Tasmania · Attraction
Mersey Bluff Lighthouse
Iconic striped sentinel of Bass Strait
schedule 1 min read / Updated Jun 2026
Perched at the mouth of the Mersey River where it meets Bass Strait, the Mersey Bluff Lighthouse has guided mariners since 1889. Its striking red-and-white vertical stripes make it one of the most photographed lighthouses in Tasmania. The surrounding Mersey Bluff headland reserve offers coastal walks, picnic grounds, and sweeping views across to the Spirit of Tasmania berth below.
Built in 1889 of brick on a stone base, the Mersey Bluff Lighthouse stands as a working navigational aid that remains active today, making it all the more compelling as a heritage site. The lighthouse itself is not open for internal access, as it continues its operational role, but the headland reserve surrounding it is freely accessible throughout the day, making it one of Devonport's most rewarding no-cost excursions.
The reserve is laced with well-maintained walking tracks that follow the clifftops, offering views across Bass Strait to the north and down the Mersey River estuary to the south. At sunset the lighthouse catches warm golden light against the deep blue of the strait, drawing photographers at all hours. The nearby Tiagarra Aboriginal Cultural Centre sits within the same reserve, and the bluff itself holds significant spiritual meaning for the Palawa people, whose ancestors have occupied this coastline for tens of thousands of years.
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Scenic views
