The Puysegur Point Lighthouse is located on a remote headland overlooking the Tasman Sea at the southwest corner of New Zealand's South Island.

The Puysegur Point headland is near the entrance to Rakituma / Preservation Inlet in Fiordland National Park.

Surveys of possible sites for lighthouses around Foveaux Strait were undertaken in 1874 from the vessel PS Luna.

[3][4] Puysegur Point was identified as a potentially suitable site because of the elevation, the visibility from vessels en route to Otago or Canterbury from the west, and the accessibility.

[7][8] The Otago Retreat landing point had been previously established by prospectors exploring local coal deposits.

The focal height was 180 feet (55 m) above sea level, with a range of 19 nautical miles (35 km; 22 mi).

[18] Despite being built on the mainland, rather than an offshore island, Puysegur Point is one of the most isolated and inaccessible lighthouse locations in New Zealand.

[17] In 1896, surveys began for a telegraph line route from Puysegur Point to Orepuki in Southland, to provide communications from the site.

[17] The lighthouse received stores and mail in monthly supply visits from government steamers, including the Stella in 1886,[24] the Invercargill in 1895,[25] and the GSS Wairua in the 1940s.

[27] The Puysegur Point Lighthouse was featured on a postage stamp as part of the commemoration of the centenary of the New Zealand Government Life Insurance Office in 1969.