Operated by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, the Barrenjoey Lighthouse is a functional lighthouse and outdoor tourist attraction located at the northern tip of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PxZ47RoQ50  The park is about a 60-90 minute drive from the business district in Sydney, Australia.  Entry to the lighthouse is free, however the lighthouse itself is only accessible via a steep walking path about one kilometer from the parking area.http://www.lighthouse.net.au/lights/nsw/Barrenjoey/Barrenjoey.htm 

In addition to welcoming visitors, the Barrenjoey Lighthouse features a 120V, 1,000-watt quartz halogen lamp that can be seen from 19 nautical miles away.  The original light, constructed in 1881, was a fixed red dioptric with four oil wick burners and 700 candle power.http://www.lighthouse.net.au/lights/nsw/Barrenjoey/Barrenjoey.htm 

As the third lighthouse on the headland, Barrenjoey Lighthouse opened in 1881, joining Stewart Towers, which was built in 1868.  The lighthouse operated manually until 1932 when it was converted to an automatic operation using acetylene gas.  Due to re-supply problems, the lighthouse was converted to electric power in 1972.http://www.lighthouse.net.au/lights/nsw/Barrenjoey/Barrenjoey.htm 

For 30 years, Jervis and Bridget Sparks tended the lighthouse, however they lost that role in the late 1990s when control of the area was transfered to the New South Wales Parks and Wildlife Service.  The two remain involved in the attraction on a volunteer basis.http://www.lighthouse.net.au/lights/nsw/Barrenjoey/Barrenjoey.htm 

Visitors from Downtown Sydney can access Barrenjoey Lighthouse by heading north on Highway 14 towards Palm Beach to Barrenjoey Road.  A car park is available at the base of the hiking path leading up to the lighthouse.http://www.sydney.com/town/Palm_Beach/Barrenjoey_Lighthouse/info.aspx#GoogleMapTop   

Those who don't want to takethe steep 20-minute hike to the top can visit the attraction on Sundays.  Short tours are offered each half hour on Sundays, weather permitting, between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. for a small fee.http://www.lonelyplanet.com/australia/sydney/sights/lighthouse/barrenjoey-lighthouse