Vlamingh Head Lighthouse
Vlamingh Head Lighthouse
4.5
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4.5
951 reviews
Excellent
487
Very good
372
Average
91
Poor
0
Terrible
1
bluebay06
La Spezia, Italy2,692 contributions
July 2021
We arrived at the Vlamingh Head Lighthouse just before sunset. Going up the hill we saw dozens of cars parked along the road to the lighthouse. We had brought a bottle of prosecco and some snacks, something we have seen pretty much everyone have done. After parking, we opened the trunk lid or our SUV, we placed wine and snacks on a tablecloth and we began to wait. The mosquitoes didn't wait, they started biting us in a really aggressive way. Luckily we had repellent and we recommend everyone to bring it. Won this little battle, we started to see the sun going down. A romantic sunset with intense colors on a very calm sea. The sun had just set and we were still toasting when two whales swimming side by side appeared out of nowhere 200-300 from the shore. They were two humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) which immediately started breaching. In a synchronized way the two whales swam vertically upwards from depth and, heading straight out of the water, started a vertical leap with half of the animal's body clearing the water. After some of these impressive jumps that left us breathless, the two whales started swimming on their sides putting out of the water a huge pectoral fin each. A long dance, interspersed with high splashes, that ended just before the darkness of the night became absolute. A fabulous sunset that we tried to repeat the following evening. Unfortunately the second day, while the mosquitoes arrived on time, the whales did not repeat the show. Very far offshore a few whales showed only their small dorsal fins for a few minutes. We will remember forever the dream sunset experienced here.
Written 19 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Travelling5
Perth, Australia600 contributions
Apr 2022 • Family
Have been here at different times of the day. Lots of info to read about the history of the area and can get some great photos of the lighthouse . Can sometimes spot the odd wallaby whilst up here. Great view of the area. Try sunset and bring a picnic/drinks and it is lovely. It does get busy at sunset though especially in peak times like school holidays so make sure you come early!
Written 26 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ozwhites
Perth, Australia43 contributions
July 2020 • Friends
Great spot to watch the sunset over the Ningaloo coast line, whales breaching topped off the view. It does get busy but there’s plenty of different vantage spots. The number of people makes it more special rather than detracting. Take a drink, friends and relax.
Written 5 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lisa J
Capalaba, Australia179 contributions
June 2022
This is a great spot to watch the sunset but you need to get there early to get a good spot. There were over 50 cars there the day we stopped to watch the sunset. Worth a visit at least once. The second day we watched the sunset from the beach at the Jurabi Turtle Centre which was a lot more peaceful
Written 28 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John O
Mount Helena, Australia12 contributions
July 2020
No longer in use, the lighthouse has been restored and is open for visitors. You can climb to the very top platform and get a great view of the surrounding coast and countryside. Access is by stairs at first, but you need to be able to climb a short but fairly steep ladder through a trapdoor to get to the light prism itself.
The various information placards reveal that light and its mechanism were made in Birmingham, and the light was actually powered by kerosene. Visitors can browse over interesting old photos and notes about the lighthouse. These tell its history and give an insight into the lives of the folks who maintained it.
It was clearly a very lonely job for the lighthouse keepers, who were usually single men posted there for years at a time. One married keeper's wife remarked on the lack of female company, and the limited availability of fresh food. Because resupplies were infrequent, they had to make do with a lot of canned goods.
The various information placards reveal that light and its mechanism were made in Birmingham, and the light was actually powered by kerosene. Visitors can browse over interesting old photos and notes about the lighthouse. These tell its history and give an insight into the lives of the folks who maintained it.
It was clearly a very lonely job for the lighthouse keepers, who were usually single men posted there for years at a time. One married keeper's wife remarked on the lack of female company, and the limited availability of fresh food. Because resupplies were infrequent, they had to make do with a lot of canned goods.
Written 6 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Finlay122
Perth, Australia651 contributions
July 2020
As well as being of historic interest, the lighthouse provides stunning vistas across Exmouth. It is highly popular for people wanting to view the sunset - make sure you head up for 5pm to get a good spot. We planned ahead and picked up some delicious sandwiches from the Ningaloo Bakehouse (a legend in the area and rightly so!), and a bottle of wine in the morning, and kept them in the fridge in our accomodation ready to pick up later. Sitting on a blanket enjoying our meal with a glass of wine we watched as nature put on a fabulous show for us. A must do while in Exmouth.
Written 4 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lucast01
Australia57 contributions
Apr 2022 • Couples
A breathtaking spot. We hired a car and drove up here one afternoon, breathtaking views from the top of the Exmouth Gulf and Ningaloo Reef. There is a lot of history in this area which is well received through the bulletin boards up atop the hill. We drove past this site a number of times when going on tours taking off from Tantabiddi boat ramp, as well as being taken up here by our lovely tour guide for a look after our glass bottom boat tour!
Written 13 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ITRT
Virginia46,380 contributions
Nov 2022
Built in 1912, the Vlamingh Head Lighthouse was decommissioned in 1967. It was originally known as the NorthWest Cape Lighthouse but was changed to avoid confusion with the lighthouse that replaced. The new lighthouse was placed on one of the nearby communication radar towers. The lighthouse stands 40-feet tall and sits at 240+ feet above sea level. It is the only lighthouse in Australia that is powered by vaporized kerosene. Cyclone Vance on March of 1999 did not do major damage. Rather than leave it with broken panes, funds from the Cyclone Vance Repair Funds on the restoration of the lighthouse. It is now a tourist attraction, but the tower is not opened to visitors.
Written 5 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
funferall
Perth, Australia65 contributions
Oct 2020
This is a great spot for a wide view of the area and a history lesson - maybe even some whale spotting depending on the time of the year. Remember your binoculars. If you can go at sunset, take along a drink and some snacks and watch the sun go down in style. Beautiful way to end a sunny day in Exmouth.
Written 16 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jill P
Perth, Australia155 contributions
Nov 2020 • Couples
Fabulous 360 views from the top .
Bit of local history to read.
A must do. If you need petrol the caravan park sells it, cheap than in town, it's under renovations so not open as a caravan park, check opening hours
Bit of local history to read.
A must do. If you need petrol the caravan park sells it, cheap than in town, it's under renovations so not open as a caravan park, check opening hours
Written 3 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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