz sandstones. The erosion of the cliffs into fine sand carried on the sea currents creates Farewell Spit further east.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 Farewell Spit and Cape Farewell (from Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand, 1966 Edition. Accessed 2008-06-16.)
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