Hereford Inlet Lighthouse, N.J. Photography Hot Spot

WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO GO?

They close for the winter and reopen in May. The gardens are open daily from dawn until dusk. After all the flowers have bloomed, springtime is a great time to go. It’s less crowded in this beach town that gets very busy in the summer, especially on the weekends.

This is a DARK SKY area that is good for Milky Way. So keep this in mind if you want to pair this up with a Milky Way trip.

Months: The Milky Way Core can be seen from March to October, disappearing below the horizon for the rest of the year. It appears in the early morning hours in March and becomes visible earlier each month. The best time to catch a glimpse of the core is during summer, when it can be seen immediately after sunset, providing an ideal viewing opportunity for stargazers and photographers.

New Moon: Timing is crucial to see the Milky Way. This celestial event can only be seen on clear nights without a visible moon, limiting the window for viewing.

Light Pollution: The best way to experience the full wonder of the Milky Way is to escape from areas with heavy light pollution. However, it may be possible to see some faint traces of the galaxy from places with mild artificial lighting; the most spectacular views can be found in remote locations far from cities and civilizations. Check out our How to Section for more details, including using a light pollution map to guide you to dark sky locations.

HOW LONG TO PHOTOGRAPH THIS AREA?

This area can be explored and photographed in just a few hours. You will want to pair this up with other great photography locations.

WHAT PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR SHOULD I BRING?

• A Camera with a wide-angle lens.
• A zoom lens for outback on the water.
• Tripod – For shooting flowers in aperture priority mode.
• Shutter release
• Polarizing Filter

WHAT ESLE SHOULD I BRING?

• Water and Snacks
• Bug repellent

Not much else. This is an easily accessible location with many flowers and great views from the top of the lighthouse.

HOW DO I GET THERE?

North Wildwood is in  Cape May County, New Jersey, United States borough. It neighbors Stone Harbor. Take the Garden State Parkway to Exit 6 and head east towards the beach. The address for your GPS: Hereford Inlet Lighthouse – 111 North Central Avenue, North Wildwood, New Jersey 08260

WHAT OTHER PHOTOGRAPHY IS NEARBY?

We highly suggest you pair this trip up with the East Point Lighthouse. You can also see our New Jersey Milky Way Photography Locations here.

And other New Jersey Photography Locations here.

HOW BUSY DOES IT GET?

It’s not too bad, but the area resembles other New Jersey shore towns. We were at the lighthouse twice; only a few people were inside the lighthouse, and a few photographers were in the garden. It was midweek.

ANYTHING ELSE?

Wedding Photography: The Hereford Inlet Lighthouse property is available for weddings in the Gazebo or the Gardens. You MUST GET PERSMISSION for this. Send requests in writing.