The quaint limestone lighthouse at Cape Naturaliste was built in 1903 of stones quarried from nearby Bunker Bay.
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Today it is a popular tourist attraction because the walk up to the top delivers spectacular views right down the west coast and the coastline of Geographe Bay.
If you join one of the tours during the day you can take a look inside the structure and see the inner workings. Before the lighthouse was fully automated in 1978, the original light and turntable, which still floats on a bath of mercury, was turned by a clockwork mechanism that had to be rewound every 50-60 minutes at night.
The historic lighthouse keeper’s cottages now house a small maritime museum, a shop and tearooms. The township of Dunsborough has a bustling cafe culture and a collection of boutique-style shops.
Beachfront cycleways and walking paths merge into a hiking trail through the regional park along the bay. The lighthouse also marks the starting point of the 135km Cape to Cape Track.
In the whale watching season, visitors can take a charter boat to see the giants swimming in Geographe Bay. If you’re a diver, the wreck of HMAS Swan is a terrific dive site.
Dunsborough Visitor Centre, Dunn Bay Centre, Dunsborough, 9752-5800, geographebay.com
