Lighthouses you can stay in

A dozen Australian lightstations let you spend the night in the keepers' quarters — solid stone cottages built for the families who kept the lights burning, most of them in places you'd otherwise only see on a day walk. Some are a ten-minute drive from a town centre; one requires a 19-kilometre hike; one needs a boat or a light plane. This guide covers every lighthouse stay we know of in Australia, who operates it, and how to book.

None of the links in this article are affiliate links. Every booking goes directly to the operator — a parks service, a community trust, or the lightstation itself — and we earn nothing from them. Availability and prices change; always confirm with the operator.

New South Wales

NSW has the deepest bench of lighthouse accommodation in the country, most of it managed by NSW National Parks.

Cape Byron — Byron Bay

The heritage-listed Assistant Lighthouse Keepers' Cottages sit right below Australia's most powerful light, three kilometres from Byron Bay town centre. Self-contained heritage cottages, bookable by the night or the week, with the sunrise over the easternmost point of the mainland included at no extra charge. The most accessible lighthouse stay in the country, and priced accordingly.

Montague Island — offshore from Narooma

A stay in the Assistant Lighthouse Keeper's Cottage on Barunguba Montague Island comes as a package: boat transfer from Narooma, a guided island tour, and the island to yourselves after the day visitors leave — shearwaters, seals and little penguins included. Run by NSW National Parks as a genuine nature-reserve experience. Book well ahead; sailings are weather-dependent.

Green Cape — Beowa National Park

Three restored keepers' cottages at the southernmost lighthouse in NSW, each sleeping six, at the end of a long gravel road through whale-watching country south of Eden. Remote enough that the Milky Way is the evening entertainment.

Sugarloaf Point — Seal Rocks

One of only two Australian lighthouses with an external stairway, above the surf break at Seal Rocks in Myall Lakes National Park. The Head Keeper's cottage sleeps eight and the two Assistant Keepers' cottages sleep six each — book all three and you have a 20-person lightstation to yourselves.

Smoky Cape — South West Rocks

Smoky Cape Lighthouse Cottages operates bed-and-breakfast rooms in the keeper's residence plus self-contained cottages sleeping eight each, on the headland Cook named in 1770. Privately run, five kilometres from South West Rocks.

Norah Head — Central Coast

The Head Lightkeeper's Quarters and two Assistant Lightkeepers' Quarters at Norah Head are managed by Reflections Holidays as holiday lets — the closest lighthouse stay to Sydney, about 90 minutes north.

Victoria

Cape Otway — Great Ocean Road

Cape Otway Lightstation offers the widest range of any Australian lightstation: a studio in the 1859 assistant keeper's residence, a whole keeper's cottage sleeping ten, and a lodge for larger groups. A morning lighthouse climb is included with accommodation. On the Great Ocean Road at mainland Australia's oldest surviving light.

Gabo Island — far East Gippsland

The Assistant Lightkeeper's residence on Gabo Island sleeps eight, with a minimum two-night stay, bookable through Parks Victoria. Access is by charter boat from Mallacoota or light aircraft from Merimbula, and both are weather-dependent — take spare supplies. In return you get a pink granite tower, one of the largest little penguin colonies in the world, and no phone reception worth mentioning.

Wilsons Promontory — hike-in only

The cottages at the Wilsons Promontory Lightstation are the only lighthouse accommodation in Australia you must walk to — roughly 19 kilometres from Tidal River via the Southern Circuit. Banks Cottage and two shared cottages, with a fully equipped kitchen waiting at the end of the hike. Availability is seasonal; check the Parks Victoria calendar before planning.

Also in Victoria: the keeper's cottages at Point Hicks in Croajingolong National Park have historically been bookable, but at the time of writing accommodation is closed due to fire impact in the area. Check with Parks Victoria for current status.

South Australia — Kangaroo Island

Kangaroo Island's three lightstations all have heritage accommodation operated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service SA, though with different access arrangements.

Cape Borda — Flinders Chase

The square little lighthouse on KI's north-west corner has cottages and two budget huts — Hartley Hut and the bunkhouse-style Woodward Hut — making it one of the cheapest lighthouse stays in the country. Reduced winter rates apply.

Cape du Couedic — Flinders Chase

Three restored three-bedroom keepers' cottages — Troubridge, Karatta and Parndana, named for the ships that served the island — stand above Admirals Arch on KI's wild south-west corner. At the time of writing, stays are available only as part of a multi-day guided walk with the Australian Walking Company rather than as independent bookings.

Cape Willoughby, SA's first lighthouse (1852) on KI's eastern tip, also has keepers' cottages — currently closed for maintenance. Check with National Parks SA before planning around it.

Tasmania

Low Head — Tamar River

The Low Head Pilot Station — the oldest continuously operating pilot station in Australia, with convict-built cottages dating to 1825 — offers nine self-contained cottages on the village green, including the Light Keepers House beside the 1833 lighthouse itself. There's a café on site, and Bass Strait out the window. Book through the Pilot Station directly (lowheadpilotstation.com.au) or the Discover Tasmania listing.

Before you book

Know of a lighthouse stay we've missed, or found one of these closed? Tell us and we'll update this guide.