The Complete Travel Guide to Visiting Byron Bay (Cananbah)

Byron Bay. A name known to most Aussie travellers because you will find yourself in this famous coastal town at least once. A place to truly create yourself and feel free while indulging in some incredible cafes and restaurants. Explore the stunning beaches and the iconic Cape Byron Lighthouse, the most eastern point of mainland Australia, or relax on the beach before exploring some of the blissful boutique shops. Home to some pretty famous people, including at least one of the Hemsworth brothers, Byron has made quite the name for itself over the past few years and is a place you should not miss out on. Even so, if you still need convincing, read this complete travel guide to visiting Byron Bay and then tell me you don’t want to visit!

Where is Byron Bay?

Byron Bay is located on the Australian East Coast in northern New South Wales, not two hours away from the Queensland capital city of Brisbane! While it is located in NSW, it is an 8-hour drive from the capital Sydney, so it’s no day trip adventure like some think! Surrounded by National Parks to the west and the ocean to the east, this is a playground for every type of traveller. 

How to get to Byron Bay

There are multiple ways to get to Byron Bay, giving you many options and flexibility. 

Road – personal vechial 

Getting to Byron via road is easy, no matter where you come from. Just over 140km from Brisbane, it should only be a two-hour drive to cover the distance via the M1. Even closer is the Gold Coast, being just over an hour’s drive away.

Road – public transport

A few bus services operate to Byron Bay, including the Grey Hound and The Premier bus services frequented by travellers. Depending on where you are coming from, prices vary, but if you plan on travelling long term, look at passes that they offer for massive savings. However, we recommend taking the local or NSW Train bus! It is usually cheaper, depending on where you are coming from, and is a part of the NSW Trainlink Discovery Pass that we cannot recommend enough (more on that soon!).

Rail

While trains do not operate to Byron Bay itself, the NSW Train service operates connecting bus services from Casino train station. Therefore, you can use train travel and the connecting bus service to reach Byron Bay. Click the link here to see the NSW Train and Coach service lines.

Air

There are three airports close to Byron Bay; Ballina Byron Gateway Airport, Gold Coast Airport and the Brisbane International Airport. The Ballina Byron Gateway airport is the closest to Byron Bay itself, being only a 30-minute drive away. Up to 58 flights per week are flying from Melbourne, Sydney and Newcastle with Jetstar, Virgin Australia, FlyPelican and Regional Express (Rex) Airlines. If you need more flexibility, the Gold Coast airport has over 400 flights per week from all over Australia and is only a 40-minute drive away. To book your flights, we recommend using our Skyscanner tool to always find the best deals.

When to go to Byron Bay

Byron Bay is a great destination to visit almost all year round. However, this past year has been challenging, with the town battling floods in the first half of the year. Nevertheless, the absolute best time to visit will vary for every traveller. Autumn/winter is a great time to visit Byron Bay for many reasons, many of which you probably would not have thought of. Firstly, the crowds die off a little, as school is back and the weather is cooler. The surf is better if surfing is your thing, and from May to October, you may even see some humpback whales off-shore!

In Springtime, from September to November, the temperature usually sits between 20-30 degrees Celcius and is pretty dry. The plant life comes alive and warm enough to swim or surf all day. Furthermore, it is best to avoid school holiday periods, such as the summer holidays, to get the most out of your time, as Byron becomes very busy.

Where to stay in Byron Bay

Byron Bay has something to offer everyone, whatever type of accommodation you are looking for. From glamping to hostels to resorts, Byron works around your budget. We stayed at the Cape Byron YHA (there are two, by the way!), which was good for budget/backpacker accommodation. Easy access to the beaches, restaurants and shops, so highly recommendable for location. It is only 200 meters from Main Beach! Prices start at around $40 per night for a bed in a shared room. The kitchen is well stocked and has plenty of space and bathrooms on both floors. There is also a central pool in the middle of the hostel!

Things to know before going to Byron Bay

• School holidays can be a nightmare! – Byron Bay is a trendy place, especially during the school holiday/break period, so it is best to avoid this period. 
• The Byron Bay hostels in the woods have a reputation for partying.
• Swimming at the surf life-saving patrolled beaches means staying in between the red and yellow flags! You should only swim at the patrolled beaches, especially if you do not know how to identify a rip – if in doubt, stay out. Patrolled beaches are listed further down below in this post for your convenience. 

Things to do in Byron Bay

Learn how to surf

Byron Bay has some of the best surf beaches on the Australian east coast, so it is also one of the best places to learn! There are plenty of options available, with some starting at $55 for a two-hour surf session! If you have ever wanted to try surfing, you definitely need to try it in Byron Bay.

Sunset at Fisherman’s Lookout

If there is one incredible spot for sunsets looking back across Byron Bay, Fisherman’s Lookout is it. Located at the end of Clarkes Beach on the Cape Byron walking track, you overlook the bay and the many surfers that come to this spot for a late evening surf. It can be a little crowded, but it is worth it to get some fantastic photos up there. 

Yoga

Byron Bay is known for its simplicity and relaxed lifestyle, and there is no better way to fully immerse yourself in that than by doing some yoga. There is no shortage of yoga classes and retreats available in Byron Bay, so no matter your level, there is a class for you to relax in. Some popular companies include Byron Yoga and Space Yoga. 

Relax on the beach

Continuing on the simple lifestyle theme, make sure you take the time to relax on one of the incredible beaches. We loved grabbing our lunch, making a little picnic at Main Beach or Byron Beach, and watching the surfers or swimmers while we ate! We also recommend sunrise or sunset at the beach; there is no more beautiful way to end or start the day than down at the beach. If sitting still isn’t your idea of relaxing, a stroll along the beachfront is just as relaxing. 

Cape Byron Lighthouse

Situated on the Australian mainland’s most eastern point, the Cape Byron Lighthouse is an iconic Byron Bay structure and tourist destination. Just 2km east of the town centre, follow Lawson Street until it becomes Lighthouse Road, and you will end up right in front of it. Parking is limited, so get in early if you can. There are parking fees of $8 per hour ($4 per hour for motorcycles) in the upper car park and $4 per hour in the lower lighthouse car parks. Max amount of time per vehicle in the upper car park is 1 hour.

Cape Byron Lighthouse walking track – the iconic lighthouse walk

Distance 3.7km loop, allow 1.5 – 2 hours | Difficulty: Grade 3

This track gives you exceptional views across the clifftops to the ocean and takes you through both rainforest and open trails. Located in the Cape Byron State Conservation Area, there are plenty of views along the trail. The best place to start is from Bay Street (Main Beach); you continue east towards the Lighthouse. Some of the highlights along the way include (in order from Bay Street): Fisherman’s Lookout, Wategos Beach, Little Wategos Track, the Lighthouse museum and cafe (next to the Lighthouse) and, of course, the most Eastern point of the mainland of Australia. 

The Farm 

The Farm is a collection of micro-businesses sharing a common goal located on a principally working farm just 10 minutes from the centre of Byron. Stroll through the working Farm and see the growing produce before sitting down to eat some of this produce at either the Three Blue Ducks Restaurant, the Bread Social Bakery or the Baylato Gelato. If you want more of a learning experience, why not check out one of their farm tours or farming workshops? Furthermore, they offer plenty of school holiday activities for children, including a chicken workshop and a flower growing workshop. 

While at the Farm, you must stock up on fresh produce at their store. Open from 7 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday and 7 am to 3 pm Saturday and Sunday. Filled with local Byron Bay produce and plenty from The Blue Ducks own kitchen, you cannot go wrong here. 

Three Blue Ducks Restaurant at The Farm

Continuing from the above, the Three Blue Ducks restaurant at The Farm is another must-do while staying in Byron Bay. Founded by five mates, known as ‘The Ducks’, the restaurant focuses on seasonal dishes that emphasise local, organic, or spray-free products. Sourcing from Southern Queensland to as far down as Port Macquarie, their dishes reflect their ethos of “ethical, authentic, quality food and hospitality.” If dining at the restaurant does not suit you, grab one of their gorgeous hampers that serve 2-4 people for $100. As they change with the season, check their website here to check opening hours. 

Skydive

If you love the looks of Byron from the ground, you will love it even more while free-falling from the clouds! Multiple companies offer skydiving in Byron Bay, including Skydive Australia (prices start from $399) and Adrenaline (prices start from $359). Seeing Byron Bay from 15,000 feet is a remarkable way to remember your trip to Byron forever!

Scubadive or Snorkel in the Cape Byron Marine Park

Explore the Cape Byron Marine Park and Julian Rocks by snorkelling or scuba diving! Julian Rocks is one of Australia’s top-rated dive sites, so it is not to be missed if you are a certified diver or keen snorkeler! Companies such as Byron Bay Dive Centre and Blue Bay Divers offer day trips for certified divers and snorkelers, so make sure you leave enough time if this is up your alley. 

Visit the Byron Bay Cookie Company

The Byron Bay Cookie Company was founded in Byron Bay back in 1990 and has been going strong ever since. From humble beginnings of just baking for the local market, these cookies are now nationally known and even starting to go international. So why not visit their little store in Byron Bay while you are there? Located not 500 meters from Main Beach, it is easy to access and perfect to satisfy your hunger from a long day of surfing! 

Top 4 beaches in Byron Bay

Main Beach

The closest beach to the centre of town and patrolled by surf lifesavers all year round. Main Beach is perfect for swimming as the waves are usually not too big. During busy periods, there are extra surf lifesavers patrolling the beach. There is also a little spot of grass in front of the beach that is perfect for a picnic spot, and live musicians frequent! 

Clarkes Beach

The next beach along the east of Main Beach is Clarkes Beach, and you cannot tell when one stops and the other begins. There is beachfront parking, perfect if you travel in a van or car. There are regular learn-to-surf programs here, as the waves are a nice size to learn on. This beach is only patrolled during the autumn school holidays from the start to the end of April.

Watego’s Beach

Located between the Cape Byron Lighthouse and Fisherman’s Lookout, Watego’s beach is another excellent swim/learn-to-surf spot. Surf lifesavers patrol Watego’s Beach during busy periods, such as school holidays and summer. It is easy to access this beach from the Cape Byron walking track. Furthermore, there is limited street parking available in Marine Parade behind the beach if you are driving. 

Belongil Beach

On the other side of Main Beach is Belongil Beach. The best spot to snorkel, as the steamship Wollongbar is wrecked just off the beach and is still visible. This beach is also a popular surf spot, so make sure to bring your board along! No surf-life savers are patrolling this beach, so make sure you are a strong, confident swimmer. 

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