Castlepoint: Difference between revisions
Reference naming by Captain Cook, Correct reported height of Castle Rock to 162m as reported by the DOC website, add infobox, etc. |
Tidied infobox, corrrected publisher links. Removed unverifiable reference to '1000 feet high' dunes which seems about as reasonable as imagining Castle Rock being a supposed 800m (in fact 162m according to DOC). |
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{{about|the town in New Zealand|the retail park in Bournemouth, England|Castlepoint Shopping Centre}} |
{{about|the town in New Zealand|the retail park in Bournemouth, England|Castlepoint Shopping Centre}} |
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{{Infobox settlement |
{{Infobox settlement |
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| name = Castlepoint |
| name = Castlepoint |
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| native_name = Rangiwhakaoma |
| native_name = Rangiwhakaoma |
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| population_as_of = 2006 |
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[[Image:Castlepoint_Lighthouse_from_the_north.jpg|thumb|350px|right]] |
[[Image:Castlepoint_Lighthouse_from_the_north.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Castlepoint Light House looking towards Castle Rock]] |
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'''Castlepoint''' is a small [[beach]]side town on the [[Wairarapa]] coast of the [[Wellington Region]] of [[New Zealand]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jasons.co.nz/castlepoint|title=Castlepoint Travel Guide |publisher=[[Jasons Travel Media]]}}</ref> It is home to a lighthouse which stands near the top of the northern end of a reef. The reef is about one kilometer long. At the southern end of the reef, there is an island known locally as "bird island", due to its large population of seagulls. The southern side of Castle Rock is known as Christmas Bay. Castlepoint is approximately one hour's drive from [[Masterton]]. The population of Castlepoint and its surrounds was 1,686 as recorded in the national Census of 2006. |
'''Castlepoint''' is a small [[beach]]side town on the [[Wairarapa]] coast of the [[Wellington Region]] of [[New Zealand]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jasons.co.nz/castlepoint|title=Castlepoint Travel Guide |publisher=[[Jasons Travel Media]]}}</ref> It is home to a lighthouse which stands near the top of the northern end of a reef. The reef is about one kilometer long. At the southern end of the reef, there is an island known locally as "bird island", due to its large population of seagulls. The southern side of Castle Rock is known as Christmas Bay. Castlepoint is approximately one hour's drive from [[Masterton]]. The population of Castlepoint and its surrounds was 1,686 as recorded in the national Census of 2006. |
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|url=http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-visit/wairarapa/wairarapa/castlepoint-scenic-reserve/ |
|url=http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-visit/wairarapa/wairarapa/castlepoint-scenic-reserve/ |
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|title=Castlepoint Scenic Reserve |
|title=Castlepoint Scenic Reserve |
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|publisher= |
|publisher=[[Department_of_Conservation_(New_Zealand)|Department of Conservation]] |
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|accessdate=2012-11-18 |
|accessdate=2012-11-18 |
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}}</ref>. The Maori name for the area is Rangiwhakaoma, which translates as 'where the sky runs'. |
}}</ref>. The Maori name for the area is Rangiwhakaoma, which translates as 'where the sky runs'. |
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'''Castle Rock''' is a landmark in Castlepoint and is 162m high<ref name="doc"/>. It includes a walk thrrough woods and over bridges and is a beautiful walk approx. 45 minutes long. |
'''Castle Rock''' is a landmark in Castlepoint and is 162m high<ref name="doc"/>. It includes a walk thrrough woods and over bridges and is a beautiful walk approx. 45 minutes long. |
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'''Mataikona Sand Dunes''' are an area of large sand dunes approximately 30 minutes north of Castlepoint towards the Matakona River mouth. |
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'''Maitokona Sand Hills''' are sand hills approx. 30 minutes away from castle point. They are approx. 1000 ft high and take 30 minutes to climb. |
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== Annual Beach Races == |
== Annual Beach Races == |
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|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/6556282/Castlepoint-Beach-races-return |
|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/6556282/Castlepoint-Beach-races-return |
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|title=Castlepoint Beach races return |
|title=Castlepoint Beach races return |
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|publisher=[[Fairfax]] |
|publisher=[[Fairfax Media]] |
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|accessdate=2012-11-18 |
|accessdate=2012-11-18 |
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}}</ref>. The races were cancelled from 2008 to 2011 due to loss of sand from the beach track,<ref>{{cite web |
}}</ref>. The races were cancelled from 2008 to 2011 due to loss of sand from the beach track,<ref>{{cite web |
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|url=http://www.times-age.co.nz/news/hopes-soar-for-castlepoint-beach-racing/1293156/ |
|url=http://www.times-age.co.nz/news/hopes-soar-for-castlepoint-beach-racing/1293156/ |
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|title=Hopes soar for Castlepoint Beach racing |
|title=Hopes soar for Castlepoint Beach racing |
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|publisher=[[APN]] |
|publisher=[[APN News & Media]] |
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|accessdate=2012-11-18 |
|accessdate=2012-11-18 |
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}}</ref> before returning in 2012. |
}}</ref> before returning in 2012. |
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Revision as of 20:13, 18 November 2012
Castlepoint
Rangiwhakaoma | |
|---|---|
Town | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Population (2006) | |
| • Total | 1,686 |
Castlepoint is a small beachside town on the Wairarapa coast of the Wellington Region of New Zealand.[1] It is home to a lighthouse which stands near the top of the northern end of a reef. The reef is about one kilometer long. At the southern end of the reef, there is an island known locally as "bird island", due to its large population of seagulls. The southern side of Castle Rock is known as Christmas Bay. Castlepoint is approximately one hour's drive from Masterton. The population of Castlepoint and its surrounds was 1,686 as recorded in the national Census of 2006.
Castlepoint was so named in 1770 by Captain Cook who was struck by the similarities of Castle Rock to the battlements of a castle.[2]. The Maori name for the area is Rangiwhakaoma, which translates as 'where the sky runs'.
A book chronicling the history of Castlepoint, including Castlepoint Station, Castle Point Lighthouse and the local fishing industry was published in October 2010 by Hedleys Books or Masterton.[3]
Castle Rock is a landmark in Castlepoint and is 162m high[2]. It includes a walk thrrough woods and over bridges and is a beautiful walk approx. 45 minutes long.
Mataikona Sand Dunes are an area of large sand dunes approximately 30 minutes north of Castlepoint towards the Matakona River mouth.
Annual Beach Races
Castlepoint beach has been home to an historic annual horse race since 1872, when "local station hands rode on farm hacks competing for bottles of rum and any stray coins"[4]. The races were cancelled from 2008 to 2011 due to loss of sand from the beach track,[5] before returning in 2012.
Lighthouse
The Castle Point Lighthouse is a lighthouse near the village of Castlepoint in the Wellington Region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is owned and operated by Maritime New Zealand. In the early days of the 20th century Castle Point was one of the few lighthouses with easy access to a school. The Creamer family came there in 1918 or 1919 and the eldest son Eric had to complete five years of education in three years, so that he could go on to secondary school, there having been little education in previous locations where the family had been stationed. This aspect of the Keeper's lives seems to have been overlooked by the Marine Department. The light was built in 1913 and was originally fueled by oil. In 1954 the oil lamp was replaced with an electric one powered by a local diesel generator. This was subsequently replaced by a connection to the mains grid in 1961. The nearby Castlepoint beach, and the caves that lies beneath the lighthouse, is popular with holiday makers and the lighthouse itself is sometimes referred to as "The Holiday Light".
The light was fully automated in 1988 and is now managed from a central control room in Wellington. Completed on the 12th January 1913, it was one of the last manned lights built in New Zealand, but was fully automated in 1988.[6] It is a popular tourist attraction for holidaymakers to the area, although it is not open to the public.
The lighthouse is built out of steel sheets riveted together. This is an unusual method of construction for a lighthouse and the only one so built in New Zealand.
At sea, the light can be seen 22 miles away, and was used by sailors coming from South America to establish a point of reference when making for Wellington Harbour
References
- ^ "Castlepoint Travel Guide". Jasons Travel Media.
- ^ a b "Castlepoint Scenic Reserve". Department of Conservation. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
- ^ "Castlepoint, Coastal Station and Settlement". Hedleys Books. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
- ^ "Castlepoint Beach races return". Fairfax Media. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
- ^ "Hopes soar for Castlepoint Beach racing". APN News & Media. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
- ^ Castle Point Lighthouse Profile (from the Maritime New Zealand website)