Smoky Cape has swept its beam over the Macleay coast since 1891, and the keepers’ cottages beside the tower now take guests — whitewashed heritage houses on one of the highest headlands in NSW, inside Hat Head National Park near South West Rocks. Guests rate the experience 4.8 stars across 117 reviews.
★ 4.8 · 117 Google reviews (correct at the time of writing, July 2026)
Property photo via Google Maps
The stay
The cottages keep their lighthouse-service bones — verandahs, thick walls, maritime trim — with comfortable modern interiors. The headland delivers sunrise over the Pacific, humpbacks in season, and beam-sweeps across the ceiling after dark.
Around South West Rocks
Trial Bay Gaol’s dramatic ruins and beach are ten minutes away, South West Rocks’ cafes fifteen, and the diving at Fish Rock is some of the state’s most famous — a corner of the coast we count among NSW’s most underrated.
Header image shows the surrounding Byron Bay region — see the property’s website for accommodation photos. Rates, availability and inclusions are set by the property.
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