Cape Byron

Cape Byron is the easternmost point of the mainland of Australia. It is located about 3km east of the town of Byron Bay and projects into the Pacific Ocean. The cape was named by British explorer Captain James Cook, when he passed the area on 15 May 1770, to honour British explorer John Byron who circumnavigated the globe in HMS Dolphin from 1764 to 1766. The Cape is part of the Cape Byron State Conservation Area.Cape Byron LightBuilt in 1901, the Cape Byron Lighthouse is the last of the great 19th-century Victorian era lighthouses managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service . It is constructed from concrete blocks and stands on the most easterly point of the Australian mainland.Cape Byron walking trackThe Cape Byron walking track winds through the Cape Byron State Conservation Area. The loop walk can be started at any point with parking available at Captain Cook Lookout, Palm Valley, Wategos Beach and the Lighthouse.Cape Byron Marine ParkCape Byron is part of the 22,000 hectare Cape Byron Marine Park, which was established in November 2002. The area is also noted for its wildlife, with the whale watching industry a significant contributor to the local economy.Cape Byron Marine Park is a multiple-use marine park which includes protected areas where fishing and collecting are prohibited, and general-use areas which support both commercial and recreational fishing. It extends from the Brunswick River to Lennox Head, and from mean high water out to three nautical miles from the coast or islands. It includes the tidal waters of the Brunswick River, Belongil and Tallow creeks. Migrating whales can typically be seen swimming past the Cape.