Cape Byron Light
Byron Bay happens to have the most powerful
lighthouse in the country. Built in 1901, the beautiful white structure sits at
the top of Cape Byron marking the most easterly point of mainland Australia.
From one of the smaller beaches surrounding the cape, Watego’s Beach, a
beautiful trail/stairs lead up to the lighthouse. It is not just the lighthouse
and the view from the top that make it worth working up a sweat getting there.
At Watego’s beach among other places there
are public barbecues Just hold the button until the light comes on and you
have a hot plate for the next 20 minutes. Ideal to serve as home base when you
chill at the beach or venture out into the park.
The Cape is part of the Cape Byron Marine
Park and is home to a wide variety of plants and animals. When walking up the
trail towards the top you really feel you’re in the jungle. Palms, ferns, tea
trees and much more line hill side while on the other side stunning views of
the bay, beaches and ocean can be seen.
After every minute walking or so the
vegetation opens up to reveal beautiful sneak peeks of the surroundings. I had
to stop every time to take in the view and try to capture it on camera. With my
used and abused point and shoot camera that is very hard to do, so I would
recommend to just come visit and experience the beauty for yourself.
About half way up, the trail splits. To the
right the trail leads on to the top. To the left it leads to a lookout point
which is probably the best place to be if you want to spot some whales and
dolphins which are passing by close to shore on their way to the warm waters of
the Great Barrier Reef in the north to mate. It is literally the easternmost
point of mainland Australia. Except for the cape behind you there is only ocean
so be seen in every direction. The waves crash onto the rocks with great force.
It definitely gives you that salty ocean spray experience.
The lighthouse itself is a small sturdy
looking building as bright as the light it emits. Completely white it definitely
stands out among the green vegetation and black and brown rock faces. Sunset is
the time you want to be there. It is a beautiful sight to see the sun disappear
behind the mountains of the Great Dividing Range. It bathes the bay and its
golden beaches in a warm orange light. The last sun rays bounce off of the water
transforming it from blue into silver. The best view however is not to the
east, but to the west. The light of the setting sun illuminates the clouds over
the Pacific Ocean. It looks like they are on fire. All ranges of red, orange
and yellow projected on virgin white clouds hovering over a dark blue ocean.
The way down is easy and effortless. Especially
since your mind is still wondering off, remembering the clouds ablaze.
No comments:
Post a Comment