Life Trove: lighthouse

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Lighthouses

"I can think of no other edifice constructed by man as altruistic as a lighthouse. They were built only to serve." George Bernard Shaw

Lighthouse photos I've taken in Australia

Why I love lighthouses

There has always been something about lighthouses that draws me in. They carry the weight of history, standing through storms, wars, changing coastlines and countless human stories. Each one has watched generations come and go, quietly fulfilling the purpose for which it was built. They are monuments not to power or glory, but to service.

Perhaps that is why they feel so deeply symbolic. A lighthouse does not force its light on anyone; it simply shines, offering guidance to those who choose to navigate by it. There is something profoundly beautiful in that image. And then there is their sheer visual presence. Perched on rugged cliffs, lonely islands or windswept headlands, they are among the most photogenic structures ever created—where engineering, landscape, history and metaphor come together in a way that never fails to stir my imagination.

Lighthouses I've photographed

South Africa

Cape Point (Cape Town)
Green Point (Cape Town)
Kalk Bay (Cape Town)
Port St Johns (Transkei)

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July 31, 2026

Manly Scenic Walk and Grotto Point Lighthouse

One of my favourite walks in Sydney is the Manly Scenic Walk. I've done it several times, but this was the first time I took the detour to Grotto Point Lighthouse—and I'm so glad I did. Tucked away on a rocky headland inside Sydney Harbour National Park, this charming little lighthouse has been guiding vessels since 1911. Unlike the towering ocean lighthouses that stand against crashing waves, Grotto Point is a compact harbour light, built to safely direct ships as they navigate one of the world's great natural harbours.

The lighthouse itself is delightful, but it's the setting that really won me over. The short walk to the headland passes through beautiful bushland before opening onto sweeping views across Sydney Harbour, with the city skyline, Middle Head and the harbour's busy shipping lanes all on display. It's a peaceful spot to stop, take in the scenery and appreciate the quiet role this little lighthouse has played for well over a century. It was a wonderful discovery and one I'll definitely return to on future walks.

Not taken by me

July 29, 2026

Green Cape Lighthouse (Eden)

I was delighted to find these old photos of the Green Cape Lighthouse in Eden I took on a hike there in 2018. I'd forgotten about this wonderful lighthouse. Another one to add to my collection.

July 29, 2026

Botany Bay National Park and Cape Baily Lighthouse

Yesterday I walked the Cape Baily Track in the Botany Bay National Park, and the highlight was reaching Cape Baily Lighthouse. The walk itself is excellent, following the coastline through heathland with uninterrupted ocean views for much of the way. Despite being so close to Sydney, it feels surprisingly remote, and the lighthouse is a rewarding destination towards the end of the track.

Cape Baily Lighthouse has been guiding ships since 1950 and is still an active navigation aid today. Unlike many of Australia's historic stone lighthouses, it has a simple square concrete design, giving it a distinctive modern look. It was built to help ships travelling north stay on a safe course close to the coast and avoid offshore currents. I enjoyed the sense of isolation as much as the lighthouse itself. With no roads leading to it and nothing but rugged coastline and the Pacific Ocean surrounding it, it's an ideal place to stop, take in the scenery and appreciate one of Sydney's lesser-known lighthouses.