Road trip to the lighthouses in South Coast NSW
Are you one of those who love lighthouses? I am one of those who definitely love the lighthouses. The function of a lighthouse is simple right? Yet each lighthouse is different and the architecture and history behind each lighthouse is unique. Almost every city in Australia around the coast has a lighthouse. A couple of years ago, my friend and I decided to do a road trip exploring the lighthouses in the South Coast region of New South Wales (NSW).
For fun big things to see on the way, read 11 big things to see in NSW.
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Lighthouses in NSW
New South Wales has more than 40 lighthouses alone. The lighthouses are historical and some of them are recognised as government listed heritage properties. Out of the 25 lighthouses maintained by Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) on the East coast of Australia, there are around 13 lighthouses in NSW state.
Did you know that I worked in Roads and Maritime Services for more than 2 years and it truly was one of my most favourite places to work during my career?
The complete list of lighthouses in Australia can be found on the Lighthouse of Australia Inc website.
Lighthouses in the South Coast region
Wollongong
As part of my road trip, Wollongong was my first stop. Wollongong, adorably known as “The Gong”, is a coastal city and is an easy getaway from Sydney. The distance is just about 90 kilometres drive from Sydney. The coastal city is home for two lighthouses, Wollongong Breakwater lighthouse and Flagstaff Hill lighthouse.
Wollongong Breakwater Lighthouse
The Wollongong Breakwater lighthouse was built in the year 1871. The lighthouse lies is in the Belmore Basin and was designed by Edward Orpen Moriarty. The tower is one of the two towers made of wrought iron on a ferro-concrete base. No longer an active lighthouse, this is now listed as a local government heritage.
The Wollongong Breakwater lighthouse is known as Old Wollongong lighthouse by the locals.
Flagstaff Point Lighthouse
The second lighthouse in Wollongong is the Flagstaff Point Lighthouse. Also known as the Wollongong Head lighthouse, this was first lit on 23 July 1937. It is an active lighthouse, overlooking the Tasman sea. The lens used dates back from 1862 and the tower stands 25 metres high.
It is a famous picnic spot among the locals and tourists.
Culburra Beach
About 99 kilometres drive from Wollongong is the Culburra Beach. Culburra beach, just known as Culburra is a coastal town in the Shoalhaven area. The town is home to the Crookhaven lighthouse.
Crookhaven lighthouse
The Crookhaven Heads lighthouse is an active lighthouse at the entrance of the Shoalhaven River. It was built in the year 1882 and is constructed of timber. There are two view points near the lighthouse and they provide spectacular views of the oceans.
- The lighthouse is around 500 metres of walk (steps mostly) from the car park.
The Crookhaven lighthouse is considered as the most endangered lighthouse in NSW.
Ulladulla
My third stop was Ulladulla. It is about 80 kilometres from Culburra beach. The name Ulladulla is derived from an aboriginal word that means “safe harbour”. Ulladulla is a coastal town famous for its beautiful pristine beaches and sparkling lakes.
Ulladulla lighthouse
The Ulladulla lighthouse, also known as Warden Head lighthouse, was installed at the current location in 1889. The structure is about 40 feet high.
Narooma
Approximately 130 kilometres from Ulladulla is Narooma. Narooma is one of my most favourite towns in Australia. The name Narooma is derived from an aboriginal word that means “clear blue waters”.
Narooma lighthouse museum
Even though my next lighthouse is a museum, it is one of the beautiful lighthouses. It is in adjacent to the Narooma visitor centre. More details can be found on the Museums and Galleries of NSW website.
The key piece of this lighthouse is the original light from Montague Island Lightstation.
Jervis Bay
Known for its pretty white sand beaches, Jervis Bay is a village in the South Coast. Jervis Bay is another place that I am in love with in NSW. The distance between Narooma and Jervis Bay is about 210 kilometres.
Cape St George Lighthouse
I was really surprised when I heard of my next lighthouse, Cape St George Lighthouse in the Jervis Bay National Park. I was surprised because Australia does not have too many ruins. And this lighthouse is the ruins of a lighthouse. The lighthouse was constructed in 1860 and was functioning till 1889.
- The cost to enter the national park is AUD 13 per vehicle.
Kiama
Kiama is about 80 kilometres from Jervis Bay and is definitely the most popular and coolest coastal town in NSW. The town is ideal to spend a day over the weekend and makes it a perfect one-day trips from Sydney.
Kiama Lighthouse
My last lighthouse during this trip was the Kiama lighthouse. The Kiama lighthouse was founded in the year 1887 and is an amazing spot to spend an evening watching the sunset. It is an active lighthouse and is situated close to the Kiama blowhole.
Road trip details
The road trip that covers the above listed lighthouses is worth driving and the views of the coast are stunning. It is a very picturesque route. The distance covered is around 800 kilometres over the span of 2.5 days.
- Other than the fuel, stay, food and the entry into Jervis Bay National Park expenses, the road trip does not cost that much.
Closing Notes
As I mentioned in the beginning, NSW has many more lighthouses. In this road trip, I covered a very few of them and I did miss out some of the others. It does require many more days to visit each one of the lighthouses and explore them.
If you know any of the lighthouses in NSW that is not listed in this post, please leave a comment, so I can go explore them 🙂 .
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