The recently renovated Waipapa Point lighthouse will be open for a limited public viewing on Saturday and the Department of Conservation (Doc) is expecting much public interest in the landmark.
The public must book for a viewing by contacting Doc's Invercargill office today.
Doc community relations ranger Mark Oster said he was planning for a big turnout and yesterday urged people to book a viewing time to avoid disappointment.
"As the site of the worst civilian maritime disaster in New Zealand, and one of the few lighthouse sites that have public access, we expect there will be plenty of interest."
SS Tararua ran aground at Waipapa Point early on April 29, 1881, killing 131 people.
There were just 20 survivors.
Of those who died, 65 are buried at the Tararua Acre, near the lighthouse, while the others were interred at the Fortrose Cemetery.
To prevent further tragedies, the lighthouse was built and the first light beamed from the site on New Year's Day 1884.
The lighthouse was automated in 1976.
The popular Catlins attraction, near the Southland locality of Otara, has a category one classification from the New Zealand Historic Places Trust and receives about 40,000 visitors annually.
Doc began a $330,000 upgrade on June 20 and work finished on October 2.
The project included a redeveloped car park, new toilets, designated tracks and walkways, new visitor interpretation signs, vegetation plantings and rehabilitation of vehicle damage and coastal erosion.
Saturday's public viewing will be held between 1pm and 6pm.
