Cape Otway Lightstation

The lighthouse was set up to mitigate the occurrence of shipwrecks which claimed hundreds of lives in this section of the Australian coastline. Australia’s first submarine cable was laid between here and Launceston, Tasmania in 1859.

The lighthouse itself offers quite the photographic subject, but do not limit yourself to the outside of the lighthouse alone. Consider taking a tour to the top of the lighthouse to get a close up view of the lighting system (which has now been decomissioned and has been left in place purely for historical purposes). The traditional light in the lighthouse has since been replaced with a solar powered beacon in front of it, towards the cliff face.

If you are here around 3p.m., make sure that you partake of freshly baked scones at the tea shop at the top of the hill which looks down upon the lighthouse.

Best times to visit

The time of the year has a lot to do with what you can expect to capture while visiting here. In the summers, unless you were staying at the lighthouse, you would be hard pressed to capture anything but a daytime shot of the lighthouse and its grounds. In the winters, if you come here around 4:30p.m., you should have just enough time to capture the lighthouse in the dying rays of the sun (sunsets are as early at 5:00p.m. around the winter solstice). This is an area with very little light pollution, and hence, provides a perfect location for long exposure astro-photography if you’re staying here overnight.

Prework

Plan your arrival. The lighthouse is a 12km drive from the highway on a road that winds through the forest and climbs. Entry to the grounds closes at 5:00p.m. sharp, though you can exit after that without any issues. Make sure that you have enough petrol to get back either to Apollo Bay, or up to Lavers Hill. These are the closest places where you will be able refuel.

Gear Required

Your choice of lens would be wide angle or fish-eye. There isn’t much impact of sea spray here, but passing showers might give you a bit of grief. Carry a small towel and some microfiber cloth to keep your lenses clean. Tripods are not, and you would comfortably be able to shoot hand held, unless you are shooting with long exposures.

The site has well marked out paths. A comfortable pair of walking shoes is recommended. Runners are also suitable. Sandals and open-toed shoes will also suffice, though I wouldn’t recommend wearing them in this region if you have visits to other places in the area.

Always dress in layers. The weather and temperature here constantly changes.