New South Wales · Attraction
Cape Byron Lighthouse and Australia's Most Easterly Point
Where the sun first lands
schedule 1 min read / Updated Jun 2026
Perched on the tip of the most easterly headland on mainland Australia, Cape Byron Lighthouse has guided mariners since 1901. The striking white tower and its surrounding lawns sit inside Walgun Cape Byron State Conservation Area, offering sweeping 360-degree views across the Pacific Ocean, the hinterland ranges and the coast in both directions, a setting that draws sunrise pilgrims, photographers and casual visitors alike.
Built in 1901 by the New South Wales Public Works Department, Cape Byron Lighthouse is the most powerful lighthouse in Australia and one of the country's most photographed heritage structures. The light sits 94 metres above sea level and on a clear day the beam can be seen from up to 50 kilometres out to sea. A small Maritime Museum occupies the former lighthouse keeper's cottage at the base of the tower.
The headland forms the centrepiece of Walgun Cape Byron State Conservation Area, jointly managed with the Arakwal people of the Bundjalung Nation. Humpback whales pass close to the cape during their annual migration between June and November, and dolphins and sea turtles are commonly spotted in the waters below the cliffs.
The easiest way to reach the lighthouse is to drive to the carpark at 199 Lighthouse Road, though parking is timed and charged. A more rewarding approach is to walk the full Walgun Cape Byron coastal circuit, which winds through rainforest and clifftop heath from the town centre via Clarkes Beach, The Pass and Wategos Beach before climbing to the cape.
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