Cape Byron
The basics
Built in 1901 and still in operation today, the Cape Byron Lighthouse dominates the promontory. Many visitors come to enjoy its maritime museum—or even stay in the heritage-listed Lighthouse Keepers’ Cottages nearby. Others visit via the Cape Byron Walking Track, which runs around 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) around the headland, through terrain from rainforest to grassland. Cape Byron stands 308 feet (94 meters) above the ocean, making it a great location for spotting whales in season, while the sign proclaiming it Australia’s most easterly point is an ever-popular photo opp.
Things to know before you go
*Cape Byron is a must for photographers, Instagrammers, and geography fans, and also a good choice for wildlife lovers. *There are a couple of cafés on the cape, while the lighthouse offers bathrooms and water. *The section of the Cape Byron Walking Track between Captain Cook Lookout and Brooke Drive is wheelchair-accessible. There’s no wheelchair access inside the Lighthouse, but only the area around it.
How to get there
Cape Byron rises from the beachside town of Byron Bay, with the most easterly point about a 2-mile (3-kilometer) walk northeast of the town center. There’s no public transport but you can hire bicycles, rent a car, or join a tour.
Trip ideas
When to get there
Byron Bay is warm all year-round, so there’s no bad time to visit Cape Byron. Whale watchers will want to arrive between May and November, when humpback whales pass through. The area is at its busiest and prices highest during Australia’s long summer vacation in December and January; if possible, the spring season (October and November) may be a better option.
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