Byron Bay Lighthouse Walk - one of NSW's best coastal walks

The Byron Bay Lighthouse Walk is one of the best things to do in Byron Bay and is popular with walkers and non walkers alike. It offers some of the most beautiful views in the area, with breathtaking beach after breathtaking beach. It’s common to spot dolphins from the track, and even Humpback whales if you’re visiting during their annual migration (May to November).

The walk is all on really well maintained tracks, and it’s relatively easy going, except for a couple of steep hills. It’s the sort of walk that could be done in an hour and a half, or take all day if you stop for a dip and a coffee at various beaches along the way.

Here’s what to expect from the trail and why we love this coastal walk.

Byron Bay Lighthouse Walk - A beautiful trail in Byron Bay

The Byron Bay Lighthouse Walk

The stats

Distance: 4.5km
Elevation:
210m
Difficulty:
Moderate

The Byron Bay Lighthouse Walk has a paved path for almost the entire trail (except the bushland part) and - whilst it has some steep parts - it is not a difficult walk. Including gawping at the views, this walk took us 1.5 hours to complete.

Where to park

The walk begins at the Captain Cook Lookout but it can be hard to get parking there. Parking anywhere close to town won’t add on much distance though, so don’t worry if you struggle to find a spot close to the start.


The highlights of the trail

Captain Cook Lookout to Fisherman’s Lookout - 1km

The first part of the walk is completely flat and within just a few hundred metres you’ll already get your first beach view.

The jungly forest growing to the side of the trail really makes it feel tropical and it’s hard to believe you’re still in town.

The start of the Byron Bay Lighthouse Walk
The jungle on the Byron Bay Lighthouse Walk

Following the signposts you’ll arrive at The Pass just 650m later. It’s another gorgeous stretch of beach and there’s a cafe too if you’re in need of a caffeine fix.

The beach at The Pass

If you head onto the beach you can make the short (150m) detour to Fisherman’s Lookout. It’s one of many good spots along the trail to look out for the resident Bottlenose dolphins.

Fisherman's Lookout at the Pass
The views from Fisherman's Lookout on the Byron Bay Lighthouse Walk

If you can see a big group of kayakers out nearby it’s very likely you’re looking at the kayaking with dolphins tour which gives you a good idea of where to look out for them!

Walking back from Fisherman's Lookout

The Pass to Wategoes Beach - 500m

Heading back into The Pass car park you’ll then follow the signpost into the Palm Valley. It’s a short section of bushland before you head out the forest and up onto the cliff tops with wonderful sea views.

Walking towards Wategoes Beach on the Byron Bay Lighthouse Walk
The secluded beaches in Byron Bay

It’s a very short climb before it flattens out as you cruise along the top, the view of Wategoes Beach is unbelievable.

It also gives you a good look at which part of the beach is quietest if you’re looking for a secluded beach stop - it’s the western end!

Wategoes Beach

You’ll then head briefly downhill and into the car park for Wategoes. This is one of our favourite Byron Bay beaches and a good place to stop for a dip, or grab a coffee at the cafe and sit out on the picnic tables by the beach.

The walk to Wategoes Beach
The view of Wategoes Beach on the Byron Bay Lighthouse Walk

Wategoes Beach to the most easterly point in Australia - 1km

You’ll start heading along the flat paved walkway beside the beach as you make your way to the most easterly point in Australia.

If you love photography, the little walkways down to the beach are very picturesque, with Cabbage tree palms on either side of the stairways.

The walk down to Wategoes Beach

Once you reach the end of the beach you’ll begin heading up a series of staircases in the bush, but with sensational views out to Wategoes.

After 250m you’ll come to a junction, you can continue on the lighthouse trail, or take a short detour out to Little Wategoes Beach and another lookout. It’s only an additional few hundred metres each way but it is quite a few staircases to climb on the way back!

Little Wategoes Beach
The lookout detour

It’s well worth it though, Little Wategoes is a quiet beach and feels nicely secluded, away from the crowds of the other Byron beaches.

The lookout also offers lovely views in every direction, and gives you a good look at the rugged headland and a little cove where wild waves crash against the rocks.

The view from the lookout by Little Wategoes Beach

Once back on the main trail you’ll continue the uphill climb on a series of staircases, with a bench to rest on along the way if needed.

It’s just a few hundred metres before you reach the sign for the most easterly point in Australia, which is always a popular photo stop.

The most easterly point in Australia lookout

The most easterly point in Australia to the Cape Byron Lighthouse - 300m

You’re now just 300m away from the lighthouse and its cafe if you need a cool drink! Although the walk is not difficult, if it’s a hot and humid day it’s definitely a welcome sight.

The final part of the walk to the lighthouse at Byron Bay

The last part of the walk is much flatter, there is a small amount of uphill to go, but you’ve done the worst of it. You’ll have incredible sea views out to your left and you’ll pass another good whale watching spot.

Keep your eyes peeled for whales, dolphins and even turtles all the way along this stretch as that’s where we’ve had the most luck with sightings - we even saw sharks from up here once and the sirens went off to close beach!

The views from the lighthouse at Byron Bay

You can’t go inside the lighthouse but you can admire it from the outside and there’s a small maritime museum which is open from 10am to 4pm.

The Byron Bay Lighthouse

The grassy verge by the cafe is a lovely spot for a picnic, or you can grab a snack from the cafe, which is open until 5pm (coffee machine is turned off an hour before - we were caught out by this once before!).

If you’re really lucky and can snag a booking, you can even stay in the old lighthouse keepers cottages, which sound amazing!

The cafe at the lighthouse
Lizard at the Byron Bay Lighthouse Cafe

The Cape Byron Lighthouse to Captain Cook Lookout - 1.7 km

From the lighthouse it’s a small downhill walk that arrives at a stunning view of Tallow Beach. This huge stretch of sand is one of the most beautiful beaches in Byron and this is one of the best views of it.

Views of Tallow Beach

The prettiest part of the walk is definitely the bit you’ve already done, and you could return the same way, but we usually choose to do the loop along the Tallow Ridge Trail to change it up a bit.

From the viewpoint at Tallow Beach you’ll head uphill, and if you’re lucky, as you round the corner you might see hang gliders taking off from the launch site.

Heading into the bush on the Byron Bay Lighthouse Walk

You’ll head into the bush and that’s the end of the sea views. What you get instead is a nice shady track through the bush with lots of birdlife. We saw so many baby brush turkeys on this part of the walk!

You will have a few short hills to climb, but the majority is flat or downhill and the path is in good condition. After 1km you’ll pop out of the bush and take a right hand turn to get back to the Captain Cook Lookout.

All in all this is one of the best coastal walks on the east coast, and a must for anyone visiting Byron.


Essential information about the Cape Byron Walking Track


The Byron Bay Lighthouse Walk for sunrise or sunset

The best time to be looking out at those incredible views from the lighthouse is at sunrise or sunset. We usually do it for sunset and then walk back through the bush in the twilight. It’s not difficult and as long as you have a torch you won’t have any trouble! You might even spot a few possums along the way.

If you are going to hike up for sunrise then do the bush track first as you don’t want to miss the views along the coastal portion of the walk.


Can you take dogs on the Cape Byron Walking Track?

As the walk takes you through national park land you can’t bring dogs unfortunately.


Facilities along the trail

This walk has plenty of places to stop for a drink, drinking water and toilets along the way. You could easily spend a whole afternoon slowly making your way along the track.


Parking fees

The car park at Captain Cook Lookout has a maximum time limit of 4 hours and is a cost of $4 per hour.


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The Byron Bay lighthouse walk is one of the best things to do in the Byron area and you don’t need to be an avid walker. With stunning coastal views, the chance to stop for a dip and a coffee, as well as a great chance of spotting dolphins, it’s a w…
 

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