Cape Wickham Lighthouse Walk
- September 14, 2026
An easy walk around Australia"s tallest lighthouse at the wild northern tip of King Island.
The Grassy Harbour and Penguin Parade Walk combines a relaxed stroll around one of King Island’s working harbours with the chance to see Little Penguins returning from the sea at dusk. Located below the township of Grassy on King Island’s east coast, the harbour is a sheltered contrast to the island’s wild western coastline. Fishing boats, the long breakwater and views across the water provide plenty of interest during the walk, while the surrounding coastline is home to one of King Island’s best-known Little Penguin colonies. Time your visit for late afternoon and you can enjoy the harbour walk before settling in near the end of the breakwater to wait quietly for the penguins to come ashore after sunset.
Location: Grassy Harbour, Grassy, King Island, Tasmania
Distance: Approximately 2 km
Time: Approximately 45 minutes for the walk, plus time to watch the penguins
Difficulty: Easy
Track Type: Harbour and foreshore stroll
Track Surface: Sealed and formed harbour access areas with some natural coastal surfaces
Best Time: Late afternoon, finishing around dusk for the Little Penguins
The walk explores the waterfront and harbour area below the small township of Grassy. Unlike many of King Island’s wilderness walks, this is a relaxed stroll through a working harbour environment where the island’s maritime industry and wildlife exist side by side. Follow the harbour and foreshore, taking time to enjoy views across the sheltered water, fishing activity and surrounding coastline. The long breakwater provides one of the defining features of Grassy Harbour and is also associated with the Little Penguin colony that has made this one of King Island’s most popular wildlife-watching locations. If you’re visiting for the penguins, aim to complete your walk before sunset and then find a suitable place to wait quietly for the birds to return.
Grassy Harbour is a working port as well as an attractive coastal destination. The harbour was developed in association with King Island’s mining industry and has played an important role in the economic history of Grassy. Mining transformed the settlement during the twentieth century, particularly as demand grew for scheelite – an ore used in the production of tungsten. The harbour and its breakwater were developed to support this industry, with waste rock from mining used in construction of the breakwater. Today the harbour remains an interesting mixture of working port, recreational waterfront and wildlife habitat.
The highlight for many visitors comes after the sun disappears. Little Penguins spend their days feeding at sea before returning to shore around dusk and making their way towards their burrows. Grassy Harbour is one of the best-known places on King Island to watch this nightly journey. The birds may arrive individually or in small groups, emerging from the water before waddling across the rocks and shoreline towards their nesting areas. There is no guarantee of how many penguins you’ll see on any particular evening – this is a completely natural wildlife experience rather than a managed wildlife attraction.
Little Penguins are the smallest penguin species in the world, generally standing less than 40 centimetres tall. They spend much of their lives at sea, where they feed on small fish and other marine life. At dusk they return to land, often gathering offshore before making the journey onto the beach and towards their burrows. Their small size and blue-grey colouring make them surprisingly difficult to see in low light, so patience is important. Once the penguins begin arriving, remain quiet and let them move naturally through the area.
Seeing Little Penguins in the wild is a special experience, but visitors need to ensure their behaviour doesn’t interfere with the birds. Penguins returning from the ocean can be particularly vulnerable to disturbance from people, vehicles and bright lights.
King Island visitor information recommends turning your vehicle around before darkness so you can leave without reversing through areas where penguins may be moving.
The Little Penguins generally begin returning to Grassy Harbour around dusk or shortly after sunset. Exact arrival times naturally change throughout the year as sunset times vary. Arrive before sunset rather than after dark. This gives you time to park safely, familiarise yourself with the area and find a suitable viewing position without disturbing the birds. Penguin numbers can also vary seasonally, with fewer birds commonly seen during the colder months.
The Grassy Harbour breakwater is closely associated with the penguin-watching experience. King Island Tourism recommends driving down Port Road to the end of the breakwater shortly before dusk. During daylight, the harbour and breakwater also provide excellent views across the water and surrounding coastline. Because this remains a working harbour, always pay attention to signs, vehicles and operational areas and avoid entering any restricted sections.
This is an easy walk suitable for most visitors. There are no major climbs or difficult bushwalking sections, although surfaces around the harbour and shoreline can be uneven. Expect formed harbour access areas, coastal grass, rocks and potentially slippery surfaces near the water. The biggest consideration is darkness if you stay for the penguins, rather than the difficulty of the walk itself.
The harbour tells an important part of the story of Grassy. The township developed around the mining of scheelite, a mineral containing tungsten, and mining became particularly important during the twentieth century. Grassy grew substantially during the mining boom years of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. The harbour was an essential part of that industrial landscape, allowing materials and supplies to move between King Island and mainland Australia. That history gives the walk a very different character from King Island’s more remote beaches and nature reserves.
Grassy Harbour is located on the south-east coast of King Island, below the township of Grassy. From Currie, follow the B25 east and south towards Grassy. Once in Grassy, follow Port Road downhill towards the harbour. For the penguin viewing area, continue towards the end of the breakwater. If staying until after sunset, turn your vehicle around while there is still daylight so you can drive forward when leaving rather than reversing in an area where penguins may be crossing.
Grassy Harbour has more facilities than many of King Island’s remote walking destinations.
Remember that this is also a working port, so respect operational areas and any access restrictions.
Yes. The easy terrain and chance to see Little Penguins make Grassy Harbour an excellent family outing. Children should be closely supervised around the water, breakwater and working harbour areas. When the penguins arrive, encourage children to remain quiet, stay in one place and allow the birds plenty of room to pass.
Grassy is also a convenient base for exploring many of the walks and natural attractions in southern King Island.
The Grassy to Grassy Harbour Walk provides a longer option for visitors wanting to approach the harbour on foot from the township. The approximately 2 km one-way walk takes around 40 minutes and can be combined with the harbour and penguin experience.
The Grassy Port to Sandblow Point Walk extends the coastal experience beyond the harbour. The approximately 3.5 km return walk takes around 2 hours and explores more of the rugged coastline surrounding Grassy.
The Calcified Forest & Seal Rocks Walk combines one of King Island’s most unusual geological attractions with spectacular Southern Ocean scenery. The Calcified Forest section is approximately 1.3 km return and takes around 30 minutes.
The Clifftop Copperhead Walk is a more adventurous coastal route within Seal Rocks State Reserve. The approximately 3.5 km return walk takes around 1.5 hours and follows track markers through exposed coastal heath above King Island’s tallest sea cliffs.
The Surprise Bay Walk explores another beautiful section of southern King Island, with sandy beaches, rocky coastline and a much more remote atmosphere than the working harbour at Grassy.
The best way to experience Grassy Harbour is to arrive during the late afternoon rather than travelling there solely for the penguins. Spend some time exploring the harbour and waterfront while there is still plenty of light, watch the sunset over the surrounding landscape, and then settle quietly near the penguin area as dusk arrives. This gives you both sides of Grassy Harbour – a working port with a fascinating connection to King Island’s mining history and a wildlife habitat where the world’s smallest penguins return from the sea each evening.
The Grassy Harbour and Penguin Parade Walk is one of King Island’s easiest and most memorable wildlife experiences. The approximately 2-kilometre harbour walk provides an interesting mixture of coastal scenery, maritime activity and mining history, but the real highlight comes as daylight fades. Watching wild Little Penguins emerge from the water and quietly make their way back towards their burrows is a wonderful way to finish a day exploring King Island. It’s free, family-friendly and completely natural – just remember that you’re visiting the penguins’ home, so give them plenty of space and let them decide how close the encounter becomes.
An easy walk around Australia"s tallest lighthouse at the wild northern tip of King Island.
