Byron Bay

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Byron Bay [1] is a coastal town on the far North Coast of the Australian state of New South Wales, located just off the Pacific Highway, approximately 800 km north of Sydney and 175 km south of Brisbane. Nearby Cape Byron is the easternmost point on the Australian mainland.

[edit] Understand

Byron Bay is famed worldwide for its surfing beaches, scuba diving [2], whale watching [3], rural beauty and a laid back lifestyle. Byron Bay and its surrounding area have a population of about 30,000, the area mainly deriving its income from tourism (1.7 million+ visitors per annum) and farming. A new focus are the many thriving home-based businesses focus on alternative, cultural and knowledge industries, with a growing population of artists, writers and filmmakers.

[edit] Get in

There is a number of ways to travel to Byron Bay. From Sydney you can travel by plane, coach or bus and from Brisbane the best option is coach. An alternative is to take one of the many surfing or backpacker tours along the east coast. BackpackerTravel has a number of options for both the independent traveller and for people wanting to travel in a group.

[edit] Get around

There is no regular public transport within Byron Bay - 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.

[edit][add listing] See

  • East Coast Blues & Roots Music Festival [4]. Held at Byron Bay each Easter.
  • Splendour in the Grass Music Festival [5]. Alternative to mainstream festival over 2 days in July (winter) each year.
  • Schoolies in Late November/Early December celebrating school leavers from across Australia

[edit][add listing] Do

[edit] 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 which break close to shore. At the southern end of Byron Main beach lies the Pass. The Pass can be very crowded, along with Byron Main on summer days but is perfect for long boarding with wide rollers that go forever.
  • Watego's Beach is 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. Watego's has a cult longboarder crowd because its waves generally don't have enough 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's Beach is the least known and least used Byron beach for those who don't surf. Tallow's 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 very 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 Watego's or the Pass.

[edit] Diving and snorkeling

Byron Bay has some of New South Wales's best scuba diving. Most diving is at Julian Rocks, only five minutes off shore. The depths around Julian Rocks are 5-25 meters, and it's suitable for snorkeling. You can dive with the following operators:

  • Byron Bay Dive Centre, 9 Marvel Street, ☎ +61-2-6685-8333 or 1800 243 483 (within Australia) (, fax: +61-2-6685-5750), [6]. Byron Bay Dive Centre runs diving and snorkeling trips to Julian Rocks. Certification is available through PADI, SSI and NAUI. Non-certified dives are available after taking a short SSI Passport Diver course. edit
  • Sundive, 8 Middleton Street, ☎ +61-2-6685-7755 or 1800 008 755 (within Australia) (, fax: +61-2-6685-8361), [7]. Weekday trips depart 10am and 1:15pm, weekend trips depart 8:30am, 11am and 2pm. Sundive has multiple daily trips to Julian Rocks, and offers PADI dive certification. $45 per dive without gear hire or if snorkeling, $50 for the first dive if tank and weights are required, $80 for the first dive if all gear is required and $70 for subsequent dives with all gear hired. Introductory dives for untrained divers are $150, and Open Water certification costs $350.  edit

[edit][add listing] Eat

  • Popular with backpackers, Cheeky Monkeys Restaurant & Party Bar is a great value night out.
  • The best value for money is The Railway Friendly Bar
  • The Great Northern makes great pizzas from a real Italian pizza maker
  • The Buddha Bar has some good meals and a relaxed atmosphere
  • For the top end of the market is Rae's at Wategos
  • For Thai, there is Thai Lucy in Bay Lane behind the Beach Hotel.
  • For Indian there is Yellow Flower in Suffolk Park where you can occasionally chill out to the sounds of a musician

[edit][add listing] Drink

Byron Bay has a very vibrant social scene for a town of its size. Bands play most nights at the Beach Hotel (on the beach) and the Railway Friendly Bar. The Great Northern hosts the more important bands. The Buddha Bar serves backpackers from the Piggery Backpackers and has a very chilled out bar and attached restaurant and cinema. Nightclubs are Cocomangas (get a Jam Jar), La La Land (Lawson St), Play (Woolworths Plaza) and the backpackers' favourite, Cheeky Monkeys. This can also be a good place to go out on Mondays and Tuesdays when everywhere else is quiet.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

You'll find a variety of places to stay, from budget to luxury, in and around Byron. Prices vary, based on location, facilities and fixtures. Off season rates can be half the price of peak season. The following information can be used as a rough guide to peak season rates:

  • Houses & Cottages : Absolute beachfront is usually the most expensive, with rates of about $3,500 up to $8,000+ per week. Houses & Cottages in other parts of Byron start at about $1,700 per week.
  • Apartments : One bedroom apartments in a resort styled complex (onsite management) start at about $2,100 per week. One bedroom apartments in a regular complex (without onsite management) start at about $1,300 per week.
  • Hotels / Motels : Start at about $150-$200 per night per double.
  • B&B / Guesthouse : There's quite a variety - from converted workman's cottages to purpose built beachfront luxury. Rates range from about $140 to $450 per night per double.
  • Hostels : There are a number of hostels / backpackers in Byron Bay. Rates start at about $20 per night for a dorm.

Here are some accommodation providers:

  • Byron Bay YHA, 7 Carlyle Street, ☎ +61-2-6685-8853 (, fax: +61-2-6685-6766), [8]. A hostel with a barbecue, swimming pool and television room. Dorm beds from $27 to $35, private rooms from $70 per room, add $3.50 per night if you are not a member of Hostelling International.  edit
  • Cape Byron YHA, corner of Middleton Street and Byron Street, ☎ +61-2-6685-8788 or 1800 652 627 (within Australia) (, fax: +61-2-6685-8814), [9]. A hostel with a barbecue, swimming pool and television room. Dorm beds from $26 per night, add $3.50 per night if you are not a member of Hostelling International.  edit
  • Planula, Lot 1, Melaleuca Drive, ☎ +61-2-6680-9134 (), [10]. Planula is a bed and breakfast 3km from Byron Bay's town. It focusses on scuba diving; both the hosts are divers. Twin rooms $185 during peak seasons, $135 during high season and $115 in winter. Joint diving and accommodation deals available.  edit
  • Gaia Retreat and Spa, 933 Fernleigh Road, Brooklet, ☎ +61-2-6687-1216 (, fax: +61-2-6687-1310), [11]. Nestled amongst green valleys and undulating hills in the subtropical Byron Bay hinterland near Bangalow, Gaia Retreat and Spa is the ideal place to renew, refresh, and restore your mind, body and soul. 3 night packages from $995 per person for twin or double or $1195 for a single person.  edit
  • Broken Head Holiday Park, Beach Road, Broken Head, ☎ +61-2-6685-3245 (, fax: +61-2-6685-4810), [12]. Surrounded by lush National Park rainforest, and situated next to Broken Head beach, this park is in a beautiful location, and suits those who prefer to stay a little further out from the township of Byron Bay. Body board and surf board hire available. Reception 7.30am-7.30pm. Unpowered sites $25/night. Powered sites and cabins also available.  edit
  • Tallow Beach Motel, [13]. Located 5 minutes south of Byron Bay township right across the road from the beach. From $75 per night.  edit

[edit] Stay safe

Due to the tourist nature of Byron Bay, a warning must go out to travellers to be careful of drink spiking - always keep your drink in view and don't accept drinks from strangers.

[edit] Get out

Explore the 'Rainbow Region' - rural towns and sleepy villages, set in lush and particularly scenic countryside. The area is famed as a haven for alternative culture. Nimbin and the Channon are the favourite towns to visit in this region. There is a popular market in the Channon once a month. There are many scenic wonders in the area. Byron area has many rainforests & parks. The ever present volcanic plug of Mt.Warning (Wollumbin - the cloud cathcher) is a favourite tour. It can be reached by driving into Murwillumbah and following the roads to the small village of Uki. There are many waterfalls like Minyon Falls (direction Federal-Rosebank), Protester Falls (the Channon area) and Wanaganui Falls (Wilsons Creek). The drive to these falls is very scenic as it follows the creek and a narrow valley a some nice rainforest.

Brunswick Heads is also a nice day trip. The pub is a good place to relax for a meal by the river and it has some quieter beaches. Between Byron Bay and Ballina there is a nice coastal drive which passes through the quiet coastal town of Lennox Head. If you stick to the coastal roads you can see a lot more beaches.

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