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Victoria
10 best lighthouses in Victoria to visit and explore
Discover 10 of the best lighthouses in Victoria, from the Great Ocean Road and Mornington Peninsula to remote coastal lightstations.
Victoria’s coastline is dotted with historic lighthouses, many of which occupy spectacular headlands with sweeping views across Bass Strait and the Southern Ocean.
More than simply photogenic landmarks, Victoria's lighthouses tell the story of the state's maritime past. Many were built during the 19th century to help ships navigate dangerous stretches of coastline, while some continue to operate as navigational aids today.
From famous Great Ocean Road landmarks and easy day trips from Melbourne to remote lightstations reached only on foot or by boat, here are 10 of the best lighthouses to visit in Victoria.
1. Cape Otway Lightstation, Cape Otway
Lighthouse Road, Cape Otway
Visiting hours: Friday-Tuesday, 9.30am-4.30pm (last entry 4pm). Closed Christmas Day.
Perched 90m above the tumultuous Southern Ocean, Cape Otway Lightstation is one of Victoria's most historically significant maritime landmarks.
Dating from 1848 and nicknamed 'Beacon of Hope' for its importance in guiding ships safely through Victoria's Shipwreck Coast, it's the oldest surviving lighthouse on mainland Australia. Its location on the Great Ocean Road makes it an easy addition to a road trip through the Great Otway National Park.
The Cape Otway Lightstation Heritage Precinct is open to visitors every Friday to Tuesday, although the tower itself is currently closed due to restoration works. An onsite cafe is available to those visiting the precinct, with tea, coffee, slices and scones available to purchase.
You can also extend your visit by staying onsite, including in the historic Lightkeeper's Cottage, which was built in the late 1850s and features original sandstone walls more than 30cm thick.
More: The ultimate Great Ocean Road itinerary from Torquay to Warrnambool
2. Cape Schanck Lighthouse, Mornington Peninsula
420 Cape Schanck Rd, Cape Schanck
Visiting hours: Daily, 10am-4pm. Closed Christmas Day.
For an impressive lighthouse within day-trip distance of Melbourne, head to Cape Schanck Lighthouse on the Mornington Peninsula, where it overlooks Bass Strait and Bushrangers Bay.
Operating since 1859 (making it the second oldest lighthouse in the state), this heritage-listed lighthouse stands 21m tall above a dramatic stretch of coastline. Small group tours run every 30-40 minutes, giving visitors the chance to climb the 105 steps up to the lantern room for a spectacular view, with the possibility of spotting whales or dolphins.
The surrounding Cape Schanck Lighthouse Reserve has lookouts and walking tracks with sweeping coastal views, even when lighthouse tours aren't operating. Follow the boardwalk towards Pulpit Rock or tackle the 2.6km Bushrangers Bay Track for a longer coastal walk.
For guests at RACV Cape Schanck Resort, the lighthouse is a 10-minute drive away.
Cape Otway Lightstation is one of Victoria's most historically significant lighthouses. Image: Visit Victoria
3. Split Point Lighthouse, Aireys Inlet
13 Federal St, Aireys Inlet
Visiting hours: Tours available daily (check website for details). Closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
One of Victoria's most recognisable lighthouses, Split Point Lighthouse rises above the cliffs at Aireys Inlet along the Great Ocean Road. It was built in 1891 to help guide ships through Bass Strait.
The operational lighthouse is most famous for appearing in the 1990s Australian children's television series Round the Twist. Painted stark white with a bright red dome, the lighthouse is known as the 'White Queen'.
Self-guided and guided tours are available, with visitors welcome to climb to the top of this 34m lighthouse. Note that only children aged over five are permitted to climb the lighthouse. Infants may be carried by an adult in an appropriate baby carrier that allows the adult to climb hands-free.
For a longer outing, explore the surrounding section of the Surf Coast Walk, which offers excellent coastal views and several vantage points looking back towards the lighthouse.
Split Point Lighthouse is just a 30-minute drive from RACV Torquay Resort.
More: Best walks on Victoria's Surf Coast
4. Cape Liptrap Lighthouse, South Gippsland
655 Cape Liptrap Rd, Tarwin Lower
Visiting hours: Exterior access is available 24/7
For a quieter coastal adventure, Cape Liptrap Lighthouse occupies a remote headland in Cape Liptrap Coastal Park, separated from the famous Wilsons Promontory by Waratah Bay.
Built in 1951, the current lighthouse stands above a rugged stretch of Bass Strait coastline. While the lighthouse itself isn’t generally open to visitors, the surrounding landscape makes Cape Liptrap well worth the journey.
The area feels far more remote than many lighthouse destinations closer to Melbourne, making it a rewarding addition to a South Gippsland road trip.
RACV Inverloch Resort is less than an hour’s drive from Cape Liptrap Lighthouse.
Split Point Lighthouse offers some fantastic views. Image: Visit Victoria
5. Point Lonsdale Lighthouse, Bellarine Peninsula
9/13 Point Lonsdale Rd, Point Lonsdale
Visiting hours: Sunday tours available between 9.30am and 1pm (last entry 12.30pm)
Standing guard over the entrance to Port Phillip Bay, Point Lonsdale Lighthouse overlooks one of Victoria's most important stretches of water.
Known as The Rip, the narrow entrance between Point Lonsdale and Point Nepean connects Port Phillip Bay with Bass Strait and is navigated by ships travelling to and from Melbourne and Geelong.
Combine your lighthouse visit with a walk along the Point Lonsdale foreshore and pier, where there are excellent views towards the lighthouse and across to Point Nepean.
Point Lonsdale Lighthouse is about a 45-minute drive from RACV Torquay Resort.
More: What to do in Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula
6. Point Hicks Lighthouse, East Gippsland
2885 Point Hicks Rd, Tamboon
Visiting hours: Exterior access available 24/7
For something considerably more remote, Point Hicks Lighthouse stands on a granite headland within Croajingolong National Park in East Gippsland.
The lighthouse was completed in 1890 and its isolated setting is a major part of the experience. Surrounded by beaches, forest and coastal wilderness, Point Hicks feels far removed from Victoria's busier tourist destinations.
Former lighthouse keeper cottages provide accommodation for travellers wanting to spend longer exploring this secluded section of Victoria's far east.
Please note that tours and accommodation are closed until further notice due to fire impacts in the area. Visit Parks Victoria for more details.
Point Lonsdale Lighthouse watches over the stretch of water known as The Rip. Image: Visit Victoria
7. Cape Nelson Lighthouse, Portland
Cape Nelson Rd, Portland West
Visiting hours: Tours daily at 11.30am
With its distinctive red-and-white exterior, Cape Nelson Lighthouse near Portland is a classic seaside landmark. Perched on the rugged south-west coast within Cape Nelson State Park, it offers sweeping views across the Southern Ocean.
Visitors can explore the surrounding area or join a daily 11.30am tour to learn about the lighthouse’s rich history, including tales of shipwrecks in the treacherous waters offshore. On site, Isabella’s Café serves coffee, cakes and lunches for travellers, as well as breakfast from 10am on weekends. There are also five cottages available if you’d like to stay overnight.
Walkers can follow the Cape Nelson Lighthouse Walk through coastal heathland and past scenic lookouts. For a longer adventure, the 250km Great South West Walk begins at the Maritime Discovery and Visitor Information Centre in nearby Portland, with shorter sections also available for day walkers.
More: When to whale watch in Victoria and best spots
8. Gabo Island Lighthouse, East Gippsland
Gabo Island, Mallacoota
Visiting hours: Day visitors must book a tour with a licensed tour operator
Few Victorian lighthouses enjoy a setting quite like Gabo Island Lighthouse, located off the coast of Croajingolong National Park near Mallacoota in East Gippsland.
Built from distinctive pink granite quarried on the island, the 19th-century lighthouse is one of the tallest in Australia and the only operating island lighthouse in Victoria. The island is also home to Santa Barbara Bay and an old cemetery, while the surrounding waters are known for whales, dolphins and seals.
Gabo Island is accessible only by boat or light aircraft, making a visit more involved than simply pulling off a coastal highway. Day visitors must book a lighthouse tour with a licensed tour operator, while those wanting to linger can stay overnight in the Assistant Keepers Residence.
Cape Nelson Lighthouse has a distinctive red and white exterior. Image: Peter Foster, Visit Victoria
9. Griffiths Island Lighthouse, Port Fairy
Griffiths Island, Port Fairy
Visiting hours: Exterior access is available 24/7
Griffiths Island Lighthouse is one of Port Fairy’s most atmospheric coastal landmarks, set at the eastern end of a windswept island just offshore from town. Reached by a scenic walking trail, it’s a rewarding spot to slow down, take in the coastline and enjoy one of south-west Victoria’s loveliest seaside settings.
Dating back to the 1850s, the lighthouse can be reached via the roughly one-hour Griffiths Island Circuit, which passes rocky coastline, sandy beaches and low coastal vegetation, with chances to spot swamp wallabies and, in season, short-tailed shearwaters. In warmer weather, you can also stop for a swim at a sheltered beach protected by a reef.
Port Fairy itself is about a three-and-a-half to four-hour drive from Melbourne, depending on where you’re travelling from, making Griffiths Island a worthwhile addition to a Great Ocean Road or south-west coast getaway.
More: Beautiful country towns to visit in Victoria
10. Wilsons Promontory Lightstation, Gippsland
South East Point, Wilsons Promontory
Visiting hours: Exterior access is available 24/7
Victoria's most adventurous lighthouse experience may be Wilsons Promontory Lightstation, perched near the remote south-eastern tip of Wilsons Promontory National Park in Gippsland.
There is no road access to the lightstation, so reaching it requires a substantial overnight hike through the national park from Tidal River (via Oberon Bay) or from the Telegraph Saddle car park. Accommodation is available in the historic lightstation cottages, allowing hikers to spend the night overlooking the surrounding coastline.
The payoff is worth it for anyone who appreciates history or nature. Surrounded by rugged coastal bush, the Wilsons Promontory Lightstation was built in 1859 and is the southernmost lighthouse on the mainland.
Visit Parks Victoria for more information about safely hiking in and out from Wilsons Promontory Lightstation.
More: Guide to Wilsons Promontory's best camping, tracks and beaches
Griffiths Island Lighthouse in Port Fairy is a feature on a lovely circuit walk. Image: Visit Victoria
Tips for visiting lighthouses in Victoria
Opening hours, tours and access conditions vary considerably between lighthouse locations, so check current information before setting off. Some lighthouses can only be viewed externally, while remote locations may require advance bookings, a four-wheel-drive vehicle, hiking or boat transport.
Wear suitable footwear around clifftop areas, stay on marked tracks and at designated lookouts, and keep well back from exposed cliff edges.
For a lighthouse road trip, the Great Ocean Road offers several historic coastal landmarks, while Cape Schanck and Point Lonsdale are convenient options for shorter trips from Melbourne. For travellers looking to venture further afield, Cape Nelson, Point Hicks, Gabo Island and Wilsons Promontory showcase some of the wildest stretches of Victoria's coastline.
