Perched out on the reef in the Waitematā Harbour off Mission Bay and Kohimarama, Bean Rock Lighthouse is a historic maritime landmark marking the channel into Auckland. Standing directly in the water at the end of the reef, the distinctive wooden cottage-style beacon is an enduring piece of harbour navigation, visible across the water from the promenade or appreciated up close by boat, kayak, or passing ferry.
Because it sits offshore on the seabed, it is a sight to view from the coastline or the water rather than a building to enter. Looking out towards it across the bay remains a classic part of a walk along the waterfront between Mission Bay and Kohimarama, especially as the harbour light begins to mark the shipping lanes in the evening.