After living the best part of twenty-five years on the Sunshine Coast, people could not quite believe that I had never stayed in Byron Bay during this time. Renowned as one of the most beautiful areas of the NSW Coast, people flock to Byron Bay and its surrounds, and after years of travelling the world, I thought it was time to find out what all the fuss was about.
Byron Bay really is beautiful – great beaches (perfect for surfers, swimmers and sun worshipers!), great shopping/markets and a great place to explore. There are Farmers Markets /Cooking Schools to appeal to the foodies, yoga/massage/spas for the health conscious and hot air balloon rides for the adventurous. The hinterland area offers hiking trails and a country experience and there’s plenty of sightseeing options too.
A trip to the Cape Byron Lighthouse is a must. This traditional, ‘old fashioned’ lighthouse is something you don’t see often anymore, and is Australia’s most easterly light. It sits in the Cape Byron Headland Reserve on a rugged cliff with a 100m drop and the magnificent light flashes every 15 seconds so is really something to see, and can be seen for miles.
Byron Bay is famous for its beaches. Main Beach is located in the main town centre and home to The Wreck, which is very popular with the body surfers, as is Clarkes Beach. Tallow Beach (fondly known as Tallows) and Wategos are also well known amongst the surfers.
The town is a great area to explore – shops, restaurants, cafes and bars to suit all tastes and budgets, which is great as Byron Bay appeals to people of all ages and demographics. Accommodation ranges from lead-in backpackers/motels to luxurious spa retreats and resorts. The shops cater for the ‘hippies’ and the ‘upper class’ – that’s one of the great things about Byron – something for everyone!
We rented a house for a few nights which was an easy walk into town and had plenty of bedrooms and a backyard which was perfect for the kids. It was the perfect place to stay and was modern, comfortable and had everything we could possibly want.
My son was very passionate to return to ‘Earth n Sea Pizza’ having been there on a previous trip with his mates, and it did not disappoint – great pizza and pasta at an affordable price. We also ate a delicious breakfast at ‘Fishheads’, a great restaurant only 20m from the centre of Main Beach.
Byron Bay Beach Hotel is the perfect spot for an afternoon beer or a game of pool, and the street is lined with coffee shops, bars and restaurants. It’s a thriving hub with bands, music and gigs on offer… definitely a summer party fun place for all ages.
We loved our few days in Byron Bay but our journey home was also surprising as we travelled along the coast road in Northern NSW, stopping off at Mooball, Pottsville, Hastings Point, Cabarita Beach and Kingscliff. What a spectacular piece of coastline – stunning, unspoilt beaches/coast and worth the drive!
So whether you want a relaxing few days at the beach, a surfing holiday or a laid back spa retreat, think about Byron Bay and its surrounds – it will offer exactly what you are after!