Access is restricted - Tours are run only once a year.
Current Tours
Next tours are in 2011
The Lighthouse was automated in 1975 with all Keeper's and families leaving the island at this time.
The island has been abandoned since 1975, the Keeper's Quarters being left to the elements and the birds!
Access is restricted with the only chance to visit the island and view the quarters is by the tours held once a year by National Parks & Wildlife and Precision Helicopters
The Tour Format in 2010 was as follows:
Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th July 2010
the lighthouse.
Tours are run inconjunction with
National Parks & Wildlife and Precision Helicopters
Thank you to all who visited the island on these tours. Especially those that came from interstate.
Thank you to National Parks and Wildlife Service - this would not have been possible without you. Special thanks to Glenn Storrie and David Nalder.
Thank you to Australian Maritime Safety Authority for allowing the lighthouse to be opened. Special thanks to Lyndon O'Grady who travelled up from Canberra.
Thank you to Precision Helicopters for providing the transport and ground support - the only way to travel!
Thank you to Peter, Jim, Barbara and Jayne (all previous residents of the island) for your wonderful story telling and help with the tours.
Thank you to Lauren and the team at Starr Pr in Sydney - for all your marketing help!
Thank you to Jodie Evans and all the staff at Novotel Pacific Bay Resort for becoming our "Departure Lounge" and allowing the use of your facilities.
Thank you to Sheryl, Mandy and Bernie at the Visitor Information Centre for all your assistance!
Thank you - of course - National Parks and Wildlife Discovery Rangers.
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Rarely does an opportunity like this present itself as the
lighthouse island is normally closed to the public.
Inspect the lighthouse keeper's quarters which were built in 1880 and imagine living in this isolated outpost.
Included in this fantastic offer is an interpretive guided tour by National Parks and Wildlife Rangers and return helicopter flights.
View the beautiful Coffs Coast with Precision Helicopters as they fly you to one of the most remote island lighthouses in NSW.
There are 4 Tour Options this year (2010).
Heritage & Maintenance Fund
just for South Solitary Island
Saturday 31st July & Sunday 1st August only
You will need to arrive 10 minutes prior to the allocated tour time for check-in.
Please allow yourself 2 hours.
What to Expect:
· The visit on the island will be for 1 hour with an approximate 10 minute helicopter flight each way.
· Tours will be conducted in groups of 4 or 8
· Once you have had a full safety briefing of the helicopter, the group will fly to the island.
· On the island you will be taken on a fully guided interpretive tour by NPWS Rangers to discover the islands unique natural, cultural and historic heritage.
· The tour will include inspecting some rooms of the Head lighthouse keepers cottage.
· Groups will stay together on formed concrete paths, children must be supervised at all times.
1 Hour Tour inc Lighthouse - $320.00 per person -
Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th July 2010 only
You will need to arrive 10 minutes prior to the allocated tour time for check-in.
Please allow yourself 2 hours.
What to Expect:
· The visit on the island will be for 1 hour with an approximate 10 minute helicopter flight each way.
· Tours will be conducted in groups of 4 or 8
· Once you have had a full safety briefing of the helicopter, the group will fly to the island.
· On the island you will be taken on a fully guided interpretive tour by NPWS Rangers to discover the islands unique natural, cultural and historic heritage.
· The tour will include inspecting some rooms of the Head lighthouse keepers cottage.
· You will have the good fortune to inspect the Lighthouse and ascend the spiral staircase to view the magical panorama from the Light Tower balcony. A representative from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority will enlighten you with fascinating facts of the Lighthouse.
· Groups will stay together on formed concrete paths, children must be supervised at all times.
· Return to Pacific Bay Resort after the tour.
$490.00 per person -
Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th July 2010 only
You will need to arrive 10 minutes prior to the allocated tour time for check-in.
Please allow yourself 3 hours.
What to Expect:
· Your visit on the island will be for 2 hours with an approximate 10 minute helicopter flight each way.
· Tours will be conducted in groups of 4 or 8.
· Once you have had a full safety briefing of the helicopter, the group will fly to the island.
· On the island you will be taken on a fully guided 1 hour interpretive tour by NPWS Rangers to discover the islands unique natural, cultural and historic heritage.
· The tour will include inspecting some rooms of the Head lighthouse keepers cottage, an opportunity to hear some stories from people who lived on the island before it was automated in 1975 and a walk down to the old gantry.
· You will have the good fortune to inspect the Lighthouse and ascend the spiral staircase to view the magical panorama from the Light Tower balcony. A representative from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority will enlighten you with fascinating facts of the Lighthouse.
· An opportunity for a more relaxed pace of experience on the island, where participants can more readily absorb the unique environmental ambience of the island and follow their imagination as it wanders back through time to ponder the colourful times gone by of generations of lighthouse keeper and their families. Time also to engage in casual conversation under the eves of the restored keepers cottage with Rangers, all the while spotting for the blow of humpback whales on their migration to more northern breeding grounds.
· Groups will stay on formed concrete paths, children must be supervised at all times.
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- 3 hours - $950.00 per person -Friday 30th July 2010 only (lighthouse not open)
Wildlife Special 
Offering a longer stay on the island, a smaller group size and a more intimate experience, the Wildlife Special includes key aspects of the standard guided tour of the island and around the light station with an added focus on experiencing the wildlife of South Solitary Island and surrounding Solitary Islands Marine Park.
Record numbers of Humpback Whales are moving past the NSW North Coast on their migratory journey to reach warmer water off Queensland in which to breed and give birth. South Solitary Island can be a magnet for whales which often linger around the island to rest and play. Join NPWS Discovery Rangers to watch out for these awesome marine mammals using powerful viewing scopes and binoculars and learn more about whale behaviour and biology. Other wildlife experiences at South Solitary Island can include encounters with dolphins, turtles and seabirds such as migrating Albatross.
Minimum Group size is three and bookings are essential.
Art & Photography Special
Offering a longer stay on the island, a smaller group size and a more intimate experience, the Art & Photography Special includes key aspects of the standard guided tour of the island and around the light station with an added focus on appreciating and capturing its ambience and visual qualities.
The South Solitary Island Lighthouse and Keepers' Quarters is a dramatic landmark feature with an 
impressive visual quality in a harsh cliff top setting. The natural and cultural heritage and architecture of South Solitary Island and its light station offers infinite inspiration for artistic expression. Join NPWS Discovery Rangers to discover the contextual background to the imagery of the island and landscape and take time to capture it.
Minimum Group size is three and bookings are essential. Note: see Terms & Conditions regarding Commercial Photography.
For All Tours:
What to bring:
· One small backpack per group (booking), water, camera, sunglasses, good hat that stays on in a strong breeze!, sun cream, waterproof jacket if showery.
· Wear long sleeved clothing and flat sturdy footwear, NO thongs or slip on sandals.
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Novotel Pacific Bay Resort - (3kms north of Coffs Harbour, just past the Big Banana) A good level of mobility is required. Numbers are limited. Extra days may be released.
Pacific Highway and Bay Drive,
Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450
Tours held on the
4th, 5th, 10th, 11th and 12th of July 2009
Thank you to the 325 people who visited the island on these tours. Especially those that came from interstate (and from afar - Norway!)
Thank you to National Parks and Wildlife Service - this would not have been possible without you. Special thanks to Glenn Storrie and David Nalder.
Thank you to Jodie Evans and all the staff at Novotel Pacific Bay Resort for becoming our "Departure Lounge" and allowing the use of your facilities.
Thank you to Sheryl, Mandy and Bernie at the Visitor Information Centre and Coffs Coast Marketing for all your assistance!
Previous visits to the island click here