Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse is one of those classic South West stops that really does work for the whole family – from toddlers who just want a Playground, to grandparents happy with a gentle climb and a big view. Set in Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park an easy drive from Dunsborough, the heritage lighthouse precinct has been thoughtfully upgraded with landscaped lawns, an accessible observation platform and restored keeper’s cottages, so you can easily linger for a few hours rather than racing in and out for a tour.
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Your visit usually starts at the ticket office and gift shop, where there’s a good range of nautical souvenirs and local goodies. From here, families can wander into the fenced heritage area, explore the lawns and let the kids burn off some energy on the nautical‑themed Playground. The play space includes a boat and climbing elements that fit the coastal setting perfectly, and it makes waiting for your tour time much easier with little ones.
Guided lighthouse tours depart regularly and are family‑friendly, with an easy 59‑step climb to the balcony. Compared with some taller lighthouses, Cape Naturaliste is quite manageable for school‑age kids and older relatives, but still delivers that exciting “top of the world” feeling once you step outside.
Along the way your guide brings the place to life with stories of early lightkeepers, shipwrecks and wild weather, as well as explaining how the light works today.
The staircase is enclosed and solid underfoot, and while the lantern room at the top is compact, most children find being right under the giant light and prisms fascinating.
The real reward is the view. From the balcony you can take in sweeping panoramas of the Indian Ocean, Geographe Bay and the surrounding bushland of Leeuwin‑Naturaliste National Park. On a clear day you can see a long stretch of coastline, and between roughly September and November there’s a good chance of spotting passing whales from either the tower or the ground‑level observation platform. It can be very windy at the top, so it’s worth bringing a jacket and tying back long hair – but once you step around to the more sheltered side of the balcony, the outlook is simply breathtaking.
Back on the ground, it’s well worth spending some time in the Lightkeepers’ Museum, housed in one of the original cottages. This small but engaging museum uses historical artefacts and interactive displays to share what life was like for the families who lived and worked here from the early 1900s. Kids can better imagine the isolation and routine of a working lighthouse station, while adults will appreciate the broader maritime history of the Cape and the engineering behind the light that has guided ships for more than a century.
The site is set up with families in mind. There are toilets and plenty of open lawn for prams and picnic rugs. Wheelchairs and prams can access the heritage grounds and observation platform, though not the interior of the lighthouse itself. With its combination of history, scenery, play and café comforts, Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse is easy to weave into a South West itinerary – whether you’re basing yourself in Dunsborough or using it as a scenic stop on the way to Meelup, Eagle Bay or Bunker Bay. It’s one of those “must do” South West experiences that still feels relaxed and unhurried, even in school holidays.
Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse
Address: 1267 Cape Naturaliste Road, Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, Naturaliste WA 6281, Australia
Opening hours: Daily, 9:00am – 5:00pm (last tour/entry usually 4:30pm). Closed Christmas Day. Tour times and availability can vary in peak periods, so it’s best to check ahead and book online.
Official website: https://www.capesfoundation.org.au/visit-experiences/cape-naturaliste-lighthouse/
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Amanda Carlin has her own food and travel blog. Established in 2013, (first as “The Chef, His Wife and Their Perth-fect Life”) Amanda loves getting out and about in Perth and WA for her blog ‘Simply PERTHfect’. You’ll find her checking out the newest foodie spots (brunching, tapas or something a little fancy), as well as fun family activities with the kiddos in tow, so Amanda always has plenty of family friendly eating options to recommend too! Be sure to check out Simply PERTHfect.
