Cape Byron Lighthouse
The white 1901 lighthouse on the tip of Cape Byron is Byron's defining landmark — perched above the most easterly point of mainland Australia, with 360-degree views over the bay, the beaches and the endless Pacific. Reaching it on foot along the headland walking track is the quintessential Byron experience, and one of the best free things to do in town. Here's how to make the most of it.
The Walgun Cape Byron track
The Walgun Cape Byron walking track is a 3.7 km loop that winds from Clarkes Beach or the Captain Cook Lookout up around the headland to the lighthouse. Along the way it passes rainforest, open clifftops, the Wategos beaches and a series of lookouts perfect for spotting dolphins, turtles and — in season — whales. The steep final climb delivers you to the lighthouse and the most easterly point marker. Go early for sunrise, cooler air and a parking spot. ('Walgun', meaning 'the shoulder', is the Arakwal name for the cape.)
The lighthouse precinct
At the summit, the lighthouse grounds are free and open daily, with a café, a small maritime museum in the tower base and interpretive displays. It's the most powerful lighthouse in Australia, built in 1901 and automated in 1989. The heritage keepers' cottages can be booked as accommodation for a genuinely unforgettable stay. Parking at the top is limited and paid, and fills fast in peak season — walking up is often easier and always more rewarding.
Sunrise at the edge of the country
Because Cape Byron is the mainland's easternmost point, it's one of the first places in Australia to catch the sunrise — and watching the sky colour over the Pacific from the most easterly point is a Byron rite of passage. Come 30–40 minutes before dawn, bring a jacket and a coffee, and you'll often share the moment with just a handful of others and the resident dolphins below.
Cape Byron Lighthouse: your questions
Yes. The Cape Byron Lighthouse grounds are open to the public daily and are free to visit, with sweeping views, a café and a small maritime museum in the base of the tower. The lighthouse precinct sits at the top of the headland; guided tower tours run at limited times (check current schedules). Parking at the top is limited and paid — many people walk up instead.
The Walgun Cape Byron walking track is a 3.7 km loop that climbs from the Captain Cook Lookout car park (or from Clarkes Beach) around the headland to the lighthouse and back. Allow about 1 to 1.5 hours plus stops. It's a moderate walk with some steep steps and boardwalk, rewarded by the most easterly point marker, whale and dolphin lookouts, and rainforest pockets.
The tip of Cape Byron, just below the lighthouse, is the most easterly point of the Australian mainland — marked by a plaque and viewing platform reached on the walking track. It's a favourite sunrise spot: Byron is one of the first places on the mainland to see the sun each day.
Excellent. The clifftop lookouts on the walking track are among the best land-based whale-watching spots on the East Coast during the migration from May to November (peak June–October). Bring binoculars, and you'll also regularly spot dolphins, turtles and rays in the clear water below year-round. See our whale-watching guide.
The lighthouse was completed in 1901 and is the most powerful lighthouse in Australia. It was automated in 1989 and remains an active navigational aid. The heritage keepers' cottages beside it are now available as holiday accommodation, one of the more memorable places to stay in the area.