Byron Bay

Understand

The traditional owners of the area are the Bundjalung Nation of the Arakwal, Minjungbal and the Widjabul people. Byron Bay is famed worldwide for its surfing beaches, scuba diving, whale watching, rural beauty and laid-back lifestyle. It is a well-known destination for celebrities - international as well as local, as well established and aspiring Intergram Influencers. It is a major tourist centre; the area having experienced a dramatic increase to 1.7 million+ visitors per year. The town and surrounding area have a population of about 30,000. The community of Suffolk Park lies a five-minute drive south, along Tallow Beach. It's a quieter alternative to the heart of Byron, but for most services you will need to make the trip into Byron. The towns of Bangalow and Nimbin lie inland, less than an hour's drive away. Lennox Head and Ballina are to the south. There are many thriving "wellness" home-based businesses focused on alternative, holistic, cultural and knowledge industries, with a growing population of artists, writers and filmmakers. Byron Bay is renowned for capturing the hearts of the people that visit and many end up staying; the community spirit in the town and the surrounding area is strong.

Getting there

By plane Ballina/Byron Airport (BNK IATA) is the nearest airport, around 30 minutes drive away at Ballina. There are flights from Sydney and Melbourne. Airport transport options. There are regular shuttle services from the airport and most of them are door to door. Book online to save money. Xcede Airport Transfers and Steve's Tours Airport Express offer shuttle services direct to your door from $18. Blanchs bus service costs $10, but isn't door to door and travels through other towns on the way. Gold Coast Airport (OOL IATA) is around 1 hour away at Coolangatta and has domestic flights and international flights from New Zealand, Malaysia, and Japan. It often has cheaper flights and cheaper car hire than Ballina. There are a number of transport operators from the airport to Byron Bay. For example, Byron Bay - Surfers Express do pick-up and drop-off at the airport in their runs between Byron Bay and Surfers Paradise for $27. Xcede Airport Transfers offer shuttle services direct to the door.

By bus Regular coach services, such as Greyhound and Flixbus, travel between Sydney and Brisbane via Byron Bay.

By car Byron is around 7 hours drive from Sydney, a good day's drive, with many possibilities to stop and rest. Traffic on the Pacific Motorway gets busy during school holiday periods (both Qld and NSW). During summer the Ewingsdale Road route in and out of town from the Pacific Motorway can get crowded and slow. When coming from the south on the highway in holiday periods, avoid traffic delays on Ewingsdale Road by taking the Lennox Head exit from the motorway at Ross Lane and enter Byron from the south. Byron is only just over an hour from the Gold Coast, and just over two hours from Brisbane via the M1.

By tour Many surfing or backpacker tours along the east coast.

By train Trains no longer stop next to the Railway Hotel as the rail line is closed except for a 2 km shuttle service to Sunrise Beach. You can transfer to a coach from the train at Casino.

Getting around

There is limited regular public transport within Byron Bay, operated by Blanch's Bus Company - however most destinations within the bay are walkable, including The Lighthouse Walk. The Byron Shire Council has installed parking ticket machines, with the fee being $2 per hour.

See

1 Cape Byron. European history began in 1770 when Captain James Cook found a safe anchorage and named the cape after John Byron, grandfather of the poet Lord Byron. It is mainland Australia's easternmost point. There is a lighthouse on the cliffs above the ocean (not on the tip of the cape). The walk from town along the walking track up to the lighthouse is amazing. It is about 20 min from the parking at the start of the walk along the beach. Parking at the top is $10, and worth it on a hot day. There's a cafe near the lighthouse. The entire walking track makes a 3.7 km loop around the cape, including the tip. (updated Dec 2024) 2 Cape Byron State Conservation Area. Small conservation reserve home to the easternmost point of the Australian mainland. (updated Nov 2021)

Do

Surfing Byron Bay has good surf with a variety of beaches within the town limits. It has occupied the imagination of Australians for many years for its climate, lifestyle and warm water.

Byron Main. The best-known beach in Byron usually has smaller waves that break close to shore. At the southern end of the beach lies the Pass, which can get very crowded, along with Byron Main, on summer days but is perfect for long boarding with wide rollers that go forever. Wategos Beach. Just around the corner from the Pass and Byron Main. It is somewhat hidden from view, lying on the north side of the Byron point. Wategos has a cult longboarder crowd because its waves generally don't have as much push as other breaks. It generally has smaller surf than the Pass. The surf runs west towards Byron Main and takes a bit more skill to paddle out to than the Pass or the main beach. The Pass is always crowded when the winds or swell are right, and because of the easy paddle it has a lot of beginners which can make it very dangerous with wayward boards. Tallow Beach. The least known and least used Byron beach by those who don't surf. Tallow Beach is on the south side of the Byron headland, is very long and has a variety of breaks along its length. The surf is generally larger as most swells go straight into it. It is uncommon to see tourists along this beach because the only place from which it can be seen in Byron is the top of the Byron headland. It is not uncommon to surf among pods of common dolphins as the evening winds down in Byron, especially if you are surfing Wategos or the Pass. If you visit Byron Bay without a surfboard, you can hire one online in the Bay for US$20 a day and US$120 a week at http://www.rentasurfboard.com

Beachgoing Swimming. Byron Main Beach is patrolled all summer, with other beaches patrolled during the Christmas School Holidays, including Wategoes. Clarkes beach is to the east of the main beach but before the Pass and its sheltered location me

Buy

1 Wicked Weasel, 156 Jonson St, ☏ +61 2 6685 8833. Famous Australian manufacturer of "risque" swimwear and lingerie for women.

Eat

Budget Many of the pubs and bars serve food also – check the Drink section following.

1 Bayleaf Cafe, 2A Marvel St, ☏ +61 2 6685 8900. Daily 7AM–2PM. A cafe with good coffee to jump start your day. (updated Jun 2023) 2 Beloporto Burger Bar, 3/75-76 Jonson St, ☏ +61 2 6680 8989. Daily 11AM–9PM. $8-13 for burgers. 3 Treehouse on Belongil, 25 Childe St, Belongil, ☏ +61 2 6685 5999. Daily 7:30AM–10PM. Out of main Byron, near Belongil Beach. Very relaxed with outdoor tables. Pizzas and most mains are $22–27; 400 g steak $36. (updated Jun 2023)

Mid-range 4 Beach Byron Bay, 2 Massinger St, ☏ 13