Perched 70 metres (230 ft) above the Tasman Sea,[1] the light guides vessels along the Buller coast,[2] and is one of the most accessible lighthouses in the country.

It suffered from rot, and was replaced in 1926 by the present concrete tower with an automated light, which is now operated remotely from Maritime New Zealand's Wellington office.

[2][3] The lighthouse is an 11-kilometre (6.8 mi) drive west from the town of Westport and a ten-minute walk from the northern end of the Cape Foulwind walkway.

[4] The lighthouse is operated by the Maritime New Zealand, it is registered under the international Admiralty number K4486 and it has the NGA identifier of 111–5600.

[4] Its characteristic is a white flash every twelve seconds, originally fitted with a Fresnel optic, it now uses an LED system fixed to the gallery railing.