IBA Australian Lighthouse Tour

The IBA Lighthouse Tour Challenge is a bit different to most of the other IBA rides I have tried in the past. It is not so much a “time and distance” thing, but rather an excuse (do I really need one…?) to do a bit of research and planning and then get out there and ride to some interesting and unusual places.

This is my 2nd attempt at collecting the minimum required 60 different sites for this challenge. The first time was based around last time I was up to Cape York in 2019 – at the time I thought it would be cool to get one on the NE corner of the country and then one in the SW corner at (Cape Leeuwin). That attempt was derailed by the fact I didn’t quite make it to Cape Leeuwin on that trip and then of course there were a couple of interrupted years where no one went anywhere.

Lighthouses, a little like trains, seem to attract a certain type of interest and passion. This is a real boon for helping plan rides – because of other’s commitment and work, there is a heap of info out there! The Lighthouses of Australia page has great info and pics and is the primary resource, but there are plenty of others I rely on the work out what sites are where and what I can get to.

The requirements to “claim” a lighthouse are pretty straight forward. Primary documentation is by a photo of the lighthouse with an IBA Australia flag. Ideally I will include my bike in the photo, but there are a number of sites that you have to walk into…so obviously no bike in those. Also there is a requirement to provide a receipt showing you were in the area at that time. I will also have Spotwalla to track my visits to the Lighthouses with, hopefully, photos at each site. https://new.spotwalla.com/trip/65db-1294f535-8e21/view

1-6 7th Aug 2023

A fairly straight forward loop from home to kick things off. I had originally planned this loop to pick up a possible 8 lighthouses, but since this was a Monday, Point Perpendicular wasn’t accessible and I started a little later than ideal so I cut Cape St George also.

To open my account, (1)Guerilla Bay. A short walk in to a fairly unimpressive, grim looking lighthouse.

Heading north next up is (2)Ulladulla, an easy to get to, pretty classic looking light.

As said above, bypassing Cape St George and Pt Perp. next one up is (3)Crookhaven Heads. No longer a working lighthouse and has had its light removed. Another one with a short walk out to the headland.

Aside: As mentioned, The Crookhaven lighthouse is well passed it’s glory days, this is what it looked like in better days (from lighthouses.org.au)

From Crookhaven a short ride up the coast to (4)Kiama. Another easy accessible site right near the mainstreet (and the Kiama blowhole)

Easy ride up the freeway to Wollongong where there are two in close proximity. (Lighthouse nerd trivia; Wollongong is the only point on the eastern coast of Australia which has two lighthouses!)

(5)The Old Wollongong Harbor or Breakwater lighthouse (up close it looks a lot like the Ulladulla one). I took this photo from this location across the harbor as it isn’t possible get the bike down along the breakwater.

And just round the corner and up the hill is the (6)Flagstaff Hill lighthouse.

Then that’s it for the day. From Wollongong I had an interesting ride up Mac Pass in the dark and then a cold scoot down the Doom back home. Six done in a day, surely that means I should be able to knock the other 54 off in the next nine days, doesn’t it?