Cape Moreton Lighthouse is Queensland’s oldest lighthouse, a red-banded sandstone tower on the northern tip of Moreton Island that has guided ships into Moreton Bay since 1857. You can walk the grounds, visit the free information centre and look out over the open ocean, but you need a 4WD or a guided tour to get there.
The tower is not open to the public, so the visit is about the setting: the headland, the keepers’ buildings and the sea views, with whales to spot from the cliffs between June and October.
History of Cape Moreton Lighthouse
The design came from Edmund Blacket, the New South Wales Colonial Architect, in 1854, and the light was first displayed in February 1857. Alexander Beazeley supervised the build, and it went up before Queensland became a separate colony.
Brisbane residents had petitioned the New South Wales Government for a lighthouse here in 1850. Contractor Mark Farrell built the tower in 1857 for £15,232 using prison labour, and the sandstone was quarried locally, on what is mostly a sand island. The first light used 21 oil wick lamps with reflectors; kerosene replaced the oil in 1873.
It was sited to help shipping enter the Port of Brisbane, after the steamer Sovereign was lost in 1847 with 44 lives. The channel into Moreton Bay is known for its wrecks.
The tower was extended in 1928 from 20 to 23 metres to increase its range, and the keepers’ cottages were replaced that year. It went solar in 1993 and the keepers left in 1998. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority still operates the light, and the site went on the Queensland Heritage Register in 2004. A small museum was set up in the second assistant keeper’s quarters in 1988.
What to do at Cape Moreton
Start at the free Gheebulum Kunungai (Moreton Island) National Park Information Centre, in an old keeper’s cottage near the tower. Then walk the grounds for the views. The grounds are open all year round.
The cape is a good spot for the annual whale migration, which runs between June and October.
Why the lighthouse is here
The cape sits at the northern tip of Moreton Island, on a rocky promontory about 120 metres above the sea. That height is the point: the light reaches about 15 nautical miles, and the tower guides ships past Amity Passage, the entrance to Moreton Bay. It flashes white four times every 20 seconds. The cape is inside Gheebulum Kunungai (Moreton Island) National Park, so the usual national park rules apply while you are there.
Tangalooma had a whaling station from 1952 to 1962, which adds some context to the whale watching you can do from the cape today.
Getting to Cape Moreton Lighthouse
Brisbane City Council advises that you can only get around Moreton Island in a high-clearance 4WD. The Queensland Government says you must buy a vehicle access permit before driving on Mulgumpin (Moreton Island). Check tide times before driving on the beach, and fill your fuel tank first. There are no mechanics or vehicle recovery services on the island, so bring your own recovery gear.
The lighthouse is reached by tracks including North Point Cape Moreton Track and Harpers Track.
If you would rather not drive, Tangalooma Island Resort runs a Northern Safari Bus Tour along the western beaches through Cowan Cowan and Bulwer to the lighthouse. See Tangalooma’s Cape Moreton page for booking. For the ferry and vehicle barge crossings, see our Moreton Island guide.
Planning your visit
- How long: Allow an hour or so at the cape, plus the drive or tour time.
- Cost: The grounds and the information centre are free. You pay for the vehicle permit, the barge or ferry, or a tour.
- What to bring: Fuel, water, food, sun protection and binoculars.
- Before you go: Check Queensland Parks for current conditions and information centre hours.
You might also like
- Moreton Island – ferries, 4WD tracks and camping.
- Tangalooma – the resort, dolphin feeding and day cruises.
- Tangalooma Wrecks – snorkelling and kayaking over the sunken ships.
- Caloundra Lighthouse – another historic lighthouse to compare.
- Point Lookout, North Stradbroke Island – another headland for whale watching.
More like this: browse History and landmarks or Moreton Island.
Quick answers
Can you go inside Cape Moreton Lighthouse?
No. The tower is not open to the public, but the grounds are open all year round and there is a free information centre nearby.
How old is Cape Moreton Lighthouse?
The light was first displayed in February 1857, which makes it Queensland’s oldest lighthouse.
Do you need a 4WD to get to Cape Moreton Lighthouse?
Brisbane City Council advises a high-clearance 4WD for getting around Moreton Island, and you need a vehicle access permit. Or you can go on a guided tour.
Can you see whales from Cape Moreton?
Yes. The annual whale migration runs between June and October.
Is there an entry fee at Cape Moreton?
The grounds and information centre are free. A vehicle access permit, the island crossing or a tour costs extra.
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