{{Short description|Peninsula in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Infobox islands | name = Cape Brett Peninsula | native_name = Rākaumangamanga | native_name_lang = | image_name= 00 0673 Cape Brett Lighthouse - New Zealand.jpg | image_caption = The Cape Brett Lighthouse }}
'''Cape Brett Peninsula''' ({{langx|mi|'''Rākaumangamanga'''}}) is a {{Convert|15|km|mi|abbr=on}} long [[peninsula]] in the [[Bay of Islands]], in the [[Northland Region]] of New Zealand.<ref>{{LINZ|35192||2010-03-25}}</ref>
==Geography== [[File:Cape Brett, showing lighthouse and landing place, 44189-A.jpg|thumb|left|Cape Brett in 1911]]
The head of the peninsula is Cape Brett itself (also known by the Māori, {{Lang|Mi|Rākaumangamanga}}), a promontory which extends north into the [[Pacific Ocean]] at the eastern end of the Bay of Islands. The Rakaumangamanga/Cape Brett Track begins in Rawhiti, at the Opourua Bay (Oke Bay) Scenic Reserve Entrance. There is a water taxi service from Hauai Bay (start of the track in Rawhiti) to Maunganui Bay (Deep Water Cove) for hikers to do the track one way.
[[Cape Brett Lighthouse]] stands at the end of the peninsula, which rises to 360 metres at its northern end. A noted landmark, the natural arch "Hole in the Rock" of [[Piercy Island (New Zealand)|Piercy Island]] lies about 500 metres off the cape.
A predator proof fence across the peninsula excludes the [[Common brushtail possum in New Zealand|brushtail possum]], an introduced animal pest, which feeds on the [[pōhutukawa]] tree to such an extent that the tree can eventually die.
The peninsula includes Opourua/Oke Bay, off Rawhiti Road, about 29 km from [[Russell, New Zealand|Russell]].<ref name="Donald">{{cite book |last=Donald |first=Darroch |title=Footprint New Zealand |publisher=[[Footprint Travel Guides]] |year=2007 |isbn=1-906098-04-2 |edition=4th |page=180}}</ref>
== Whangamumu == Whangamumu Harbour and Peninsula are near the south east end of the Cape Brett Peninsula.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Whangamumu, Northland |url=https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz12133/Whangamumu/ |access-date=2024-01-29 |website=NZ Topo Map |language=en}}</ref> There are remnants of a [[Whaling in New Zealand#History|whaling station]], which was at Whangamumu from about 1844, until the sinking of ''[[RMS Niagara|Niagara]]'' in 1940 caused an oil slick, which moved whales away from the area.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Whangamumu Whaling Station |url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/northland/places/cape-brett-and-whangamumu-area/heritage-sites/whangamumu-whaling-station/ |access-date=2024-01-29 |website=[[Department of Conservation (New Zealand)|Department of Conservation]] |language=en-nz}}</ref>
A {{Convert|4.2|km|abbr=on}} walking track runs from the Tangatapu wetlands over a ridge with regenerating coastal forest to a sandy beach at the head of the harbour, near the whaling station.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Whangamumu Track |url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/northland/places/cape-brett-and-whangamumu-area/things-to-do/whangamumu-track/ |access-date=2024-01-29 |website=[[Department of Conservation (New Zealand)|Department of Conservation]] |language=en-nz}}</ref>
Te Toroa Track, which linked to the Cape Brett track, has been closed since 2021, due to concerns about [[kauri dieback]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cape Brett Peninsula tracks temporarily closed |url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/news/media-releases/2021-media-releases/cape-brett-peninsula-tracks-temporarily-closed/ |access-date=2024-01-29 |website=[[Department of Conservation (New Zealand)|Department of Conservation]] |language=en-nz}}</ref>{{Clear}}
{{Panorama |image = Cape Brett NZ NorthIsland.jpg |height = 200px |width = |alt = Cape Brett from the water |caption = Cape Brett from the water |dir = |align = left }} {{clear}}
==Demographics== Demographics for Cape Brett Peninsula are covered at [[Rawhiti#Demographics]].
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Coord|-35.1729|174.3310|region:NZ-NTL_type:landmark|display=title}}
== External links == Photos of Whangamumu Harbour - [https://natlib.govt.nz/records/23169373 whaling station in 1927], [https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22911799 1962 aerial view]
[[Category:Far North District]] [[Category:Bay of Islands]] [[Category:Peninsulas of the Northland Region]]