The Cape Otway Lighthouse is one of Victoria's most iconic sites and one of the most visited stops on the Great Ocean Road.

A visit to the lighthouse should definitely not be missed, it just takes a bit of planning as the area around the lighthouse is a museum, which charges an entrance fee and is not open 24/7.

Book a room directly at the lighthouse

Victoria's oldest lighthouse

The history of Cape Otway Lighthouse dates back to the 19th century. It was commissioned in 1848 as the second lighthouse in mainland Australia and decommissioned in 1994, making it the longest continuously operating light station in Australia.

However, the lighthouse is actually still in operation today. Although the light does not come from the historic structure itself, a small powerful lamp powered by solar panels was built just a few metres from the original lighthouse.

The well-maintained white lighthouse is a very photogenic structure. It measures 20 metres and stands on a 50-metre-high cliff. For the record, the tallest lighthouse in all of Australia , Cape Wickham, can be found on King Island, about 120 km away.

The museum and a visit to the balcony of the lighthouse

The area around the lighthouse is now a museum.

A total of 6 buildings are open to the public - the old telegraph station, two lighthouse crew quarters, a World War II bunker and the lighthouse itself.

In the sixth building there is an absolutely wonderful cafe and candy shop. You can pay by card here, we just recommend not relying on mobile payment, but bring a physical card as the mobile signal is very poor.

The absolute highlight of a visit to the museum is of course the lighthouse itself.

The entire interior is accessible, including the 18-metre balcony, which offers an absolutely breathtaking view of the dramatic rocky coastline.

Whale watching

Cape Otway is one of the best places to see migrating whales.

Between May and the end of October, whales often pass very close to shore, so that they are easily visible from the viewpoint of the bunker built during the Second World War or, of course, from the balcony of the lighthouse.

Entrance fees and opening hours

The whole site is a museum and it is not possible to approach the lighthouse outside of opening hours, except for guests staying in one of the former station attendant's cottages.

Cape Otway Lighthouse is open daily from 9:30am-5pm, but the last entry is at 4:30pm.

About 1-2 times a year the interior of the lighthouse is usually inaccessible for maintenance, usually for a few hours, and this information is always posted on the official website.

Admission cannot be booked online, but queues do not form on site and there is no limit to the number of visitors.

• Adults - 22 aud
• Children 5 to 16 years - 9 aud
• Family admission (2 adults + 3 children) - 56 aud

There is also a fairly extensive gift shop at the ticket office.

Official website: lightstation.com.

Accommodation at the lighthouse

Take advantage of a unique opportunity and stay right on the lighthouse grounds.

While some of the information may make it seem like you'll be staying right in the lighthouse building, the reality is that the 2 fully furnished apartments are in one of the cottages formerly used as quarters for the lighthouse station staff.

But that doesn't change the uniqueness of the place. Once the museum gates close at 5pm, you will have the whole area to yourself and can, for example, watch absolutely magical sunsets without the crowds of other people.

One night usually costs from 280 aud to 400 aud depending on the season, but if you are looking for unique and well-equipped accommodation, the price is definitely worth it.

Count on the fact that there is no wi-fi available here, and also the normal cellular connection is very fluctuating. Stay here if you want absolute peace from the outside world for at least 1 night.

Prices and availability - Cape Otway Lightstation

Can the lighthouse be seen outside the museum grounds?

The lighthouse's location on a promontory above the cliff promises great views of sunsets, for example, which no one else will see apart from the guests staying at the above-mentioned hotel.

In fact, the lighthouse is built in such a way that it is practically invisible from anywhere except the museum grounds.

The lighthouse building occasionally appears for a few moments through the dense low vegetation of the Great Ocean Walk, but if you want to see the lighthouse in all its glory, you must visit the museum.

How to get there

There is no public transport to Cape Otway Lighthouse, so the only way to get there is by car or on foot along the Great Ocean Walk.

A good quality tarmac road leads up to the lighthouse and the turn off from Great Ocean Road is clearly signposted.

The town of Apollo Bay is about 30 minutes away and the Twelve Apostles about 75 minutes away. Parking in front of the lighthouse is free.

Car rental prices - Melbourne Airport

The famous Great Ocean Walk long-distance route passes by the lighthouse, and there is camping available about 200 metres from the car park (free of charge without prior booking).

Walking distances are as follows:

• Johanna Beach Campground - 22 km / 6 hours
• Apollo Bay - 32 km / 9.5 hours

What to see around

Discover all the places to see in Great Ocean Road.