Western Australia · Attraction
Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse
1904 limestone beacon above the ocean
schedule 1 min read / Updated Jun 2026
Perched 123 metres above sea level on the rugged tip of Cape Naturaliste, this handsome limestone lighthouse has guided mariners through the waters off south-western Australia since 1904. Guided tours take visitors up through the tower to the original first-order Fresnel lens and panoramic views sweeping from Geographe Bay across to Cape Leeuwin on clear days.
Constructed from locally quarried Bunker Bay limestone, the 20-metre tower was first lit on 1 July 1904 and automated in 1978, though a keeper remained on site until 1996. The site is heritage-listed by Western Australia and falls within Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, managed by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA). Guided half-hour tours depart regularly throughout the day and cover the lighthouse's construction, the Fresnel lens optics, and the lives of the keeper families who lived on the headland for nearly a century.
The cape is also one of the best land-based whale-watching spots on the coast. Between June and December, humpback and southern right whales can be spotted from the headland walking trails as they navigate in and out of Geographe Bay. The Cape to Cape Track begins here, threading south along the cliffs toward Augusta over five days. A national park day pass or annual pass is required for vehicle entry to the site.
Scenic views
