Point Moore Lighthouse
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History, photos, tours and parking at Point Moore Lighthouse in Geraldton, along with some practical advice for your visit.
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The most famous lighthouse in Geraldton is a historic coastal beacon of 34 metres on the city’s western edge. First put to use in 1878, it remains one of the more easily identified landmarks in Western Australia. There is plenty to recommend a trip here: the history, the views from the coast, the striped tower and how well it suits a drive out to the beach. Do not be taken aback by the fact that public access is something of an issue; you would be wise not to count on being let into the tower or finding daily tours and ticketed sessions.
I am Evander Anderson. Any time you have been around travelling in WA you will find some landmarks put in more work than others. Point Moore Lighthouse is a case in point. For good photos, a feel for the wind off the Geraldton coast and a no-nonsense stop that does not call for any bushcraft or a fully loaded esky, it is hard to beat.
A Quick Coastal Read
Let us dispense with the brochure talk and get to the nitty gritty if you are making plans. I will tell you what Point Moore Lighthouse Geraldton is and why it is of interest, how you can get in, where most go wrong and how to make it part of a day in Geraldton without straining.
Expectation has a way of diverging from reality here. One might come looking for Point Moore Lighthouse opening hours, tickets or camping, perhaps after putting in a search for tours, and be under the impression there is a staffed operation with regular entry. In truth, unless there is a special occasion, it is best regarded as a lookout and a landmark.
What You Are Visiting
It is a working lighthouse of historic standing on the waters near Geraldton, Western Australia. The horizontal red and white banding is impossible to miss, particularly in the late afternoon when the light makes the whole coast seem sharp enough to cut your shins.
You will find the tower in the Point Moore area to the west of central Geraldton, not far from Sunset Beach and the rest of town. A map search for point moore should set you in the right direction but check your navigation before you drive, local conditions are prone to change.
Of Local Significance
This attraction serves two purposes in Geraldton. It is a visual emblem of the city as well as maritime infrastructure. Most will be familiar with the stripey tower before they know the town.
That is only fitting given the city’s past is inextricably linked with shipping and the weather. A lighthouse is no mere ornament; it was a sensible response to a coastline where a navigational error could be costly.
The Tower’s History
There is colonial engineering and the business of settling the coast in the story of Point Moore Lighthouse. Dating its first lighting to 1878 makes it one of the oldest of its kind still about in Western Australia.
In those days ports like Geraldton were growing and needed a dependable light to mitigate risk for vessels coming in. Reliable coastal navigation was of the utmost importance to the region.
Working Life
The old lighthouses conjure up images of solitude and romance for some. But lighthouse keepers were concerned with the practicalities of the job: maintenance, watching the weather and seeing the mechanism runs. There was no room for mood lighting.
On a coast this exposed the keeper had to live by the discipline of a safety-critical post and see to things with consistency rather than any need for heroics.
Why It Is Memorable
Then there is the matter of construction. An all-steel tower, or cast-iron prefabricated steel as the heritage people have it, is not just about the paint.
Point Moore Lighthouse is an industrial relic from a time when such engineering was transforming the building of remote infrastructure. Many a visitor will overlook that, but it is reason enough to give the place your attention.
Technical Snapshot
In the open coastal light of Geraldton, the 34 metre tower has a way of making itself seen. The flatness of the surrounding country does not put up much of a fight and there is no valley or forest to obscure it, so it commands attention from off in the distance.
Point Moore Lighthouse
Location: Geraldton, Western Australia
First Lit: 1878
Height: 34 metres
Construction: An all-steel (cast-iron prefabricated) tower
What draws you in: The historic nature of the landmark, local heritage and good photography opportunities are the main appeal.
Access in practice: You can be sure of viewing from the outside; inside is another matter unless there is an event on.
Some advice on not making a hash of your visit
The simple fact of the matter is that one should regard the lighthouse as an exterior stop unless access for a special occasion has been put in place. It is the best way to avoid disappointment. A search for Point Moore Lighthouse tickets or opening hours will tell you what most people think they will find, but at present it is wiser to assume there is no public entry or routine hours unless something has been put out via the local event channels.
Getting to the lighthouse
A drive from the centre of Geraldton is by far the easiest course. Allow 10 to 15 minutes in decent conditions, more if you are held up by traffic or the foreshore takes your eye. One could walk or cycle if the weather is mild and you are so inclined, but the wind in Geraldton will make short work of a pleasant stroll and have you putting your head down.
If you are arriving from elsewhere in WA, Geraldton is reached by road from the north and south, and many self-drive travellers combine the lighthouse with a wider Mid West trip. Tour products such as Pinnacles Tours may include Geraldton in broader itineraries, but do not assume every regional day tour includes a stop at the lighthouse itself.
Parking and the like
You will not have the hassle of a well run metro visitor precinct here; roadside parking is the norm. That said, with road works or the elements it can be different. And when the weather is coming in sideways, open your car door with some care or you will learn about Geraldton’s wind.
Accessibility is largely dictated by the ground and whatever barriers are there. For the majority, staying outside is simplest. On the rare occasion internal stairs are made available for a special opening, those with mobility issues or small children with an aversion to enclosed climbing will find them unsuitable.
Timing your photos
WA light in the middle of the day has a habit of being harsh, the pale ground and white glare will rob you of detail in a hurry. For better contrast on the tower and some character in the coast, come in the early morning or late afternoon.
Do not rush things. Twenty to forty minutes is ample for a straightforward call, an hour if you would like to put in some angles and watch the sea without the sense of being in a speed round.
Common errors
To think the tower is always open is a mistake. So is not giving the wind its due. Your hat, a loose shirt, pram or even the dignity of your hair will be the worse for it. In normal circumstances it is no great danger, but if you have dressed for an indoor stillness it can make for a rough few minutes. Then there is the exposure of the site; the heat and salt air get to you quicker than you might like, families with a full day of stops will know this. There is not much in the way of shade.
An occasional open day
There are enquires as to whether there is a regular base open day for tours of Point Moore Lighthouse. You will not find a daily guarantee without consulting the local listings, but now and again special access is afforded through community or heritage events. When such an open day is on it is a good means of appreciating the structure in a way you cannot from the outside, where you are left squinting into the wind with your camera.
Where To Check Current Access
When it comes to gauging the weather and coastal conditions that will bear on one’s comfort and plans, there is no better official reference than the Bureau Of Meteorology Western Australia forecasts. It is of more consequence than is often realised. A morning in Geraldton may appear pleasant enough but be windswept and disagreeable by afternoon; any exposed spot on the coast will make you aware of it at once.
Old threads on a travel forum have little to offer for event access compared with what you will find from local tourism, council or community listings. TripAdvisor is good for an idea of how recent visitors have been impressed, though do not put any stock in hours of operation or entry particulars put forward there without corroboration from up to date local sources.
Coastal Pressure Is Part Of The Story
The erosion at Point Moore is more than a matter of technical planning. In how the area is run, in the movement of people along the coast and in the talk of heritage protection for the long term, it has its say. The sea does not deign to remain in its lane on a coast such as this.
One gains some perspective when visiting from the coverage ABC News and others have given to coastal erosion in WA communities. You are not viewing a museum piece walled off from the elements but a heritage site on a coast that is alive and in flux.
Why Erosion Matters To Visitors
It can alter the character of the place over time and has implications for safety, barriers and the state of the roads and paths a traveller might use. Old photographs of the Point Moore Lighthouse should not lead one to think the present day surrounds are a carbon copy. Then again, the edges of the coast can seem firm until they are not, so heeding temporary restrictions and any warning signs or fencing is advised.
What To Pair With It
A lighthouse visit makes an easy part of a day in Geraldton if one is not inclined to a large attraction with a demanding timetable. There is no better companion to it than some time on the beach or foreshore, a cultural stop or a café.
Those with an inclination for history would do well to put in a call on the Museum of Western Australia in Geraldton as part of a heritage day. It puts the maritime and regional side of things into context for what is seen at the lighthouse, even if the tower is only open to view from the outside.
Simple One-Day Plan
- An early start in Geraldton is best to get ahead of the wind and heat.
- Make the lighthouse your first port of call where parking is easier and the light is better.
- Put in a leisurely walk on the foreshore or over to Sunset Beach.
- Lunch in town and a break at a café, perhaps a museum.
- Should the conditions warrant, end the day with another look at the coast.
There is no need to put in a sprint to tick off every listing in town in one day. Leave some room to breathe and concentrate on the lighthouse and a cultural stop or two.
Camping, Costs And Local Logistics
You will see searches for camping at Point Moore Lighthouse but do not take it for granted that one can camp at the lighthouse. The majority of travellers will opt for established caravan parks or other accommodation in the vicinity of Geraldton.
In town there is a mix of holiday parks and budget places, with the likes of BIG4 among them. Room type and the season, to say nothing of school holidays, will dictate costs, so one is better off making allowances for the way one travels than fixating on a figure. A day at the lighthouse itself is likely to be free or not much of an expense barring a special occasion.
For Whom It Is Best
A good stop on the road for trippers and families in need of a simple landmark, for the likes of photographers or those with an interest in local history. Anyone puttering about Geraldton will find it to their liking. But if you are a traveller who requires full facilities, some form of guided interpretation and no chance of being turned away, this is not a major activity to make of it.
Then there are those who would rather have a half-day’s entertainment than a brief but worthwhile interlude. For them it is not well suited. Face it, it is a lighthouse, not a theme park.
Some Practical Advice
Most do not realise how much a little forethought can enhance the visit. The place is unpretentious enough, but one can be put off by the weather or poor timing.
- Make sure to have water and sun protection at hand, and a wind-proof hat.
- Good shoes with some grip are in order for walking on the surfaces about.
- And have a look at the weather report first, the wind in particular.
- Do not put the kids out by saying you will go up the tower unless you have your confirmation.
- You might as well make of it a fuller day by combining it with a town café, Sunset Beach or something else in Geraldton.
And a word on searching: do not confuse Lighthouse Church Geraldton with the lighthouse; they are two different things. When you are on your phone with the road noise and a ravenous family to contend with it is all too easy to do so.
Coastal Verdict
There is no need for gimmicks at Point Moore Lighthouse, it has distinction and is straightforward. What you have is a fine example of Geraldton’s ties to the sea, a structure to look at and some genuine history.
Should you come with the idea of a well-run visitor centre and daily tours from a smart ticket office you could be left underwhelmed. Come expecting a working historic spot on an exposed part of the WA coast and you will see its value. That tends to be what separates a good time from having to whinge in the car park.
FAQs
Point Moore Lighthouse: Can You Go In?
In the absence of a special opening or event, it is best to think of it as exterior viewing. Do not rely on regular public access inside without doing your homework.
Tours Of The Lighthouse?
You may run across an event or heritage opening here and there, but do not make plans for a weekly or daily tour. See what the local visitor information and Geraldton listings have to say.
What Are The Opening Hours?
As an outdoor landmark the area is there to be seen, but any set hours for getting into the tower may not be what you are used to. If internal access is important, check beforehand as arrangements are variable.
Are Tickets A Necessity?
Not for the ordinary external visit. Separate rules might be in place for a heritage open day or some other guided session.
Suitable For Children?
Your call. If the family is content with a bit of room to see around and some history then yes. Not if they want to put their hands on everything or are set on climbing the tower. Plan for the heat and wind and the lack of shade.
