The walk up to Cape Byron Lighthouse is the most popular thing to do in Byron Bay, and for good reason. In one loop you get rainforest, beaches, clifftop lookouts and the most easterly point of mainland Australia. Here’s how to do it, from a local who’s walked it more times than we can count.
The walk at a glance
- Track: Walgun Cape Byron walking track, a 3.7 km loop
- Time: allow about 1.5 to 2 hours with stops (National Parks suggests 1 to 3 hours)
- Difficulty: moderate, with plenty of stairs and some steep sections
- Lighthouse precinct: open 8am to sunset
- Bring: water, a hat, sunscreen and good walking shoes
Where to start
It’s a loop, so you can start at Captain Cook Lookout, The Pass, Wategos Beach or the lighthouse itself. Our pick is to start at Captain Cook Lookout or The Pass and walk anticlockwise: you get the beaches and rainforest first, then climb up past Wategos to the lighthouse and the Most Easterly Point, and finish with the views back over the bay.
Parking
There’s parking at Captain Cook Lookout, The Pass, Wategos and the lighthouse, but fees apply and the car parks fill up fast, especially on weekends and in summer. If you’re staying in town, it’s easiest to walk to the start along the beach from Main Beach.
Best time to go
- Sunrise: the classic. You can be one of the first people in Australia to see the sun come up. Walk up in the dark with a torch, or arrive early.
- Late afternoon: softer light, fewer people and a sunset drink at The Pass after.
- Avoid the middle of a hot summer day: there’s not much shade on the clifftop sections.
Whales and dolphins
Keep your eyes on the water. Dolphins are often seen in the waves off The Pass and Wategos, and during the humpback whale migration (roughly June to November) the lookouts near the lighthouse are one of the best land-based whale watching spots on the east coast.
Tips from a local
- Stay on the track and well back from the cliff edges
- Grab a coffee or ice cream at the lighthouse cafe as a reward for the climb
- Combine it with a swim at Wategos or Little Wategos
- Seen the lighthouse? The hinterland and hidden beaches south of town are just as good, and far less crowded
See what’s behind the bay
Done the lighthouse and want to see the places most visitors miss? We pick you up from your Byron accommodation from 11am for a six-hour small-group day: a swim at Killen Falls, paddleboarding on Lake Ainsworth, lunch in Lennox Head and a bush walk through Broken Head Nature Reserve. You’re back by 5pm at the latest.
Book direct on our website and save 10% with code BTB26.