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Cape Farewell, New Zealand facts for kids

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Cape Farewell
Map showing the location of Cape Farewell
Map showing the location of Cape Farewell
Location in New Zealand
Location South Island,
New Zealand
Coordinates 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
Geology Cape

Cape Farewell is a headland in New Zealand, the most northerly point on the South Island. It is located just west of Farewell Spit (Onetahua). 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.

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.

In 2020, the Wharariki Ecosanctuary was established in the northernmost 2.5 hectares of the cape, enclosed by a predator-proof fence to protect seabirds, rare native plants, giant snails and geckos.

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

Geology

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

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Cabo Farewell (Nueva Zelanda) para niños

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