The Caloundra Lighthouse precinct at Kings Beach has two heritage-listed lighthouses beside each other, the old light built in 1896, open for guided tours on the second and fourth Saturday of each month. The 1896 tower is the oldest surviving building in Caloundra.
They sit on Canberra Terrace above the entrance to Moreton Bay, so a visit pairs well with a swim or a walk at Kings Beach.
Caloundra Lighthouse open days and tours
The lighthouses are open on the second and fourth Saturday of the month from 9 am to 3 pm, or by appointment. The Friends of the Caloundra Lighthouses run guided tours of the buildings.
Adult entry fees apply and children go in free. The official page does not list a price, so check with the Friends group or Sunshine Coast Council before you go.
The old lighthouse and the signal station
The Caloundra Head lighthouse was one of three lights marking the North West Channel, the main shipping route into Brisbane. The other two are on Bribie Island. Construction began on 12 March 1896 and finished in August of that year. It was lit by kerosene, and the council says it was the only light of its kind in Queensland.
The old light was active from 1896 to 1968, and a modern signal station was built in the 1960s. The old light was moved to Woorim Park in 1970 and returned to its original site on Canberra Terrace in 1999.
The two buildings are still side by side: the white 1896 tower with its red lantern, and the taller signal station beside it. The precinct was state heritage listed in 2010 and sold to Sunshine Coast Council in 2020, and council has since paid for restoration work including new decking, balustrading and weatherproofing.
Views from the lighthouses
The towers stand on the rise above Kings Beach, so even from the street you get a good look at the coast and the two towers side by side. Ask the volunteers on tour days what parts of the buildings you can visit.
Pair the Caloundra Lighthouse with Kings Beach
The lighthouses are close to Kings Beach, which makes a Saturday easy to fill. Kings Beach has a 25 metre seawater ocean pool open from 4 am to 9 pm daily, a seawater fountain play area and playgrounds, plus barbecues, shelters and toilets.
A coastal pathway runs from Bulcock Beach to Kings Beach, 1.6 km one way and accessible, if you would rather walk between the two. Dogs are not allowed in Kings Beach Park or at the pool; they are on lead on the coastal pathway only.
A lighthouse tour in the morning, then a swim and lunch at the beach, is a simple plan for families with older kids, and the free Caloundra Street Fair on a Sunday is a good next-day stop.
Planning your visit
- How long: A short stop; ask the volunteers how long the tour takes when you arrive.
- Best time: The open days, the second and fourth Saturday from 9 am to 3 pm.
- What to bring: Comfortable shoes, water and a hat.
- Cost: Children free; adult entry fees apply (price not listed by the official page).
- Accessibility: The council’s heritage page does not give accessibility details, so ask the Friends group about the stairs before you visit.
Getting there and parking
The lighthouses are at 3 to 6 Canberra Terrace, Kings Beach, about 80 minutes by car from Brisbane CBD without traffic. Translink bus route 600 between Caloundra and Maroochydore stops on Moreton Parade at Canberra Terrace; check the Translink journey planner for times.
The council’s pages do not list a dedicated car park for the lighthouses. The Kings Beach post lists the parking streets near the beach, and it is a short trip from there.
Nearby
- Kings Beach – the ocean pool, fountain play area and playgrounds beside the lighthouses.
- Golden Beach – another Caloundra beach to add to the day.
- Point Cartwright – the active lighthouse at Buddina that replaced the Caloundra light for navigation.
- Caloundra Street Fair – a free Sunday market in Bulcock Street.
- Caloundra Twilight Markets – an evening market on the last Friday of the month.
More ideas: all history and landmarks and the whole Sunshine Coast.
You might also like
- Landsborough (Glass House Mountains)
- Big Pineapple (Woombye)
- Nambour (Sunshine Coast)
Quick answers
When is Caloundra Lighthouse open?
The second and fourth Saturday of each month, 9 am to 3 pm, or by appointment.
How much does it cost to visit the Caloundra Lighthouses?
Adult entry fees apply and children are free. Check the current price with the Friends of the Caloundra Lighthouses or council.
Where are the Caloundra Lighthouses?
At 3 to 6 Canberra Terrace, Kings Beach, Caloundra.
How old is Caloundra Lighthouse?
The old lighthouse was built in 1896 and is the oldest surviving building in Caloundra. It worked until 1968, and a modern signal station stands beside it.
Can you go inside the Caloundra Lighthouses?
The Friends of the Caloundra Lighthouses run guided tours of the buildings on open days or by appointment.
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