Byron Bay is a popular beach town located in New South Wales, Australia. Over the past few years, it has become the ultimate trendy destination for travelers from all over the world.
With hip cafes, boutiques, and endless beaches, Byron Bay is the perfect place to relax, eat well, and enjoy beach life for a few days.
Here is a list of the best things to do in Byron Bay.
THE 5 BEST THINGS TO DO IN BYRON BAY
Visit Cape Byron Lighthouse
Built in 1901, the Cape Byron lighthouse sits on the Easternmost point in Australia. The lighthouse is built high above the sea, so the views of Byron Bay and the beaches below are incredible from the lighthouse.
The best time to visit is at sunrise – you’ll have a perfect view of the sun rising over the Eastern horizon and the crowds are slim this time of day. We almost had the place entirely to ourselves – the perfect way to start the morning.
To get to the lighthouse, you can either drive and park for a small fee. Or if you are staying in downtown Byron Bay, you can walk. The walk is about 45-50 minutes if you follow the main road up.
Alternatively, you can take the longer route and follow the Cape Byron Walking Track. This is an easy 4km (2.5 miles) loop that takes about 2-3 hours to walk round trip. Along the walking track, there are several look out points, including views at Fisherman’s lookout over the Main Beach in Byron Bay and Wategos and Little Wategos Beach.
To get to the walking path from downtown Byron Bay, follow Lawson Road until you reach Lighthouse road. From there, you can follow along the loop until you reach the lighthouse.
Go to the Beach
Byron Bay has some of the best beaches in all of Australia. There are several amazing beaches within walking distance to the downtown area, so try to hop around to a few different ones if you have time!
Main Beach – Main Beach is the beach closest to downtown Byron Bay and is the most popular one in the area. Just a quick walk from all of the shops, you’ll find plenty of people spending the afternoon relaxing here.
Clarkes Beach – Clarkes Beach is about a 25-minute walk from downtown Byron Bay. It sits at the other end of Main Beach and is a good spot for snorkeling and body surfing.
The Pass – Next to Clarkes Beach is The Pass – this beach is known as a popular spot for surfers. It’s a 30-minute walk from Byron Bay.
Wategos Beach – Wategos Beach is a 35-minute walk from the main shops and is a hidden gem. The water is a clear blue and is a great spot for swimming or snorkeling and spending a relaxing afternoon. If you want, you can walk over to Little Wategos beach from here, just a 7-minute walk, and head to a lookout point with a stunning view of Cape Byron.
Tallow Beach – Tallow Beach is a 25-minute walk from Byron Bay and has one of the best surf breaks in the area.
Go Shopping
One of my favorite things to do in Byron Bay was to spend the afternoon wandering around the shops – it is a shopper’s paradise! Every street is lined with trendy boutiques – from clothing brands to art stores and home goods, you’ll find many of the most popular Australian labels here.
A few of my favorite stores are:
Visit The Farm
The Farm is just a 10-minute drive from downtown (or a 20-30 minute bike ride).
The Farm is an actual working farm that is open for visitors to wander around and explore 80 acres of land where they grow their own produce and raise many different kinds of animals. You’ll find macadamia nut trees that you can pick from the ground, crack open yourself, and taste test. And you’ll also find fresh vegetables growing in their massive vegetable garden.
If you’re a foodie, you will be pleasantly surprised to find a bakery, gelato shop, and a highly rated restaurant called “Three Blue Ducks” on the property. They try to source as much produce as they can from their own farm for the restaurant.
I would recommend booking a table for Three Blue Ducks at least a day in advance to make sure you get a spot.
We opted to eat at the bakery and try a couple of pastries for lunch – they were delicious!
Visiting The Farm was one of our favorite things to do in Byron Bay, and we would highly recommend spending some time here.
Go Surfing
Byron bay is one of the most iconic surfing destinations in Australia. The best part about surfing here is that there are great waves for all levels of surfers – from beginners to experts.
If you’re a beginner, you can sign up for one of the many surf schools in town. You can find options for single-day classes or multi-day classes. We’ve included a few recommendations below.
For experienced surfers, you’ll find more challenging waves at The Pass, Tallows Beach, Cosy Corner, and The Wreck.
If you have more time…
Take a day trip to Minyon Falls:
100-meter tall waterfall located about an hour and a half drive from Byron Bay.
Visit Bangalow
A small town with antique shops, furniture shops, and plenty of good restaurants to eat at. It’s about a 15-minute drive from Byron Bay.
Walk to Cumbebin Wetland Sanctuary
A nature preserve with a tree-lined boardwalk through the swamps. It’s only a 10-minute walk from downtown Byron Bay.
How to Get to Byron Bay
To get to Byron Bay, you can either fly into one of the nearby airports or rent a car and drive there from wherever you are staying in Australia.
The closest airport is the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport, which is a 30-minute drive from Byron Bay. To get to Byron Bay from Ballina airport, you can grab a taxi or take route 640 on Blanch’s bus.
The Gold Coast Airport is the next closest airport, and it is about a 50-minute drive to Byron Bay. You can either rent a car at the airport or catch a shuttle bus to Byron Bay. If you plan to take a shuttle bus, you can check out SkyBus – they operate daily and offer 5 buses per day to Byron Bay.
The Brisbane International and Domestic Airport is the closest international airport if you are flying in from another country. It’s about a 2-hour drive from the airport to Byron Bay. I would recommend renting a car from Brisbane to Byron – it will be the quickest and most convenient way to get there.
If you are flying into Byron from another city in Australia, then I would highly recommend flying into Ballina or Gold Coast airport – they are much closer and offer easier access from the airport to the city.
How Much Time to Spend in Byron Bay
To get the most out of your stay in Byron Bay, I would recommend spending at least 2 full days in the area. This will give you time to try local restaurants, do some shopping, hike to the lighthouse, and relax at the beach.
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