Green Cape Lightstation Keepers' Cottages
Green Cape area in Ben Boyd National Park
Overview
Enjoy a weekend at the heritage Green Cape Lightstation Keepers' Cottages in an area that's home to countless shipwrecks. Enjoy whale watching, walks and amazing views.
| Accommodation type | Cottage |
|---|---|
| Where | 2086 Green Cape Lighthouse Road, Green Cape, NSW, 2551 - in Green Cape area |
| Facilities | Barbecue facilities, carpark, drinking water, showers, toilets |
| What to bring | Food supplies |
| Price |
Rates and availability are displayed when making an online booking. |
| Entry fees |
Park entry fees are not included in your accommodation fees. |
| Bookings | Book online or call the National Parks Contact Centre on 1300 072 757. |
| Please note |
|
Perched on the edge of a peninsula, these 3 beautifully-restored cottages offer quality heritage accommodation with charming nautical decor.
Along with a fully-equipped kitchen and dining and lounge rooms, each cottage offers a comfortable verandah, ideal for enjoying the sea air and whale watching. You can take a guided tour of the lightstation and walk part of the Light to Light walk.
You’ll find a paved path to the lookout at the tip of Green Cape. Stop to look for whales during season and for breathtaking views across Disaster Bay, the site of many shipwrecks. And keep an eye out for bandicoots, they’re often seen nearby.
Experience the peaceful, misty mornings and relentless pounding seas from the comfortable isolation of the lightstation. Use it as a base to enjoy and explore the area in and around Ben Boyd National Park, returning to the cosy cottages and a warm fire during the winter months. The coastal walking track is nearby, along with beaches and great spots to fish. Whales can be seen on their migratory route between late May and December, along with seals and a number of seabirds. A free tour of the lighthouse is also available to guests.
You can take a virtual tour of the cottages, captured with a Google Street View Trekker.
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/camping-and-accommodation/accommodation/green-cape-lightstation-keepers-cottage/local-alerts
Operated by
- Merimbula office
- Monday to Friday and some weekends during peak holiday periods, 10am to 3pm.
- 02 6495 5000
- npws.sapphirecoast@environment.nsw.gov.au
- 47 Merimbula Drive, cnr Sapphire Coast Drive, Merimbula NSW 2548
Park info
- in the Green Cape area of Ben Boyd National Park in the South Coast region
The Green Cape area of Ben Boyd National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
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$8 per vehicle per day in the Green Cape area of the park (south of Eden).
Buy annual pass.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Green Cape Lightstation Keepers' Cottages.
Getting there and parking
Green Cape Lightstation Cottages are in the southern section of Ben Boyd National Park. To get there:
- Travel south from Eden on the Princes Highway for 18km
- Turn off at Edrom Road and follow it for 6km
- Turn right onto Green Cape Road and follow it for 21km
Road quality
4WD may be required in wet weather.
- Unsealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Parking
In the cottage carpark there is a limit of 1 vehicle for cottage 1 and 2, and a limit of 2 vehicles for cottage 3. Additional vehicles can park in the nearby day use visitor parking area, a short distance away.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Ben Boyd National Park. Here are some of the highlights.
Autumn
Camp at Bittangabee Beach campground and see lyrebirds performing their characteristic dance and tail display.
Spring
Visit Green Cape Lighthouse or Boyds Tower to spot whales migrating south to their Antarctic feeding grounds - you might even see females with young calves.
Summer
Plan a camping trip to Saltwater Creek - to enjoy the lagoons and beautiful surf beach.
Winter
Take the Light to Light walk when it's nice and cool and the banksias are in bloom.
Facilities
- There are 3 beautifully-restored cottages available, each offering quality heritage accommodation and charming nautical decor.
- Cottage 3 sleeps 6 people in 3 bedrooms (1 queen bed, 2 single beds, 2 single beds). The cottage has a well-equipped kitchen with fridge/freezer, kettle, toaster, slow-cooker, microwave, gas stove and oven, and all cutlery, crockery and glassware. There is a lounge room, dining room, gas heater, bathroom with hot shower and toilet, and verandah with outdoor furniture.
- Cottages 1 and 2 are joined by a common hallway, and have a shared kitchen. Each cottage sleeps 5 people in 2 bedrooms (1 queen bed, 2 single beds, 1 fold-away single bed). The shared kitchen is well-equipped with 2 fridge/freezers, 2 kettles, 2 toasters, 2 slow-cookers, 1 microwave, 1 gas stove and oven and all cutlery, crockery and glassware.Cottages 1 and 2 have a lounge/dining room with gas heater, bathroom with hot shower and separate toilet, and verandah with outdoor furniture.
- All bed linen, pillows and towels are provided.
- You'll receive a free tour of the lightstation.
- There are no televisions, DVD players, stereos or laundries.
- Please leave the property clean and tidy with all kitchen items washed up and put away. Additional fees may be charged for any unreasonable cleaning required or missing/broken items.
- Rubbish bins are provided at each of the cottages.
- The cottages use solar power with a backup diesel generator. Please leave your personal electrical devices, including hair dryers and electric blankets, at home.
Toilets
- Flush toilets
Barbecue facilities
Weber gas barbecues are available by request.
Carpark
Drinking water
Each cottage has a filtered tap in the kitchen for drinking. Water used for facilities is untreated rainwater collected from the cottage rooftops.
Showers
- Hot showers
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - medium
Help may be required to access this area. Cottage 3 is fully wheelchair accessible.
Prohibited
Amplified music is not permitted.
Generators
Pets
Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.
Smoking
NSW national parks are no smoking areas.
Nearby towns
Eden (25 km)
Eden is a historic whaling town, ideal for a whale-watch tour. It's built around a promontory that juts into Twofold Bay.
Merimbula (40 km)
The main coastal towns of the Sapphire Coast include Bermagui, Tathra, Merimbula and Eden. This stunning coastline has sparkling beaches and bays, lakes and national parks, all accessible via excellent walking tracks and coastal drives. You'll find beaches just perfect for surfing, swimming and walks.
Pambula (38 km)
Pambula is a historic river village in majestic rural surroundings. The town is at the mouth of the Pambula River among forests and lakes.
Learn more
Green Cape Lightstation Keepers' Cottages is in Green Cape area. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Aboriginal culture
The Yuin People are the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Ben Boyd National Park and they have a long and complex relationship with the coastal environment. At Twofold Bay, the Yuin People had a special relationship with the orca whales. The orcas drove humpback whales into shore, the people used spears to kill them and the orcas and people shared the meat. Aboriginal people later taught European settlers to work with orca whales during the shore-based whaling days of Twofold Bay.
Giants of the deep
Enjoy some of Australia’s best whale watching here between September and November when hundreds of whales and their calves move in to Twofold Bay to frolic and feed before migrating south to Antarctica. You can get a good view of Twofold Bay from the viewing platform at Boyds Tower. At the southern tip of the park, see if you can spot whales near Green Cape Lightstation or Disaster Bay lookout.
- Green Cape lookout Green Cape lookout in Ben Boyd National Park is one of the best places to enjoy whale watching in NSW.
Rocks tell a story
Ben Boyd’s stunning rock formations, inlets and headlands are the result of extensive geological folding. Most of the park lies on red, brown and green shales, sandstones, siltstones and quartzites. They were formed in the Devonian period around 360 million years ago—before dinosaurs roamed the earth. You can see these rock types exposed along the cliffs and headlands. The Devonian period is known as The Age of Fishes and internationally-significant fish fossils have been found in several places along the park’s coastline.
- Light to Light walk Begin this multi-day walk at Boyds Tower down the far south coast, and end at Green Cape Lighthouse. Stop for a swim and the opportunity to spot seals, seabirds and whales.
Vulnerable species
The heathland in the Green Cape area of the park provides significant habitat for vulnerable species like the eastern ground parrot and striated fieldwren. It’s also a stronghold for NSW’s population of the endangered southern brown bandicoot. Around 50 native mammals and nearly 150 species of birds have been recorded in Ben Boyd National Park, including 1 critically endangered bird, 4 endangered animal species and 25 vulnerable species.
- Light to Light walk Begin this multi-day walk at Boyds Tower down the far south coast, and end at Green Cape Lighthouse. Stop for a swim and the opportunity to spot seals, seabirds and whales.
Fascinating coastal heritage
The first shore-based whaling station on mainland Australia was set up at Twofold Bay in 1828. Benjamin Boyd established a competing business and built a private lighthouse, Boyd's Tower, and a township, Boydtown, before being declared bankrupt. The coast was the site of many shipwrecks. Green Cape Lighthstation started operation in 1883 but shipwrecks continued, including the Ly-ee-moon that sank in 1886. You can pay your respects to some of the 76 victims at a graveyard a short walk from the lighthouse. There are also regular guided tours of the lighthouse.
- Davidson Whaling Station Take a guided tour at historic Davidson Whaling Station – discover how killer whales helped the Davidson family. And when you're done, finish the day with a picnic at the nearby beach.
- Green Cape Lightstation heritage tour Put yourself in the shoes of a 19th century lighthouse keeper at Green Cape Lightstation in Ben Boyd National Park. Explore the lighthouse's history and the fate of the Ly-ee-Moon on this guided tour.
Plants and animals you may see
Animals
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Yellow-tailed black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus)
The yellow-tailed black cockatoo is one of the largest species of parrot. With dusty-black plumage, they have a yellow tail and cheek patch. They’re easily spotted while bird watching, as they feed on seeds in native forests and pine plantations.
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White-bellied sea eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster)
White-bellied sea eagles can be easily identified by their white tail and dark grey wings. These raptors are often spotted cruising the coastal breezes throughout Australia, and make for some scenic bird watching. Powerful Australian birds of prey, they are known to mate for life, and return each year to the same nest to breed.
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Superb lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae)
With a complex mimicking call and an elaborate courtship dance to match, the superb lyrebird is one of the most spectacular Australian animals. A bird watching must-see, the superb lyrebird can be found in rainforests and wet woodlands across eastern NSW and Victoria.
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Lace monitor (Varanus varius)
One of Australia’s largest lizards, the carnivorous tree-dwelling lace monitor, or tree goanna, can grow to 2m in length and is found in forests and coastal tablelands across eastern Australia. These Australian animals are typically dark blue in colour with whitish spots or blotches.
Plants
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Black sheoak (Allocasuarina littoralis)
The black sheoak is one of a number of casuarina species found across the east coast of Australia and nearby tablelands. Growing to a height of 5-15m, these hardy Australian native plants can survive in poor or sandy soils. The barrel-shaped cone of the black sheoak grows to 10-30mm long.
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Grey mangrove (Avicennia marina)
Grey mangrove is the most common and widespread mangrove found within intertidal zones across Australia, and throughout the world. Growing to a height of 3-10m, they thrive best in estuaries with a mix of fresh and salt water. They excrete excess salt through their long thick leaves, and absorb oxygen through their aerial root system.
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Old man banksia (Banksia serrata)
Hardy Australian native plants, old man banksias can be found along the coast, and in the dry sclerophyll forests and sandstone mountain ranges of NSW. With roughened bark and gnarled limbs, they produce a distinctive cylindrical yellow-green banksia flower which blossoms from summer to early autumn.
