Free admission to the grounds of the Lighstation.
A lighthouse tour ticket is required to access the tower.
The lightstation grounds are open to the public daily.
The lighthouse is only open to the public as part of a guided tour.
Click here to view alerts and disruptions for Macquarie Lightstation
Completed in 1818, Macquarie Lighthouse was designed by convict architect Francis Greenway for Lachlan Macquarie, the Governor of NSW. Owing to crumbling foundations, it was reconstructed in the 1880s.
The replacement tower was designed by the state’s Colonial Architect, James Barnet, to closely resemble Greenway’s original. Standing at 26 metres tall, Barnet's iteration of Macquarie Lighthouse continues to be source of fascination for visitors.
By car: Drive along South Head Road to arrive at Macquarie Lightstation, located opposite Macquarie Road.
By bus: Sydney Buses operate the 324 service, which links Circular Quay to Watsons Bay via Vaucluse, daily. Alight at the bus stop on Old South Head Road near Macquarie Lightstation. For further information, including timetables, visit the Transport NSW website.
By ferry: Sydney Ferries run between Circular Quay and Watsons Bay daily. Once you disembark at Watsons Bay, either walk 1.5km to Macquarie Lightstation or catch the 324 bus. For further information, including timetables, visit the Transport NSW website.
By foot: Macquarie Lightstation is a 1.5km walk from Watsons Bay. It is also one of the stops on the popular coastal walk that extends from the Harbour Bridge to inner South Head.
Limited parking is available on the streets surrounding Macquarie Lightstation.
Click here to view alerts and disruptions for Macquarie Lightstation.
The grounds of Macquarie Lightstation are mostly wheelchair accessible; however, some surfaces are uneven.
The lighthouse is only open to the public during guided tours. Please note: there are 100 steps to the top of the lighthouse.
The nearest public toilets are located at Christison Park.
In the event of an emergency, dial 000 or 112 if mobile reception is poor. Harbour Trust Rangers patrol Macquarie Lightstation approximately once per fortnight. To contact a ranger during an emergency, call 0432 750 714 (7am to 4pm). Alternatively, to contact a security officer, call 0433 631 572 (4pm to 7am).
For your own safety, and to protect this historic site, please observe the following rules, enforceable by our rangers:
Conditions of entry: Keep dogs on a leash; do not Litter, dump rubbish or leave dog waste; do not camp overnight; do not erect gazebos or marquees (without a permit); do not operate remote-controlled vehicles (including drones); do not light fires or use portable barbeques; do not play amplified music (without a permit) or create excessive noise; do not undertake commercial activities (without a permit); do not hold private functions (without a permit); do not climb fences, historic structures or the cliff; do not ride or use skateboards, roller-skates, in line skates or similar equipment on Harbour Trust land. For further information, see: Sydney Harbour Federation Trust (SHFT) Regulations 2021
As you explore Macquarie Lightstation, the site of Australia’s first lighthouse, a knowledgeable guide will share the history and recent developments behind this iconic Sydney landmark, including recent restoration work undertaken on the historic Greenway Wall.
Feeling ambitious? Embark on the 80km Bondi to Manly Walk, a massive network of public tracks spanning the foreshore between two of Sydney’s most iconic surf beaches. When you reach Vaucluse, take a breather and explore the grounds of Macquarie Lightstation, open to the public daily.
Following the end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815, the burgeoning colony of New South Wales experienced an influx of convicts as well as an increase in shipping activity. Consequently, work commenced on a series of building projects in Sydney. This included Macquarie Lighthouse. The tower and its neighbouring buildings are collectively referred to as Macquarie Lightstation.
[Image credit: Macquarie Lighthouse, 1909 (Hurley Negative Collection) Frank Hurley, National Library of Australia]
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians and Owners of the lands, waters and sky of Sydney Harbour, including the extraordinary places we manage and protect. Today, the homelands of the Borogegal, Birrabirragal, Cammeraygal, Gadigal, Gayamagal, Wallumedegal and Wangal peoples host destinations under our stewardship. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present, and emerging.
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