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Walgun Cape Byron Lighthouse Walk

Coastal circuit above the Pacific

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schedule 1 min read / Updated Jun 2026

The Walgun Cape Byron walking track is one of the finest coastal walks in New South Wales, looping from the Byron Bay town foreshore through rainforest gullies, surf beaches and wind-sculpted clifftop heath to the lighthouse on Australia's most easterly headland. The 11-kilometre circuit climbs through several distinct ecosystems and rewards walkers with unbroken ocean views and regular wildlife sightings at every turn.

Starting from Lawson Street in central Byron Bay, the track follows the foreshore north to Clarkes Beach before rounding the rocky point at The Pass, a celebrated longboard surf break. The path then drops down to sheltered Wategos Beach, one of the most picturesque small beaches on the east coast, before climbing steeply through coastal rainforest to the lighthouse precinct at the apex of the cape.

The full loop is graded moderate and takes two to three hours at a comfortable pace, though most walkers allow longer to stop and take in the scenery. Short sections involve stairs and some exposed clifftop walking, but the paths are well formed and clearly signed throughout. A shorter out-and-back option from the lighthouse carpark on Lighthouse Road suits those with limited time.

The walk passes through Walgun Cape Byron State Conservation Area, which is co-managed with the Bundjalung of Byron Bay Arakwal community. Interpretive signs along the route explain the cultural and ecological significance of the land. Migrating humpback whales are frequently spotted from the clifftop sections between June and November.

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Holiday parks near Walgun Cape Byron Lighthouse Walk.

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Scenic views

Lookouts near Walgun Cape Byron Lighthouse Walk.

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