Thomson Cottage
Walgun Cape Byron State Conservation Area
Overview
Thomson Cottage sits on the edge of the rainforest with stunning views of ‘The Pass’ in Byron Bay. Hidden away, this beach accommodation is the perfect getaway.
| Accommodation type | Cottage |
|---|---|
| Where | 5 Brooke Drive, Byron Bay, NSW, 2481 - in Walgun Cape Byron State Conservation Area |
| Bedrooms | 3 |
| Maximum guests | 6 |
| Facilities | Barbecue facilities, drinking water, showers, toilets, electric power, balcony, outdoor furniture, kitchen, plates and cutlery, pots and pans, bed linen, air conditioning, tv, towels, washing machine, cot hire, outside shower, rubbish bin |
| Entry fees |
Park entry fees are not required to access Thomson Cottage |
| Please note |
|
Thomson Cottage is simply the best of both worlds; nestled between a beautiful white sand beach and luscious rainforest, it's a dream location for the perfect beachside break. The award-winning accommodation is ideal for family or friends looking for an indulgent holiday getaway near Byron Bay on the idyllic north coast.
Hidden within Walgun Cape Byron State Conservation Area, the cottage offers privacy with unimaginable views of the famed surf spot 'The Pass'. From the expansive balcony you can watch the waves roll in, check out the local dolphins swim by and even humpback whales in the winter.
Equipped with everything you could possibly need to unwind, this ECO certified property uses solar power and features an energy efficient design.
Map
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Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/camping-and-accommodation/accommodation/thomson-cottage/local-alerts
Bookings
- National Parks Contact Centre
- 7am to 7pm daily
- 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
- parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Operated by
- Byron Bay office
- Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm.
- 02 6639 8300
- npws.tweedbyron@environment.nsw.gov.au
- 22 Tallow Beach Road, Byron Bay 2481
Park info
- in Walgun Cape Byron State Conservation Area in the North Coast region
- Walgun Cape Byron State Conservation Area is open all hours, but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
- Cape Byron Lighthouse lawn is open 8am to sunset.
- The Maritime Museum in the former Lighthouse Keeper’s office at the base of the lighthouse is open 10am to 4pm daily.
- Opening before 8am for events or disabled access can be arranged by prior notice – contact NPWS Byron Bay office during business hours 02 6639 8300.
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Park entry fees:
Cape Byron Lighthouse lawn and Information Centre: $10 per vehicle per hour/$4 per hour motorcycles. Maximum 1 hour per vehicle per calendar day, including all NPWS annual passholders.
Captain Cook lookout, Cosy Corner, and The Pass: $5 per vehicle/motorcycle per hour. Tap and pay card or phone payments accepted at pay machines. Cash and credit cards accepted at Walgun Cape Byron Information Centre.
Coach entry: $30 per coach up to 30 seats; $57 per coach 31 to 43 seats; $94 per coach 44 seats and over.
Buy annual pass.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Thomson Cottage.
Getting there and parking
Thomson Cottage is located on Brooke Drive, just 2km east of Byron Bay town centre. To get there, follow Lawson Street (which becomes Lighthouse Road) and turn left after the boardwalk.
Keys can be collected from Byron Bay Hotel and Apartments. Contact their office on 02 6639 8700 from 9am to 5pm if you want to arrange after hours collection.
Road quality
- Sealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Parking
There is a private lockable garage for one car and two additional parking spaces.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Walgun Cape Byron State Conservation Area. Here are some of the highlights.
Spring
With the weather being a bit cooler, it's the perfect time of year for walking, barbecues and picnics on the beach.
Summer
Summer holidays beckon you – enjoy swimming, snorkelling, surfing, building sandcastles, or relaxing in the shade.
Winter
Walgun Cape Byron is a great spot to watch for whales on their annual migration - remember to take binoculars.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
22°C and 27°C
Highest recorded
35.1°C
Winter temperature
Average
15°C and 21°C
Lowest recorded
3.3°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
March
Driest month
September
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
350.4mm
Facilities
- Bedding configuration: 1 queen bed, 1 queen bed and 2 single beds.
- Bathroom.
- Lounge and dining area.
- Please leave the property clean and tidy with all kitchen items washed up and put away. Hourly additional fees may be charged for unreasonable cleaning required or missing/broken items.
Toilets
- Flush toilets
Barbecue facilities
Gas barbecue on the verandah.
Drinking water
Showers
- Hot showers
Electric power
Balcony
Large verandah overlooking the beach.
Outdoor furniture
Kitchen
Electric oven and stove, fridge, microwave, kettle and toaster.
Plates and cutlery
Pots and pans
Bed linen
Air conditioning
TV
TV with Netflix.
Towels
Washing machine
Washing machine, dryer.
Cot hire
Cot hire is available. Call Byron Bay office before your stay to arrange a cot.
Outside shower
Rubbish bin
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - hard
There are 11 steps to access the cottage from the parking space.
Prohibited
Please be considerate of others and keep the noise down. Fees apply if security is called to the property.
Drones
Flying a drone for recreational purposes is prohibited in this area. Drones may affect public enjoyment, safety and privacy, interfere with park operations, or pose a threat to wildlife. See the Drones in Parks policy.
This area may be a declared Drone Exclusion Zone, or may be subject to Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) rules for flying near airports, aerodromes and helicopter landing sites. See CASA's Drone Flyer Rules.
Commercial filming and photography
Commercial filming or photography is prohibited without prior consent. You must apply for permission and contact the local office.
Visitor centre
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Walgun Cape Byron Information Centre
199 Lighthouse Road, Byron Bay NSW 2481 - 9.30am to 4.30pm daily. Closed Christmas Day
- 02 6639 8300
Learn more
Thomson Cottage is in Walgun Cape Byron State Conservation Area. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Cape Byron Lighthouse
Perched high above Byron Bay's glorious coastline, historic Cape Byron lighthouse was constructed on this rugged headland in 1901. Its landmark 22m high white tower houses the light that still illuminates the bay of an evening. To find out more about the lighthouse take a tour with an expert guide and be sure to check out the Maritime Museum. In days gone by, lighthouse keepers were responsible for igniting the lighthouse's light of an evening. The keepers have long been replaced by automated light systems; however the Victorian Georgian style cottages in which they lived remain as heritage listed buildings. Today they operate as holiday accommodation, having been carefully restored to offer modern convenience while retaining their historical charm and an insight into the life of a lighthouse keeper.
- Cape Byron Lighthouse: A special place Experience a bird’s eye view from the top of the iconic Cape Byron Lighthouse in this Early Stage 1 (Kindergarten) Geography excursion. Students will learn about the features of this special place and its significance to people and the community.
- Cape Byron Lighthouse: A special place Experience a bird’s eye view from the top of the iconic Cape Byron Lighthouse in this Stage 1 (Years 1-2) geography excursion. Students will learn about the features of the lighthouse and its significance to people and the community.
- Walgun Cape Byron Information Centre Walgun Cape Byron Information Centre is the place to find visitor information for Walgun Cape Byron State Conservation Area, Walgun Cape Byron Marine Park and surrounding national parks in the Byron Bay area.
Keepers of Country
Walgun, as Walgun Cape Byron is known by its traditional custodians, maintains spiritual, cultural and historical importance for the Bundjalung of Byron Bay (Arakwal) Aboriginal People. The pipi midden (shell mound) at The Pass is one of the largest and oldest in far north NSW.
- Dolphin Dreaming Dolphin Dreaming is a Stage 1 (Years 1-2) school excursion in Walgun Cape Byron State Conservation Area, focusing on Geography. Through story, dance and creative expression, Arakwal Aboriginal guides present the life and culture of Byron Bay's Aboriginal people.
- Dolphin Dreaming Dolphin Dreaming is an Early Stage 1 (Kindergarten) school excursion in Walgun Cape Byron State Conservation Area, focusing on Geography. Through story, dance and creative expression, Arakwal Aboriginal guides present the life and culture of Byron Bay's Aboriginal people.
- Dolphin Dreaming Dolphin Dreaming is a Stage 2 (Years 3-4) school excursion in Walgun Cape Byron State Conservation Area, focusing on Geography outcomes. Through story, dance and creative expression, Arakwal Aboriginal guides present the life and culture of Byron Bay's Aboriginal people.
- Dolphin Dreaming Dolphin Dreaming is a Stage 3 (Years 5-6) school excursion in Walgun Cape Byron State Conservation Area, focusing on Geography. Through story, dance and creative expression, Arakwal Aboriginal guides present the life and culture of Byron Bay's Aboriginal people.
- Palm Valley Palm Valley, or ‘The Pass,’ offers well-equipped picnic areas right by the beach, plus a popular café, several walking tracks, and access to the Fishermans lookout.
View from the top
Walgun Cape Byron State Conservation Area is part of a significant north-to-south regional corridor for migratory animals, including the fruit dove and cuckoo shrike. Locals you might be lucky enough to spot while touring the area include threatened wallabies and sea eagles. A peaceful walk through the area’s serene littoral rainforest, with plant life; such as laurel trees, white lace flowers and basket ferns, to admire along the way, is sure to further enrich your experience of the Walgun Cape Byron area.
- A whale of a time Discover the wonderful world of whales on this Stage 2 (Years 3-4) excursion around Walgun Cape Byron headland. This excursion is designed to support the Living World Science and Technology topic content strand.
- Byron tandem hang gliding flights and lessons Try the thrilling sport of hang gliding with a tandem flight over spectacular Walgun Cape Byron or nearby Lennox Head. With 40 years’ experience, Byron Airwaves Hang Gliding School is your ticket to the freedom of flight.
- Walgun Cape Byron walking track Enjoy spectacular coastal views along the Walgun Cape Byron walking track that takes you on a hike through rainforest, beach, grassland and clifftops to the lighthouse.
- Walgun Cape Byron: The earth’s environment Join us on an Earth’s environment Geography excursion at beautiful Walgun Cape Byron for Stage 2 (Years 3-4) students. Students will explore the features of the reserve and learn about people’s differing perceptions of the park and how it is managed.
- Wategos Beach Located just north west of Walgun Cape Byron and the lighthouse, Wategos Beach is one of Byron’s best places to picnic, paddle and play.
Plants and animals protected in this park
Animals
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Australian pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus)
The curious pelican is Australia’s largest flying bird and has the longest bill of any bird in the world. These Australian birds are found throughout Australian waterways and the pelican uses its throat pouch to trawl for fish. Pelicans breed all year round, congregating in large colonies on secluded beaches and islands.
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Australian brush turkey (Alectura lathami)
The Australian brush turkey, also known as bush or scrub turkey, can be found in rainforests along eastern NSW. With a striking red head, blue-black plumage and booming call, these distinctive Australian birds are easy to spot while bird watching in several NSW national parks.
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Superb fairy wren (Malurus cyaneus)
The striking blue and black plumage of the adult male superb fairy wren makes for colourful bird watching across south-eastern Australia. The sociable superb fairy wrens, or blue wrens, are Australian birds living in groups consisting of a dominant male, mouse-brown female ‘jenny wrens’ and several tawny-brown juveniles.
Plants
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Wonga wonga vine (Pandorea pandorana)
The wonga wonga vine is a widespread vigorous climber usually found along eastern Australia. A variation of the plant occurs in the central desert, where it resembles a sprawling shrub. One of the more common Australian native plants, the wonga wonga vine produces bell-shaped white or yellow flowers in the spring, followed by a large oblong-shaped seed pod.
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Cabbage palm (Livistona australis)
With glossy green leaves spanning 3-4m in length and a trunk reaching a height of up to 30m, the cabbage tree palm, or fan palm, is one of the tallest Australian native plants. Thriving in rainforest margins along the east coast of NSW, in summer this giant palm produces striking spikes of cream flowers which resemble cabbages.
Environments in this park
Education resources (1)
School excursions (11)
- A whale of a time, Stage 2 (Years 3-4), Science and Technology
- Dolphin Dreaming, Stage 1 (Years 1-2), Geography
- Dolphin Dreaming, Early Stage 1 (Kindergarten), Geography
- Walgun Cape Byron: Environmental change and management, Stage 5 (Years 9-10), Geography
- Walgun Cape Byron: The earth’s environment, Stage 2 (Years 3-4), Geography
- Cape Byron Lighthouse: A special place, Early Stage 1 (Kindergarten), Geography
- Dolphin Dreaming, Stage 2 (Years 3-4), Geography
- Dolphin Dreaming, Stage 3 (Years 5-6), Geography
- Whale secrets, Early Stage 1 (Kindergarten), Science and Technology
- Whale secrets, Stage 1 (Years 1-2), Science and Technology
- Cape Byron Lighthouse: A special place, Stage 1 (Years 1-2), Geography