Beacon a major drawcard

TRAVELERS from Europe once drew inspiration on sighting the Cape Otway lighthouse, now as one of the leading Great Ocean Road attractions visitors are inspired by the stunning views from the peak of the beacon.
The light, for many, meant their long journey was drawing to a conclusion. These school holidays a trip to the tower and its historic surrounds takes you to a place that was once so isolated it took six months for supplies to arrive.
Light station manager Tricia Goodlet said there was an ongoing fascination with the beacon and its surrounds, with attractions geared to suit families.
The Koori Cultural Centre on the grounds takes visitors beyond the history of the lighthouse with guides explaining the finer points of bush medicine and tucker.
“You really can take a step back into yesteryear, try cooking some damper, throw a boomerang, or paint abalone shells,” she said.
The fresh air, roaming the historical precinct and the amazing views are certain to rev up an appetite and the lightkeeper’s kitchen stays with tradition, specialising in fine local produce from around the Otways.
The lighthouse is still a striking standout. Built in 1848, after a series of shipwrecks cost hundreds of lives, it stands in defiance of the elements perched on cliffs, overlooking a wild expanse of water where the Southern Ocean and Bass Strait collide.
Ms Goodlet says it’s also a great spot for whale watching or just wandering through the grounds taking in the sights, which include an historic telegraph station and WWII radar bunker.