0182. New Zealand (South Island) - Taiaroa Head Lighthouse (Tiki Tour-2)...

Taiaroa Head Lighthouse is one of the New Zealand's Dunedin Area Lighthouse in the Otago Region of the New Zealand's South-East coast.  The area surrounding the Lighthouse is a Natural Reserve, the site of a large nesting colony of Royal Albatross (This is the only place in the World where Albatross nest near civilization).

The Lighthouse is located at the North-Eastern tip of the Otago Peninsula about 32 km North-East of Dunedin, marking the entrance to Otago Harbour.  The Lighthouse viewing is closed during the Albatross nesting period from mid September to late November.

Taiaroa Head was named after the leader of the Ngai Tahu Maori tribe, Te Matenga Taiaroa.

Taiaroa Head Lighthouse was highlighted in the Tiki Tour of New Zealand No.2 stamp sheet released by New Zealand Post on 4-Jul-2012.

Built in the year 1865, the TAIAROA HEAD Lighthouse:

• Tower is ROUND stone
• Tower painted WHITE
• Lantern roof painted RED
• 1-storey signal building painted white with red roof
• Height is 12 metres
• Colour scheme of the LIGHT is WHITE 
• LIGHT character is TWO LONG (2 seconds) WHITE FLASH every 18 seconds