Grassy Harbour Penguin Parade Walk
- September 14, 2026
A short harbourside walk in the old mining town of Grassy, best timed for the dusk little penguin parade.
The Cape Wickham Lighthouse Walk is a short but memorable stop at the northern tip of King Island, combining sweeping Bass Strait views, windswept coastal scenery and one of Australia’s most impressive historic lighthouses. Standing 48 metres high, Cape Wickham Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse in Australia. Its distinctive white tower has watched over the notoriously dangerous waters surrounding northern King Island since 1861. The walk itself is easy and can be completed in only a few minutes, but it’s worth allowing considerably longer to explore the lighthouse precinct, enjoy the coastal views and appreciate the remarkable maritime history of Cape Wickham.
Location: Cape Wickham, northern King Island, Tasmania
Distance: Approximately 500 metres return, depending on how much of the lighthouse precinct and surrounding coastline you explore
Time: Approximately 15–30 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Track Type: Short return/wandering walk around the lighthouse precinct
Track Surface: Grass and formed access areas around the lighthouse
Best Time: Year-round; choose a clear day for the best views across Bass Strait
The walk begins from the parking area near Cape Wickham Lighthouse. From here, it’s only a short stroll across the open coastal landscape towards the enormous granite lighthouse. There is no demanding bushwalking involved, and visitors can simply wander around the lighthouse precinct and surrounding headland at their own pace. The exposed landscape means there is little to block the views, with Bass Strait stretching away beyond the coast and the lighthouse dominating the skyline. Although the walking distance is short, allow at least 20–30 minutes to properly appreciate the lighthouse, coastline and historic setting.
The centrepiece of the walk is the magnificent Cape Wickham Lighthouse. Completed in 1861, the lighthouse stands approximately 48 metres high, making it the tallest lighthouse in Australia. The enormous tower was constructed using locally quarried granite, giving it a particularly solid appearance suited to this exposed and often stormy location. Its height was necessary because Cape Wickham occupies an important position overlooking the northern approaches to King Island and the dangerous waters of Bass Strait. More than 160 years after its construction, the lighthouse remains one of King Island’s most recognisable landmarks.
The beauty of Cape Wickham disguises the dangerous maritime conditions that led to construction of the lighthouse. King Island sits directly in the western approaches to Bass Strait, an area historically notorious for strong winds, rough seas, reefs and navigational hazards. Before modern navigation systems, ships approaching Bass Strait after long voyages across the Southern Ocean faced the difficult task of identifying King Island and safely navigating around its coastline. Numerous ships were wrecked around the island, helping earn the surrounding waters a fearsome reputation among early mariners. Cape Wickham Lighthouse was constructed as part of efforts to make this important shipping route safer.
One of the most interesting features of Cape Wickham Lighthouse is its construction. Rather than brick or concrete, the tower was built from locally quarried granite blocks. The result is a massive tapered structure capable of withstanding the powerful winds and severe weather experienced at the northern end of King Island. From close range, the sheer scale of the tower is particularly impressive. The lighthouse itself is generally viewed from outside, so visitors should respect signs and any restrictions around operational lighthouse infrastructure.
The surrounding headland is almost as impressive as the lighthouse itself. Low coastal vegetation and open grassland stretch towards the shoreline, while the exposed position provides broad views across Bass Strait. The landscape can change dramatically with the weather. On calm days the coastline can appear peaceful, while strong winds and rough seas quickly reveal why this part of King Island presented such difficulties for early shipping. It’s worth spending some time simply walking around the public areas of the headland and watching the ocean.
The Cape Wickham Lighthouse Walk is easy and suitable for most visitors. There are no significant climbs or difficult bushwalking sections.
Expect:
Comfortable walking shoes are sufficient for most visitors, although waterproof footwear can be useful after rain.
King Island has one of Australia’s richest collections of shipwreck stories, and Cape Wickham is closely connected with that maritime history. For ships travelling between Australia’s southern ports or entering Bass Strait from the west, King Island represented a serious navigational hazard. The construction of Cape Wickham Lighthouse in the nineteenth century was therefore much more than a local project – it formed part of a wider effort to improve navigation through one of Australia’s busiest and most dangerous shipping routes. For visitors interested in history, the lighthouse provides a tangible connection with the era of sailing ships, early navigation and the settlement of King Island.
The open grasslands and coastal vegetation around Cape Wickham provide habitat for a variety of King Island wildlife. Keep an eye out for native birds and wallabies around the surrounding countryside, particularly early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Seabirds can often be seen along the coast, while the elevated headland also provides opportunities to scan the waters of Bass Strait for marine wildlife. During whale migration periods, it’s worth spending a little extra time watching the ocean.
Cape Wickham Lighthouse is located at the northern end of King Island. From Currie, follow the main roads north towards Cape Wickham. The drive is approximately 40 kilometres and takes around 40–45 minutes, depending on road and weather conditions. Follow the signs towards Cape Wickham and the lighthouse near the northern tip of the island. Parking is available near the lighthouse precinct.
Facilities at Cape Wickham are limited, so treat this as a remote coastal attraction rather than a developed visitor centre.
Bring drinking water and anything else you need for your visit, particularly if you’re planning to spend several hours exploring northern King Island.
Yes. The short distance and easy terrain make Cape Wickham suitable for families. Children should still be supervised around exposed coastal areas and should not enter restricted areas surrounding lighthouse infrastructure.
Cape Wickham can easily be combined with several other walks and natural attractions in northern King Island.
The Cape Wickham Beach Walk provides an opportunity to extend your visit and explore more of the northern coastline on foot. The long sandy shoreline provides excellent views back towards the lighthouse and is particularly attractive during settled weather. Disappointment Bay The Disappointment Bay Walk explores one of northern King Island’s beautiful beaches, with pale sand, clear water and a much more sheltered feel than some of the island’s exposed western coastline. It’s an easy location to combine with Cape Wickham during a day exploring the northern end of the island.
The Martha Lavinia Beach Walk explores King Island’s spectacular north-eastern coastline. The beach is internationally known for its surf break but is equally worthwhile for walkers wanting a long stretch of wild, undeveloped coastline. Penny’s Lagoon The Penny’s Lagoon Walk provides a completely different landscape, surrounding one of King Island’s unusual perched freshwater lakes. The peaceful lagoon and surrounding vegetation make it an excellent contrast to the exposed coastline around Cape Wickham.
Further south, the Calcified Forest & Seal Rocks Walk combines one of King Island’s most unusual geological formations with spectacular views from the island’s tallest sea cliffs. The Calcified Forest Walk is approximately 1.3 km return and takes around 30 minutes.
The Clifftop Copperhead Walk is a more adventurous coastal option within Seal Rocks State Reserve. The approximately 3.5 km return walk takes around 1.5 hours and follows a minimally formed route through coastal heath above the Southern Ocean.
Cape Wickham is best visited as part of a day exploring the northern end of King Island. Start at the lighthouse before visiting nearby beaches and continuing towards Disappointment Bay, Penny’s Lagoon and Martha Lavinia. This creates an excellent circuit through a surprisingly varied landscape of historic lighthouse country, open farmland, freshwater wetlands and wild Bass Strait beaches.
The Cape Wickham Lighthouse Walk may be short, but the destination is one of the most significant historic landmarks in Tasmania. Standing 48 metres above the exposed northern end of King Island, the granite lighthouse has guided ships through the dangerous western approaches to Bass Strait since 1861. Its remarkable height, historic construction and wild coastal setting make Cape Wickham far more than a quick roadside stop. Combine the lighthouse with the surrounding beaches and other northern King Island walks and you have an excellent day exploring one of the most distinctive corners of Tasmania.
A short harbourside walk in the old mining town of Grassy, best timed for the dusk little penguin parade.
