It’s the much-hyped coastal town full of surfers and creatives. Byron Bay might be sleepy but it doesn’t lack things to do.
This chilled out, free-spirited beach town has it all and a bag of coconuts. Surfing, swimming, top notch food, yoga on the beach, rainforest walks, cocktails, live music down laneways. The list is long.
A hideaway for musos, cashed-up creatives and the boho chic, Byron Bay is quite alluring, located on the NSW Far North Coast, an 80 minute drive from the Gold Coast and nine hours from Sydney (or an hour plane ride into Ballina Byron Gateway Airport).
It’s Australia’s most popular beach town, and if you’ve only got three days to see what all the hoo-haa is about, here’s how I recommend you spend them.
Image credit: Destination NSW
Day 1: Breakfast at The Farm and explore the Byron town centre
Brunch at The Farm
First things first. Brunch, Byron-style.
And there’s no place more Byron than The Farm. This 80 acre working farm on the outskirts of town is home to a community of growers, producers, eateries and farm animals.
Take a seat in the rustic outdoor terrace, enjoy views over the farm and Byron Bay hinterland, and choose from a menu that exclusively uses local, organic and sustainably farmed produce. The spanner crab scramble is a signature.
The said spanner crab scramble
Go shopping in Byron Bay
Byron Bay is a hotbed of good shopping. I don’t know why I was surprised. Of course this creative little town is going to be full of fashionable finds, and bursting with boutiques and all the boho fashion you can handle.
Although if you’re after leathers, sequins or heels, you’re definitely in the wrong area code. It’s all surfwear, floaty dresses and sandals here.
Do a lap of Lawson, Jonson and Fletcher streets. Get your bearings, make some buys and enjoy all the street busking in the process.
Alternatively, you can also hire a bike to explore the town – a popular way of getting around, if you do bikes. I don’t.
Dinner somewhere fancy
Girlfriend, you are spoilt for choice when it comes to dinner restaurants in Byron Bay. This town does dining. St Elmo, The Mez Club, Bang Bang and The Loft are all good choices for your final meal of the day.
And if you’re super organised (like I’m talking three months in advance organised), you can try your luck at getting a booking at Fleet.
Glorious haloumi at The Mez Club
Day 2: Lighthouse walk, beach and surfing
Walk to Cape Byron Lighthouse at sunrise
Generally, the thought of being up before dawn makes me nauseous. But doing Byron’s classic walking pilgrimage from Main Beach up to Cape Byron Lighthouse, just as the sun pokes it’s beautiful head over the horizon, is pretty darn magical.
On this 3.7 kilometre loop walking track, enjoy rainforest, quiet beaches and cliff top views. It’ll quickly banish the sleep fog. You can stop for a brunch picnic at the picturesque Wategos Beach, before continuing onto the most easterly point of Australia.
And if it’s the right time of year (June–October), you’re almost absolutely guaranteed to see an army of whales marching out at sea.
Is a trip to Byron even complete without a walk to the lighthouse? Image credit: Destination NSW
Explore Byron’s beautiful beaches
Known for its golden beaches and surfing community, it would be ludicrous to come to Byron Bay and not get wet. And did I mention the water is as clear as glass and the sand as soft as silk?
Explore Wategos Beach with its rock pools, laze about at busy Main Beach or enjoy calmer waters at Clarkes Beach.
Of course, the husband would roll his eyes if I didn’t mention the need to surf The Pass – Byron’s world-famous, looooong, right-hand point break. Apparently it’s a rite of passage. A rite of passage I had no intention of fulfilling.
Another appealing way to experience the clear blue Byron waters and is to get out in a sea kayak, and try and meet some dolphins. You can hire one from a bunch of places along the foreshore.
Wategos Beach. Image credit: Destination NSW
Day 3: Byron Bay hinterland and massages
Drive through the Byron Bay hinterland
On day three, jump in the car, head for the Byron Bay hinterland and experience a complete contrast to Byron’s beach culture. The sparkling ocean is fast replaced by rainforest, rolling hills, farmland, and the historic towns of Bangalow and Newrybar, where you’ll find gorgeous lunch spots and Byron-esque clothes and homewares shopping.
Harvest Newrybar is an all-rounder: breakfast, lunch, dinner and deli
Get a Byron Bay massage
Byron Bay is famed for its alternative healing practices, from acupuncture, reflexology and aromatherapy to reiki, yoga and massage. So you really must partake in some kind of wellness experience while here.
I strongly recommend a sticks and stones massage treatment at Comma. Don’t be fooled by the industrial estate location of this day spa – it will be one of the best massages of your life.
And good lord I needed it. Three days in Byron and I was still operating at my 100 mbps Sydney speed. I clearly could have done with 13 days in Byron.
There you have it! Don a hair braid and come get a taste of Byron Bay life.