# Archway Islands > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Archway_Islands > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Archway_Islands.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archway_Islands > Source revision: 1348277570 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Island group in New Zealand Archway Islands islands two of the Archway Islands Archway Islands Location within New Zealand Coordinates: 40°29′56″S 172°40′34″E / 40.499°S 172.676°E / -40.499; 172.676 Location Tasman District, New Zealand Water bodies Tasman Sea The **Archway Islands** are a group of four rock stacks or small islands in New Zealand. The islands are located in [Tasman District](/source/Tasman_District)'s [Golden Bay / Mohua](/source/Golden_Bay_%2F_Mohua) at [Wharariki Beach](/source/Wharariki_Beach). ## Geography and name The Archway Islands are located just west of the northernmost point of the [South Island](/source/South_Island), [Cape Farewell](/source/Cape_Farewell%2C_New_Zealand), and at the end of Wharariki Road. West of here, there are only walking tracks along the coast.[1] It takes 20 minutes one way to walk from the car park at the end of Wharariki Road to Wharariki Beach.[2] The Wharariki car park can be reached from [Collingwood](/source/Collingwood%2C_New_Zealand) via [Pūponga](/source/P%C5%ABponga), where the road turns and becomes Wharariki Road.[3] The name Archway Islands was formalised and gazetted on 14 November 2013, when the [New Zealand Geographic Board](/source/New_Zealand_Geographic_Board) made 133 place names official.[4] The four islands are small, with even the largest one of them measuring only about 300 by 200 metres (980 by 660 ft).[5] The largest of the islands is closest to the mainland and adjoins Wharariki Beach; it is generally not cut off by the sea. The second island lies about 150 metres (490 ft) offshore and is relatively flat and vegetated. The remaining two islands are typical rock stacks, with the larger one 66 metres (217 ft) tall and containing two natural rock arches, giving rise to the naming of the group of islands.[5] ## Microsoft lock screen The islands came to international prominence in mid-2015 when [Microsoft](/source/Microsoft) released the [Windows 10](/source/Windows_10) operating system, which included a photo of the islands as one of the [lock screen](/source/Lock_screen) images. When [Tasman District Council](/source/Tasman_District_Council) rolled out Windows 10, council staff thought that their IT department had installed a photo of the Archway Islands as a lock screen. It was only after some time that they realised that instead, Microsoft had chosen the image.[3] ## Attractions The adjacent beach is popular for its colony of [fur seal](/source/Fur_seal) pups; during low tide, people have access to the pools where pups play in front of the easternmost of the Archway Islands.[3] ## References Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Archway Islands](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Archway_Islands). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Untitled"](https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz44622/Archway-Islands/Tasman). Topomap. Retrieved 2 October 2024. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Farewell Spit and Pūponga Farm Park tracks"](https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/nelson-tasman/places/farewell-spit-and-puponga-farm-park/things-to-do/tracks/farewell-spit-and-puponga-farm-park-tracks/). [Department of Conservation](/source/Department_of_Conservation_(New_Zealand)). Retrieved 2 October 2024. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-world_famous_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-world_famous_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-world_famous_3-2) Clark, Poppy (11 June 2023). ["The NZ beach you never realised was world famous"](https://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/nelson-top-stories/132141929/the-nz-beach-you-never-realised-was-world-famous). *[The Nelson Mail](/source/The_Nelson_Mail)*. Retrieved 2 October 2024. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Notice of Approved Official Geographic Names"](https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2013-ln7111). [New Zealand Geographic Board](/source/New_Zealand_Geographic_Board). Retrieved 2 October 2024. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Archway_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Archway_5-1) ["Archway Islands, Tasman – NZ Topo Map"](http://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz44622/Archway-Islands/Tasman). *NZ Topo Map*. [Land Information New Zealand](/source/Land_Information_New_Zealand). Retrieved 14 December 2015. v t e Tasman District, New Zealand Seat: Richmond Populated places Golden Bay / Mohua Aorere Bainham Clifton Collingwood East Tākaka Ferntown Ligar Bay Motupipi Onekaka Pākawau Parapara Patons Rock Pōhara Port Pūponga Pūponga Rockville Seaford Tākaka Tarakohe Tata Beach Upper Tākaka Waikato Waitapu Motueka Brooklyn Kaiteriteri Lower Moutere Mārahau Motueka Riwaka Moutere-Waimea Brightwater Bronte Dovedale Mahana Māpua Ngātīmoti Ruby Bay Tasman Upper Moutere Wakefield Woodstock Richmond Aniseed Valley Appleby Hope Richmond Lakes-Murchison Murchison Rotoroa Saint Arnaud Tapawera Tophouse Geographic features Buller River Dun Mountain–Maitai terrane Hope Saddle Lee River Mārahau River Maungakura / Red Hill Newton River Ngārua Caves Roding River Sams Creek Tākaka River Waimea Plains Waimea River Golden Bay / Mohua Appos Creek Archway Islands Cape Farewell Cobb Reservoir Druggans Dam Dry River Farewell Spit Harwoods Hole Lake Killarney Lightband Gully North-west Nelson Forest Park Rawhiti Cave Slateford Tākaka Hill Tata Islands Te Waikoropupū Springs Wainui Bay Whanganui Inlet Wharariki Beach Abel Tasman National Park Armchair Island Awapoto River Awaroa River Ballon Rock Falls River Fisherman Island Motuareronui / Adele Island Simonet Creek Torrent Bay Tata Islands Tinline Bay Tonga Island Torrent River Tōtaranui Wainui River Falls Tasman Bay Bell Island Best Island Moturoa / Rabbit Island Tokangawhā / Split Apple Rock Waimea Inlet Kahurangi National Park Brown River Bulmer Cavern Ellis Basin cave system Kahurangi Point Lake Matiri Mount Arthur Mount Burnett Mount Owen Nettlebed Cave Wharepapa / Arthur Range Nelson Lakes National Park Braeburn Range Lake Rotoiti Lake Rotoroa Maniniaro / Angelus Peak Mount Franklin Pourangahau / Mount Robert Rotomairewhenua / Blue Lake Rotopōhueroa / Lake Constance Sabine Valley Saint Arnaud Range Spenser Mountains Facilities and attractions Abel Tasman National Park Coast Track Inland Track Monument Appleby railway station Brightwater railway station Cobb Power Station Ferntown Bridge Gowanbridge railway station Heaphy Track Hope railway station Karamea Aerodrome Kawatiri railway station Langford Store Memorial Park Milnthorpe Model Motueka Aerodrome Moutere Inn Mussel Inn Nelson Lakes National Park Onekaka Ironworks Onekaka Power Station Onekaka Wharf and tramline Proposals for a road through North-west Nelson Pupu Hydro Power Scheme Richmond railway station RNZAF Dip Flat Rutherford memorial Stafford Place St Michael's Church Stoke railway station Tākaka Aerodrome Tākaka Pioneers' Memorial Takaka Tramway Great Taste Trail Tonga Island Marine Reserve Tophouse Tour de Vineyards Wai-iti Dark Sky Park Wangapeka Track Westhaven (Te Tai Tapu) Marine Reserve Wharariki Ecosanctuary Administration Historic Nelson Province (1853–1876) Collingwood County (1877–1956) Waimea County (1877–1989) Richmond Borough (1891–1989 · mayor) Motueka Borough (1900–1989) Takaka County (1904–1956) Murchison County (1909–1965) Golden Bay County (1956–1989) Nelson-Marlborough Regional Council (1989–1992) Current Council Mayor Organisations Golden Bay Air Golden Bay-Motueka Rugby Union New Zealand Energy Richmond Athletic FC Talley's Group Schools Collingwood Area School Golden Bay High School Motueka High School Waimea College Waimea Intermediate --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Archway Islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archway_Islands) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archway_Islands?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.