Knights Point Lookout — Attraction in South Island

Theobelisk monument at Knights Point was set up to celebrate the completion of the highway connecting Westland with Otago.

What is interesting is the name. Usually Prime Minister's / politicians try to name things after themselves / monuments, buildings, roads etc. Usually it is called empire building.

If you don’t tell people about your success, then they probably won’t know about it. Wellington City is the capital where the politicians call the shots. Politicians are renowned for promoting themselves and naming stuff for posterity.

However, the construction crew outsmarted the delegation from Wellington and informed them that the area had "already been named" Knights Point. The officials inquired who "Knight" was and were informed that he was the surveyor's dog. Knights Point was named after Norman McGeorge's dog Knight.

The tail wags the dog! An expression used to describe a situation in which an important or powerful person, organization, etc., is being controlled by someone or something that is much less important or powerful.

The official opening of this last section of the highway that is now State Highway 6 was on 6 November 1965.

Today the site includes a car park and viewing platform overlooking the coast towards Arnott Point, a resting area for New Zealand fur seals and occasionally...

It's lovely but in summer you will be fighting off the coach parties making their ten minute stop so people who have no idea where they are can take photos they'll never look at. Sandflies prevent a picnic but there are tables if you are immune to their bite. There is a memorial to the opening of the Haast highway, without which the place would not link the West Coast to Central Otago and nobody would be able to...

First and foremost: come prepared with bug repellant! Tons of sandflies here and they’ll happily chomp on any exposed part of you otherwise.

Overall a pretty viewpoint, but not super remarkable. The whole region is so gorgeous that I didn’t find this specific spot to hugely stand out, if that makes any sense. Still a good place to stop and stretch your legs, and use clean bathrooms if...