Byron Bay

Australia & New Zealand · Australia

Byron Bay, Australia

Surf, lighthouse walks and a laid-back town

Plan this trip

Getting there

By air

Ballina Byron Gateway (BNK), ~30 km; Gold Coast (OOL) ~1 h

Best time to visit

September to May — warm and sunny; whales pass June to November

Don't miss

Cape Byron Lighthouse

Main Beach

Wategos Beach

Nimbin (a day trip)

Things to do

Surfing The Pass

The Cape Byron lighthouse walk

Whale watching in season

Where to eat

Farmers' markets

Hinterland cafés

Sources: Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain

What to pack

Swimwear, sunscreen

A quieter corner

Minyon Falls in the hinterland

Questions travellers ask

When should I visit Byron Bay?

September to May, when it's warm and sunny. Whales pass June to November, so come then for whale watching.

What's the nearest airport to Byron Bay?

Ballina Byron Gateway (BNK), about 30 km away. Gold Coast (OOL) is about 1 h away.

What should I do in Byron Bay?

Surf The Pass, do the Cape Byron lighthouse walk and spend time on Main Beach and Wategos Beach. Nimbin works as a day trip.

Is there a hidden gem near Byron Bay?

Minyon Falls, in the hinterland. Pair it with the hinterland cafés or the farmers' markets.

About Byron Bay

Coastal

Where it is

Byron Bay is a coastal town in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia, beside Cape Byron, the most easterly point of the Australian mainland, with green hinterland hills rising behind.

History

The Arakwal people of the Bundjalung nation are the Traditional Owners of Byron Bay, which they call Cavvanbah, the meeting place. James Cook named Cape Byron in 1770 after the navigator John Byron, and the town grew on timber, dairying, a meatworks and, for a few years, whaling, before surfers and alternative communities arrived from the 1960s and 1970s.

People

Byron Bay's people are English-speaking Australians, from long-time local families and the Arakwal community to the surfers, musicians and artists who settled here from the 1970s onwards. Farmers' markets, surf culture and live music are part of local life.

Known for

Surfing at The Pass and Wategos
The Cape Byron Lighthouse walk
Whale watching in season
Main Beach and Tallow Beach
The hinterland's rainforest and waterfalls

Did you know?

Julian Rocks, a marine reserve just off Byron Bay, lies where warm tropical and cooler temperate currents meet, so tropical and southern sea life share the same reef.