Cape Willoughby Conservation Park & Lighthouse
Kangaroo Island, South Australia
December 2, 2023
We drove out to the far east side of Kangaroo Island on the Dudley Peninsula to Cape Willoughby Conservation Park & Lighthouse. The lighthouse is remarkable in that it was the 1st lighthouse in South Australia and a major breakthrough for protecting coastal shipping in the waters of the Backstairs Passage (incredibly rocky with sandbars) between Kangaroo Island and the mainland of Australia.
The lighthouse was built in 1852, formerly called the Sturt Light after Captain Charles Sturt, and is completely built out of solid granite blocks and limestone both which were quarried from the cliff on which it sits. Once manned 24 hours a day by 3 keepers, it became fully automated in the 1970’s and is currently unmanned, operating dusk to dawn.
We lucked out getting a tour with the park guide on a very windy & chilly day….the views were incredible. We chatted about the sheer number of bird species on the island and how hard it was identifying them all, she gave me a 75 page bird guide JUST for Kangaroo Island!
Only 102 stairs to the top, not so bad!
The modern lantern housing with LED lighting now, more efficient and cost effective. Allowing the lighthouse to be unmanned.
Our incredible view from the balcony area...
On property was a little museum cataloging the history of the lighthouse, including a history of the over 60 shipwrecks that have occurred on Kangaroo Island. We were also greeted by a special visitor…Western Grey Kangaroo, just happily taking a drink from the water pipe on property.
Kangaroos spend much of the day lazing around.
Conservation park views....beautiful lands.
Thankfully we didn't see any of these slithering little friends that call the park home.
