# Harington Point

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Settlement in Dunedin, New Zealand

**Harington Point**, being often incorrectly spelt **Harrington Point**, is a settlement at the northeastern end of [Otago Peninsula](/source/Otago_Peninsula), lying within the boundaries of the city of [Dunedin](/source/Dunedin), [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand). It was named after Thomas Cudbert Harington, the first secretary of the [New Zealand Company](/source/New_Zealand_Company).[1]

## Geography

See also: [Otago Heads](/source/Otago_Heads)

Residential houses at Harington Point

Harington Point is located between [Taiaroa Head](/source/Taiaroa_Head) and [Otakou](/source/Otakou), close to the entrance of [Otago Harbour](/source/Otago_Harbour). The mouth of the harbour is at its narrowest at Harington Point, only some 400 metres (1,300 ft) separating the point from the mudflats at [Aramoana](/source/Aramoana) on the opposing coast.

Te Rauone beach, historically known for its many sand dunes, which have been restored after they were eroded. Restoration was a collaborative effort and there are new amenities.[2][3]

The settlement can be reached via a 45-minute drive from Dunedin City on sealed roads, and is also serviced 7 days per week by a regular bus service taking 60 minutes from the city center, as well as a school bus.[4] Despite its small size, Harington Point offers accommodation ranging from holiday houses to self-contained motel units.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

## Wildlife

A [yellow-eyed penguin](/source/Yellow-eyed_penguin) at the Penguin Place

The settlement of Harington Point is the closest residential area to [Taiaroa Head](/source/Taiaroa_Head), the only mainland [Northern royal albatross](/source/Northern_royal_albatross) colony in the world,[5] as well as several other regionally important wildlife colonies. Between Harington Point and Taiaroa Head is Pilot's Beach, where [little blue penguins](/source/Little_penguin) are seen returning to nest at dusk. Over the hills southwest of Harington Point is the Otago Penguin Eco Restoration Alliance (*OPERA*), a nesting colony of [yellow-eyed penguins](/source/Yellow-eyed_penguin).[6]

All three offer public tours of the respective wildlife colonies. Wellers Rock wharf, just south of Harington Point, is the base for boat cruises and tours exploring the sea and bird life in the area.[7]

The harbour water was a historic habitat for [cetaceans](/source/Cetacean) especially [southern right whales](/source/Southern_right_whale),[8] but the whales have now become an infrequent sight,[9][10][11][12] following the establishment of the area as a major shore whaling ground.[13][14][15]

## Demographics

Statistics New Zealand describes [Otakou](/source/Otakou#Demographics) and Harington Point as a rural settlement which covers 5.65 km2 (2.18 sq mi),[16] and is part of the much larger [Otago Peninsula statistical area](/source/Otago_Peninsula#Demographics).[17]

## Historic sites

See also: [Otakou](/source/Otakou)

### Wellers Rock

See also: [Wellerman](/source/Wellerman)

Weller's Rock (*Te Umukuri*)

Harington Point gun emplacement

Wellers Rock (officially spelt without a concluding apostrophe), also known as *Te Umukuri* or *Te Umu Kuri*, is located between Harington Point and [Otakou](/source/Otakou) at [45°47′52″S 170°42′54″E / 45.79778°S 170.71500°E / -45.79778; 170.71500](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Harington_Point&params=45_47_52_S_170_42_54_E_). It is named in honour of the [Weller brothers](/source/Weller_brothers), a family of [whalers](/source/Whaling) who formed one of the first permanent European settlements in the southern South Island.[1] The Wellers operated three stations within the [Otago Harbour](/source/Otago_Harbour) including two along Harington Point (Otakou and Te Rauone Beach), and the Otakou station was among the most significant and the largest shore whaling stations in New Zealand at the time. It began major operation in [1831](/source/1831) yet faced a termination a decade after due to the sharp decline of whale numbers.[13][14][15] An archaeological excavation of part of the site was carried out by the [University of Otago](/source/University_of_Otago) in 1991.[18] To this day, whale bones may be found nearby the rock.[19]

In January 2020 [Te Runanga o Otakou](/source/Te_R%C5%ABnanga_o_%C5%8Ct%C4%81kou), the [Dunedin City Council](/source/Dunedin_City_Council), and the [Department of Conservation](/source/Department_of_Conservation_(New_Zealand)) joined forces in a project to protect the site from degradation.[20]

### Gun emplacements

The hills behind Harington Point contain several abandoned [World War II](/source/World_War_II) gun emplacements, a subterranean communications tunnel and bunker, which were all part of the [coastal fortifications of New Zealand](/source/Coastal_fortifications_of_New_Zealand).

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-McLintock_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-McLintock_1-1) [McLintock, Alexander H.](/source/Alexander_Hare_McLintock) (1966). ["Otago Peninsula"](https://teara.govt.nz/en/1966/otago-peninsula). *[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand](/source/Te_Ara%3A_The_Encyclopedia_of_New_Zealand)*. [Ministry for Culture and Heritage](/source/Ministry_for_Culture_and_Heritage), [New Zealand Government](/source/New_Zealand_Government). Retrieved 24 April 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Te Rauone Reserve Redevelopment project"](https://www.dunedin.govt.nz/council/council-projects/te-rauone-reserve-redevelopment-project). [Dunedin City Council](/source/Dunedin_City_Council). 1 October 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Winders, Kevin; Smith, Des (19 February 2021). ["Te Rauone Beach restoration given green light"](https://www.portotago.co.nz/about/news/news-archive/te-rauone-beach-restoration-given-green-light). Port Otago. Retrieved 26 January 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Otago Regional Council web site](http://www.orc.govt.nz/Information-and-Services/Buses/) Bus timetables. Accessed 10 February 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Life of the Northern Royal"](https://albatross.org.nz/royal-albatross/). *Royal Albatross Centre*. Retrieved 26 June 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Our Story"](https://theopera.co.nz/our-story/). *Otago Peninsula Eco Restoration Alliance (OPERA)*. Retrieved 26 June 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [Dunedin Monarch Wildlife Cruises and Tours](http://www.wildlife.co.nz/) Accessed 10 February 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Flickr_8-0)** Black Diamond Images (16 July 2023). ["Interpretive Sign - Southern Right Whale & Hector's Dolphin, Aramoana, Otago, South Island, New Zealand"](https://www.flickr.com/photos/blackdiamondimages/53048658632). *[Flickr](/source/Flickr)*. Retrieved 14 April 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Gibb_9-0)** Gibb, John (26 August 2010). ["'Spectacular'show by whales"](https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/spectacular-show-whales). [Otago Daily Times](/source/Otago_Daily_Times). Retrieved 14 April 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Fox_10-0)** Fox, Rebecca (28 August 2014). ["What a fluke!"](https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/what-fluke). [Otago Daily Times](/source/Otago_Daily_Times). Retrieved 14 April 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Miller_11-0)** Miller, Tim (30 July 2018). ["Southern right whales thrill watchers"](https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/362934/southern-right-whales-thrill-watchers). [Otago Daily Times](/source/Otago_Daily_Times). Retrieved 14 April 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Lewis_12-0)** Lewis, John (26 June 2025). ["Tourists 'stoked' at whale pod discovery"](https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/tourists-%E2%80%98stoked%E2%80%99-whale-pod-discovery). [Otago Daily Times](/source/Otago_Daily_Times). Retrieved 14 April 2026.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-RNZ_13-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-RNZ_13-1) ["'Wild Dunedin': Otago animals"](https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/the-podcast-hour/audio/2018691547/wild-dunedin-otago-animals). *[Radio New Zealand](/source/Radio_New_Zealand)*. 20 April 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2026.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Prickett_14-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Prickett_14-1) Prickett, Nigel (2002). [*The Archaeology Of New Zealand Shore Whaling*](https://archive.org/details/the-archaeology-of-nz-shore-whaling). [Department of Conservation](/source/Department_of_Conservation_(New_Zealand)) – via [Internet Archive](/source/Internet_Archive).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-McPhee_15-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-McPhee_15-1) McPhee, Elena (18 August 2018). ["Whale numbers are coming right"](https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/whale-numbers-are-coming-right). *[Otago Daily Times](/source/Otago_Daily_Times)*. Retrieved 24 April 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Area_16-0)** ["ArcGIS Web Application"](https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6f49867abe464f86ac7526552fe19787). *statsnz.maps.arcgis.com*. Retrieved 10 January 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** [2018 Census place summary: Otago Peninsula](https://www.stats.govt.nz/tools/2018-census-place-summaries/otago-peninsula)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Campbell, M., (1994) "[Excavation of Wellers Rock Try-works, Otakou Whaling Station, Otago Harbour, New Zealand](https://nzarchaeology.org/download/excavation-of-wellers-rock-try-works-otakou-whaling-station-otago-harbour-new-zealand)," *New Zealand journal of archaeology*, 16: 33–53.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** MacLean, Hamish (5 November 2021). ["Whale of a find in Otago Harbour"](https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/whale-find-otago-harbour). *[Otago Daily Times](/source/Otago_Daily_Times)*. Retrieved 24 April 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Hudson, Daisy (20 January 2020). ["Wellers Rock to be protected"](https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/wellers-rock-be-protected). *[Otago Daily Times](/source/Otago_Daily_Times)*. Retrieved 24 April 2026.

[45°47′24″S 170°43′38″E / 45.79°S 170.7272°E / -45.79; 170.7272](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Harington_Point&params=45.79_S_170.7272_E_region:NZ_type:city)

v t e Dunedin Seat: Central Dunedin Populated places Central city Central Dunedin City Rise Dunedin Harbourside Dunedin North The Exchange Fernhill Warehouse Precinct Urban north Balmacewen Burkes Dalmore The Gardens Glenleith Leith Valley Liberton Maia Maori Hill Mount Mera Normanby North East Valley Opoho Pine Hill Prospect Park Ravensbourne St Leonards Wakari Woodhaugh Urban east Challis The Cove Grants Braes Highcliff Vauxhall Waverley Urban south Andersons Bay Corstorphine Forbury Kensington Kew Musselburgh Ocean Grove (Tomahawk) St Clair St Kilda Shiel Hill South Dunedin Southern Endowment Sunshine Tahuna Tainui Urban west Abbotsford Balaclava Belleknowes Bradford Brockville Burnside Caversham Calton Hill Concord The Glen Glenross Green Island Halfway Bush Helensburgh Kaikorai Kaikorai Valley Kenmure Littlebourne Little Paisley Lookout Point Maryhill Mornington Roslyn Surrounds Allanton Aramoana Berwick Brighton Broad Bay Careys Bay Clarks Junction Company Bay East Taieri Evansdale Fairfield Harington Point Hawksbury Harwood Henley Hindon Hyde Karitane Macandrew Bay Middlemarch Momona Mosgiel Ocean View Ōtākou Outram Port Chalmers Portobello Pukehiki Pūrākaunui Roseneath Sawyers Bay Seacliff Sutton Tumai Waikouaiti Waitati Waldronville Walton Park Warrington Whare Flat Wingatui Geographic features Dunedin Bethune's Gully Dalmore Reserve Dunedin Town Belt Flagstaff Kaikorai Stream Lawyers Head Leith Saddle Lindsay Creek Moore's Bush Mount Cargill Otago Harbour Ross Creek Reservoir Signal Hill St Clair and St Kilda Beaches Sullivans Dam Tomahawk Beach Tomahawk Lagoon Water of Leith Surrounds Allans Beach Blueskin Bay Bird Island Blackhead Boulder Beach Cape Saunders Careys Creek Deep Stream Dunedin volcanic group volcano Foulden Maar Goat Island / Rakiriri Great Moss Swamp Green Island (Ōkaihae) Hawksbury Lagoon Hoopers Inlet Huriawa Peninsula Island Park Recreation Reserve The Kilmog Lake Tatawai Lammermoor Range Mapoutahi Maungatua Mount Watkin / Hikaroroa Orokonui Ecosanctuary Otago Heads Otago Peninsula Papanui Inlet Pleasant River Quarantine Island Rock and Pillar Range Saddle Hill Sandfly Bay Sandymount The Silverpeaks Silver Stream Smaills Beach Strath Taieri Sutton Salt Lake Swampy Summit Taiaroa Head Taieri Gorge Taieri Pet Taieri Plain Taieri River Tunnel Beach Victory Beach Waikouaiti River Waipori River Waitati River Whareakeake White Island Facilities and attractions Baldwin Street Cadbury World (defunct) Cargill's Castle Carisbrook Dunedin Botanic Gardens Dunedin Chinese Garden Dunedin Hospital Dunedin Public Art Gallery Dunedin Public Libraries Dunedin railway station The Edgar Centre First Church Forbury Park Raceway (defunct) George Street Hocken Collections Knox Church Larnach Castle Meridian Mall Moana Pool Moray Place The Octagon Olveston Otago Farmers Market Otago Museum Otago Settlers' Museum Portobello Aquarium Princes Street St Joseph's Cathedral St Paul's Cathedral Stuart Street Taieri Gorge Railway Town Belt University of Otago Registry Building University Oval Organisations Allied Media Otago Daily Times The Star Speight's Education Bayfield High School Columba College John McGlashan College Kaikorai Valley College King's High School Logan Park High School Otago Boys' High School Otago Girls' High School Otago Polytechnic Queen's High School St Hilda's Collegiate School St Joseph's Cathedral School Taieri College Trinity Catholic College University of Otago Culture Dunedin Fringe Festival Dunedin Gasworks Museum Dunedin Museum of Natural Mystery Dunedin Sound Dunedin Writers & Readers Festival ID Dunedin Fashion Week Mayfair Theatre Regent Theatre Sports Dunedin City Royals (football) Dunedin Thunder (ice hockey) Highlanders (rugby union) Otago (cricket) Otago (rugby) Otago Nuggets (basketball) Southern Festival of Speed General topics Dunstan Trail Historic places History Notable people Public transport

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Harington Point](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harington_Point) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harington_Point?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.