A guide to Byron Bay
A town bound to pop up on your radar as you are travelling the east coast of Australia. And it should as well. Even though Byron Bay is quickly becoming over cramped, with a flurry of cars in the streets, lengthy queues in cafes and overpriced accommodations, locals and travellers alike swear by its magic. And for good reason. It has become a melting pot of hipster backpackers crowding in hostels, to hippie travellers escaping away to the Arts factory, families that are housed in Air Bnb’s, and romantic couples being cooped up in a holiday resort. That is a hint to you, my friend, that anyone can and will enjoy Byron Bay. With it’s array of beaches, morning yoga-classes, surfers catching those early waves, cafes, boutique-shops and small streets, and bars and live music to carry the night away, Byron remains a true favorite in a lot of people’s hearts.
Language: English
Currency: aud
Know before going
Book ahead. Byron is a busy place, precisely because so many people love it here. Make sure you’ve got accommodation in order well in advance, before it’s full.
Best time to visit
During spring and autumn. The weather is lovely and dry, the waves are great for surfing, and it’s whale season.
Transportation
The public bus, numerous bicycle paths and small distances made for walking, makes getting around Byron a breeze.
Top things to see and do in Byron Bay
Paddle a kayak next to dolphins
It’s a two-hour paddle, but you’ll get to see dolphins up close, and can even spot whales in the whale-season.
See the sunrise from the lighthouse
An absolute must when going to Byron. Either take the trek up from the city, which takes about half an hour, or drive all the way up. Either way, make sure you do sunrise at least once. The sunset is also nice, but it’s on the other side of the town. Sunrise is directly above the water on the lookout, and it is the most eastern point of Australia, and you are therefore one of the first people to see the sun when it rises.
Have breakfast on little Wategos beach
After I had seen the sunrise, I decided to follow the path down until I got to little Wategos beach. I had my breakfast with me, I set out my towel, and had the lovely little bay all to my self. As the sun rose higher and higher, the temperature got warmer and it was a lovely start to the rest of the day. The beach itself is quite gorgeous.
Watch the surfers come out on Wategos beach
Not the little one, the big one. Walk from little Wategos beach on the hiking-trail until you reach the main Wategos beach. Here there are an array of local surfers catching the waves before they head out to work and start their day. Spend an hour or two just observing their daily pattern, and look at what an actual surfer can do with the waves. It’s quite impressive.
Visit the many markets
There are an array of local markets happening in Byron. Some pop up only once a month, while others are there once a week. Stroll through the booths and take a look at all the knick-knacks, the clothes, and the hand-made crafts at display.
Take a surf lesson
If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to surf, Byron sure is a good place to start. There are several companies that offer lessons to complete beginners to more advanced training. You can choose to have one lesson, or you might be up for a weekend of training. The choice is yours.
Visit Nimbin
Nimbin is a small village just on the outskirts of Byron, and it is a single 1 km street that has a hippy-vibe to it. If that’s not your thing, Nimbin is also a gateway to many falls perfect for an afternoon swim.
Live like a local
And this means do yoga in the early mornings, go boutique-shopping, eat at lovely cafes and bike around town and find your favourite beach. When it comes to the beaches, you will be spoilt for choice. But just to prepare you a little bit, I’ve included a Byron Bay beach-guide at the bottom of the article. You’re welcome.
Where to eat
In Byron Bay you are absolutely spoiled for choice when it comes to the best places to eat. You have everything from great burger-joints, to gourmet vegan-dining. If it’s one thing Byron knows how to do well, it is food. So here is a (definitely not complete list) of all the best places to eat in this lovely little city.
BAY GER
FOLK
HARVEST
THE MEZZE CLUB
THE FARM
HABITAT
A Byron Bay beach-guide
I’ve already talked about this, but it needs to be mentioned again. There is a small carpark, where you can park your car, but get in early, this is a locals favourite. It is relatively small, but has lovely white sand and clear waters.
Can only be accessed through the hiking trails around Wategos and the lighthouse, and has no facilities. But that makes it such a secluded spot, as for most people it is too much of a hassle. On a good day, you may have this pearl all to yourself. Watch out for the tide though, as it reaches all the way to the big rocks on certain partso f the day.
Tallows is a gorgeous stretch of sand with the national park as a backdrop south of Cape Byron. It also houses the cozy corner, which is just that. A perfect sheltered corner of the beach that can also be very secluded on a good day. The beach is further away from town than the other beaches, and there are no cafes here.
The longest stretch of beach in Byron. You can walk along the sand here for hours. The waters are quite murky and filled with seaweed, but you can also find plenty of room to bolster yourself.
A favourite among beach-goers, probably because the water is crystal clear and on certain parts of the beach the waves are practically non-existent, which means you can actually relax in the water for a change. It is a favorite of mine as well.
Appropriately named seeing as it is the beach adjacent to the city center. The main beach is a busy place, with murky waters. However, it is conveniently located, with white sand to die for, and a gorgeous backdrop of the mountains on the side.
