Overview
- Features: Easternmost point on Australia’s mainland
- Opening Times: Dawn to dusk, daily
- Best Time to Visit: Any time of the year
- Duration: Any
- Travelled By: Car
- Cost: Free
- Address: Byron Bay, NSW, Australia
- Type: Beach
Author Reviews[display_rating_item_results rating_form_id=”2″ rating_entry_ids=”1″ show_category_filter=”false” show_options=”true” result_type=”star_rating” preserve_max_rating=”true” show_title=”false” show_count=”false” ]
Total Rating: [display_rating_result rating_form_id=”2″ show_count=”false” show_rich_snippets=true] [accordions load=”1″] [accordion title=”User Reviews” last] [display_rating_item_results rating_form_id=”5″ show_options=”true” result_type=”star_rating” preserve_max_rating=”true” show_title=”false” show_count=”true” show_rich_snippets=true] [/accordion] [accordion title=”Add Review”][display_rating_form show_email_input=”true” show_comment_textarea=”true” show_name_input=”true” rating_form_id=”5″] [/accordion] [/accordions]
Summary
Byron Bay is an attractive, up-market resort which is enhanced by its unspoiled landscape and outstanding beaches. Byron’s beauty precedes it and then deftly exceeds expectations.
Byron Bay: It’s Beauty Precedes It’s Reputation
The Northern New South Wales coastline is known for its mix of natural beauty, mild climate and good resorts. At the easternmost point on the Australian mainland, the sun’s rays hit Byron Bay before anywhere else. Here, the high green moguls of the Northern Rivers hinterland meet the coast in spectacular fashion making Byron Bay the region’s most celebrated haunt. Byron Bay is an attractive, up-market resort which is enhanced by its unspoiled landscape and outstanding beaches. Byron’s beauty precedes it and then deftly exceeds expectations.
Where is Byron Bay located?
Byron Bay is located in northern New South Wales 770km north of Sydney and 165 km south of Brisbane. It takes around 10 hours by car from Sydney, and 2 hours from Brisbane.
If you’re driving up the north coast, leave the Pacific Highway at Ballina and take the scenic coast road via Lennox Head.
Byron Bay Map
[singlepic id=5133 w=720 h=560 float=center]
Things to Do in Byron Bay
What to do in Byron Bay? The most popular things to do in Byron Bay are beach activities, watching migrating humpback whales and exploring the hills and rainforests of Cape Byron.
Byron Bay Beach
Most people head to Byron Bay to relax and unwind at one of the many beaches in the area. Families love Byron Bay for the beautiful beaches, and surfers flock here for some of the best waves in the world.
Swimming in Byron Bay[singlepic id=5138 w=720 h=560 float=center]
Main Beach, which stretches along the front of the town (it’s actually some 50km/31 miles long), is the most popular spot for swimming and beautiful-people-watching.
To the west of Main Beach, clothing is optional at quieter Belongil Beach. Clarke’s Beach curves away to the east of Main Beach toward Cape Byron.
South of Cape Byron are the hallowed sands of Tallow Beach, which stretch 7km down to a rockier section around Broken Head (named appropriately). Your next decent land of sand is Seven Mile Beach, running down to Lennox Head.
Surfing in Byron Bay[singlepic id=5137 w=720 h=560 float=center]
Wategos Beach and an area off the tip of Cape Byron called “The Pass” are two particularly good surf spots; and since each of the beaches faces a different direction, you are bound to find the surf is up on at least one. At its eastern end of Main Beach is Clarks Beach, good for small, peeling waves when the swell’s right.
Cape Byron
[singlepic id=5130 w=720 h=560 float=center]
Behind Byron Bay you’ll find hills that could make the Irish weep, as well as rainforests, waterfalls, and small farms burgeoning with tropical fruits. Named by Captain Cook himself after the grandfather of George Gordon (Lord) Byron, the views from the summit of Cape Byron are spectacular, particularly if you’ve just burnt breakfast off on the climbing track from Clarke’s Beach. Ribboning around the headland, it dips and (mostly) soars its way to the lighthouse.
The walking track descends around the northeast side of the Cape, delving into Cape Byron State Conservation Park, where you’ll stumble upon bush turkeys and wallabies. En route, the Captain Cook Lookout provides stunning views of the countryside which makes for a perfect photo op. The track winds up at Lighthouse Rd and is a 4-km round trip.
Towering over Cape Byron is the 1901 lighthouse (Lighthouse Rd, 8am to sunset), Australia’s most easterly and most powerful lighthouse. You can drive right up to the lighthouse and pay $6 for the privilege of parking there (or nothing at all if you park 300m below).
Whale Watching in Byron Bay
The waters surrounding Byron Bay comes alive in June and July with the sounds and sights of migrating humpback whales and dolphins. You can spot them from the heights of Cape Byron or even down by the beaches.
The humpback migration begins in May and June, when they head north to warmer waters to breed; and they return south around September and October, when they often come into Byron Bay and breach and frolic with their calves.
Diving in Byron Bay
The best place to dive around Byron Bay is at Julian Rocks Marine Reserve and a number of dive outfits take advantage of the town’s close proximity to this area. About 3km (2 miles) offshore, this reserve has been rated one of Australia’s top dive sites, with more than 600 species of fish plus whales, dolphins and turtles. Cold currents from the south meet warmer ones from the north here, which makes it a good spot to find a large variety of marine sea life. Byron Bay Dive Centre,
(111 Jonson St, www.byronbaydivecentre.com.au), offers a range of diving and snorkeling tours and runs dive courses too.
Byron Bay Festival
[singlepic id=5134 w=720 h=560 float=center]
The most popular Byron Bay festival is the East Coast Blues & Roots Festival held for four days over the Easter weekend. Up to 30,000 people camp out to listen up to 80 acts, including the likes of Ben Harper, Midnight Oil, and Joan Armatrading. To find out about dates, booking tickets and other information about the Byron Bay festival, see BluesFest.
Byron Bay Camping
If you’re looking for camping options for the Byron Bay Blues Festival or just want to camp locally in Byron Bay, check out Clarkes Beach Caravan Park off Lighthouse Rd which have campsites and cabins. Expect tightly packed cabins and sites in a bush setting. The Christmas period is particularly busy so book well in advance.
Byron Bay Markets
Shopping at Byron Bay markets is popular with both locals and visitors alike. As a result, weekly markets spring up mostly on weekends around the area.
Bangalow Farmer’s Market (Byron St, 8-11am Sat), Byron Farmer’s Market (Butler St, 8-11am Thu & Sat), Lismore Farmer’s Market (Lismore Showground, 8am-noon Sat) and Rainbow Region Organic Markets (Lismore Showground, 8-11am Tue) are weekly markets.
On the 1st weekend of the month, Brunswick Heads (Memorial Park, Sat) and Lismore Car Boot Market (Lismore Shopping Centre, Sun) brings hippies and funky performers out from the hinterland.
On the 2nd weekend of the month, Alstonville Market (Alstonville Showground, Sun), Channon Craft Market (Coronation Park, Sun) and Lennox Head Lakeside Market (Lake Ainsworth Foreshore, Sun) are popular Sunday markets.
On the 3rd weekend of the month, there are several markets to choose from, including Aquarius Fair Markets (Nimbin Community Centre, Sun), Ballina Markets (Circus Ground, Sun), Lismore Car Boot Market (Lismore Shopping Centre, Sun), Mullumbimby Museum Market (Stuart St, Sat) and Uki Produce & Craft Market (Uki Village Buttery, Sat).
On the 4th weekend of the month, the Bangalow Village Market (Bangalow Showground, Sun) and Evans Head Riverside Market (Recreation Reserve, Sat) are popular markets in Byron Bay.
This is the right web site for everyone who would
like to find out about this topic. You realize a whole lot its almost
hard to argue with you (not that I personally will need to…HaHa).
You definitely put a fresh spin on a topic that has been written about for years.
Great stuff, just wonderful!
Hi Mitchel,
We’re so happy that you enjoyed reading this post. Yes, we aim to put a fresh and new spin on old topics so our visitors will enjoy reading our posts.