LAST VISITED SEPTEMBER 2016
The Pass from Fisherman's Lookout - The Pass is a pop surfing surface area nigh xv minutes walk E along the beach from town. You tin also walk/bicycle via the footpath/boardwalk behind the beach. There is a auto green to the left of photographic idiot box camera for people who would prefer to drive - accessed from the Lighthouse Road (CLICK TO EXPAND IMAGES)..
Byron Bay inward far northern coastal NSW is ane of the large 3 on the Sydney Cairns travellers’ trail - the others beingness Fraser Island in addition to Airlie Beach-WhitSunday Islands. Surfers ‘discovered’ Byron inward the belatedly 60s - at that phase it was a fishing/meatworks town addition a handful of weekend shacks owned mainly past times people from the nearby hinterland town of Lismore. These days it is a trendy vacation identify addition a residence for a host of arty poseur types sea-changing from Sydney in addition to Melbourne. But it nevertheless attracts surfers, non to get upward heaps of backpackers, parcel in addition to household unit of measurement vacation makers, alternative-lifestylers/neo hippies/ferals, in addition to singles/couples/pensioner/family daytrippers from Brisbane in addition to the Gold Coast. I reckon the primary street/pub surface area upward nigh the beach is the best people watching identify inward Australia. You also acquire a skilful spectrum of bikers, street-machiners, wannabe models, surf groupies, schoolies, Japanese in addition to Euro pretend-surfers, master Australians, dopers, drug dealers, White Shoe Brigade Fast Eddie type developers, whacked-out new-agers attention their 14th hot tub seminar to detect one’s inner child, in addition to await at me C-listers who retrieve they are A-list. Good value.
The primary town in addition to lighthouse area. Those rocks left of the lighthouse are the eastern most betoken of continental Australia. The beach to the left of the map extends past times Belongil Creek for some 15km to Brunswick Heads. Only the eastern most halt of Tallows Beach tin last seen inward the top correct mitt of the map. This halt of Tallows is also a really skilful surfing spot. The beach extends southward for around 10km to Broken Head in addition to is a slap-up ane to ride a bike along at anything nether one-half tide. The Julian Rocks tin last seen top left - a pop dive location. Byron has several dive operations. (map - Rusty’s Byron Guide)
TOWN BEACHES
MAIN TOWN BEACH
MAIN BEACH inward front end of the surf corporation solid in addition to the eastern halt of the primary street. The middle distance becomes CLARKE'S BEACH in addition to THE PASS is at the far end. The lighthouse tin last seen higher upward - fantastic views from there.
NORTH TOWN BEACH
By walking 200m across the auto green from the Main Town Beach yous come upward to this prissy section. It becomes BELONGIL BEACH in the nigh distance in addition to runs correct upward to Brunswick Heads nigh 15km north.
This shot was taken from the BBQ surface area of First Sun Caravan Park which is a prissy identify to pitch a tent, green your campervan or hire a cabin. Not inexpensive though.
BEACHES EAST OF TOWN
CLARKES BEACH
This is shot from the showtime utilization of the CAPE BYRON WALKING TRACK (see downwards page) non far past times Clarkes Beach auto park. CLARKES BEACH runs possibly 80% downwards to that modest headland mid-background (inland from that is the primary street) - the concluding 20% is MAIN TOWN BEACH. The beach past times the mid modest headland running background correct is initially what I telephone telephone TOWN BEACH NORTH which speedily becomes BELONGIL BEACH.
Despite dozens of trips to Byron I didn't receive got a pic of CLARKES BEACH except for the far northern halt 2 shots below this - had to pinch the higher upward from http://www.visitnsw.com/
Note CLARKES continues unseen to correct of prototype for several hundred meters to THE PASS BEACH. This department was badly eroded latest Sept 2016 visit.
Um, I constitute this shot of a surf schoolhouse on Clarkes beach from pix of an before see to Byron. Boardwalk high background is utilization of phase 1 of the CAPE WALK (see downwards page). House behind beach is ane of several which tin last rented on the National Park's spider web site. Bet it aint cheap.
THE PASS
This is correct upward against the lighthouse headland nigh 1800m from town. When this identify industrial plant good it is ane of the longer surfboard rides inward Australia. Mainly a drop-and-turn shoulder alongside occasional really fast sections. The highest peak inward background is the volcanic plug of Mount Warning. Stunning views from the top, but the 2 times I’ve climbed it cloud laid inward v minutes after I reached the summit.
If yous retrieve nigh the orientation of this shot, yous volition realize yous are facing NORTH WEST. It's possible to scout the Sun go downwards over Mt Warning inward mid-winter. This is ane of the few beaches on the E coast alongside a westerly aspect.
EAST END OF CLARKES/THE PASS BEHIND
Update December 2013 - the Main/Clarke's/Pass beach surface area had much less sand due to tempest moving ridge attack. Above is the the department betwixt eastern Clarke's in addition to the Pass inward background - usually fifty-fifty at high tide it is possible to walk/cycle thru hither but above, good brusk of high tide this was non on. Note moisture sand from higher tide levels.
However in that location was nevertheless sufficient sand at all tides on Main in addition to most of Clarke's for sunbathing, beach activities etc
Further Update Sept 2016 - if anything, fifty-fifty to a greater extent than erosion latest pass-by. Needed to wade some sections betwixt town in addition to The Pass inward the top 20% of the tide. nevertheless enough of sand elsewhere.
WATEGOS BEACH
Wategos is tucked inward nether the Lighthouse simply E of The Pass. There is a prissy rainforest/headland runway which connects the ii (and continues on the other side of the beach upward to the Lighthouse). Wategos is millionaires’ beach-house province - when I showtime started surfing this identify yous could pick upward an one-time fibro weekender for a song. I didn’t. Sob!
LITTLE WATEGOS BEACH
This modest beach is past times the far headland inward the pic higher upward this one. Appeared to last suffering from both tempest erosion in addition to higher tide levels (not total tide) inward this Sept 2016 shot - was mainly a boulder beach. But I could view sand simply offshore which would likely last exposed at lower tide levels. This beach reminded me of some of the prissy piddling isolated ones inward Noosa Heads National Park. Would last a prissy escape on a skilful solar daytime (which this ane was non - threatening to rain).
BEACHES NORTH OF TOWN
BELONGIL BEACH
Clothing-optional (uunofficial)Mid Belongil Beach. This is nigh 10 25 minutes walk from town. Note that parts of this walk are plain of written report to tempest moving ridge erosion in addition to may last hard to overstep at high tide without getting wet. The ocean entrance to Belongil Creek is nigh 400m N of this betoken - most times it is slow to wade or send a bike across in addition to proceed some other 10km or so.
The yell Belongil Beach genuinely continues N of the creek to at to the lowest degree Tyagarah Nature Reserve some 2.5km on. The concluding 2km of this is an official clothing-optional stretch of beach.
Update December 2013 - similar at Main/Clarke's/the Pass beach, Belongil was also to a greater extent than eroded. This is shot from possibly 400m behind the photographic idiot box camera inward the previous shot - tide was possibly a fleck nether one-half but already marginal for cycling past times this department of stone wall dumped past times the council after a past times tropical cyclone (hurricane/typhoon) to protect millionaires' seafront homes. Half an hr afterwards yous got moisture feet - at total tide H2O at waist bird inward front end of rocks.
Big fence inward Byron - the introduce council is non prepared to waste materials rate-payers' funds on farther protection- and to a greater extent than controversially, realizing the impossibility of holding dorsum the mightiness of a cyclone swell in addition to tidal surge, has forbidden belongings holders to create farther defenses at their ain expense.
Sand doesn't await every bit good white when wet.
Not that this has stopped the rich guys spending large coin on sand bags etc. Note the optimist edifice novel seafront domicile inward background (probably improve seen if yous click-expand shot).
UPDATE Sept 2016 - this surface area looked means improve inward that fortifications were complete. However the beach itself had non improved, tending to disappear along hither at high tide.
An one-time favourite budget identify of mine is Belongil Beachhouse (I noticed inward December 2013 it was at nowadays calling itself Byron Bay Beach Resort). It is located 100m behind the beach nigh xv minutes walk N along the sand from town. Their shuttle omnibus connects alongside town too. Pretty skilful dorms in addition to facililites inward a prissy garden setting addition doubles in addition to household unit of measurement units. Like all Byron places, charges are non inexpensive.
BEACHES SOUTH OF THE LIGHTHOUSE
TALLOWS/SUFFOLK PARK/BROKEN HEAD BEACH 
We receive got moved nigh 10km SOUTH of Byron Bay inward this pic to the southern halt of Tallows/Suffolk Park Beach/Broken Head beach, at Broken Head itself. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 gorgeous 8 km long beach. The Lighthouse surface area at Byron Bay tin last seen background far right. Broken Head gets really skilful surf against the headland this was shot from. There is a caravan green in addition to neat rainforest tracks which go upward around the headland to some prissy back-beaches farther southward inward BROKEN HEAD NATURE RESERVE.
Same beach from the northern end, shot from simply southward of the LIGHTHOUSE TALLOWS BEACH accounts for abt the showtime 40% (the best surfing is correct upward this halt - the headland shelters the surface area from the mutual north-easterlies in addition to easterlies), SUFFOLK PARK BEACH the following 40, in addition to BROKEN HEAD BEACH the concluding 20.
BEACHES IN BROKEN HEAD NATURE RESERVE
A dirt route (7 MILE BEACH RD) runs upward through the hills of the Nature Reserve behind these beaches from nigh the corner of BROKEN HEAD to NTH vii MILE BCH. Side tracks atomic number 82 to the beaches.
7 MILE BCH runs for abt vii miles (duh) or 11km to LENNOX HEAD, a skilful surfing spot.
I forgot to pose a linear scale on the prototype - it is 2.8km inward a at nowadays describe betwixt the identify markers top in addition to bottom
KINGS BEACH
The showtime of the back-beaches inward BROKEN HEAD NATURE RESERVE is KINGS BEACH, some other clothing-optional place.
Just after I took this shot I was confronted past times ane of the gays who hang hither in addition to instructed I couldn’t receive got pix at a nude beach. I told him it was clothing-optional, non nude, ever had been, is utilization of Broken Head Nature Reserve in addition to the thought of no cameras inward a Nature Reserve is farcical, that the beach was a existent prissy household unit of measurement identify before he in addition to his buddies turned it into a gay beat, in addition to that he could stick his made up-rules upward his fundament.
You may retrieve this a fleck harsh, but I receive got no fourth dimension for strutting self-righteous peacocks doing their Little Hitler act. Note I receive got naught against gays apart from that modest sub-group of PC freaks who are simply looking for an excuse to receive got offence.
King’s Beach tin last accessed past times a slap-up 500m long rainforest runway which descends steeply from a auto green 1km along a dirt route which leaves the primary Broken Head beach route nigh 400m from the beach picnic surface area in addition to winds upward into the steep hills of the Nature Reserve for several km (Seven Mile Beach Road). There are several other genuinely prissy beaches accessed past times tracks downwards from this road. I dearest riding my wreck of a beach bike along the length of Tallows Beach from Byron in addition to hence upward into the hills along this dirt road. Trouble is 2013 trip I left it chained to a tree in addition to someone stole it! Hell, yous never saw a to a greater extent than disreputable looking mount bike - perfect for riding on salty, sandy beaches but hardly worth stealing. Particularly every bit it had a punctured raise tyre/tire at the time.
WHITE BEACH
This is my MY FAVOURITE BEACH ANYWHERE. It is called WHITE BEACH in addition to is nigh 1km farther southward along the coast from King’s Beach. Accessed from the following auto green yous come upward to along the dirt-road (about 2km from King‘s Beach auto park) - receive got the LEFT (northern) branch of the runway away from the road. Dont endeavour to rock-hop along the coast - means every bit good hard in addition to I'm a world champ rock-hopper.
This shot is non every bit good instance - a combination of recent tempest moving ridge erosion in addition to a really high tide has left piddling of the beach - usually it is a stretch of blinding white sand alongside the H2O describe roughly where that showtime moving ridge describe is nigh one-half means across the shot. (Update December 2013 - the beach was fifty-fifty to a greater extent than eroded when I called by).
The beach is surrounded past times steep rainforest-clad hills in addition to yous ofttimes volition receive got it to yourself - alongside alone the occasional surfer, fisherman, nudist in addition to sometimes camper (there is an unofficial camping ground surface area simply behind the beach). There is quite a large stone puddle nigh the headland at the far halt of the beach. Be careful of rip currents when swimming - in that location is ever ane at the far halt against the rocks in addition to ofttimes a few inward other sections unless the surf is really small.
For a thought of the less eroded beach (but non inward all its un-eroded glory) depository fiscal establishment check this Google world image. Notice the smaller twin beaches simply to the south, they are outliers of BRAYS BEACH - some people similar these fifty-fifty to a greater extent than - yous tin access them from the RIGHT mitt branch of the runway leading away from the same car-park every bit White Beach but the climb downwards is existent difficult. Update December 2013 - these smaller beaches were non-existent, admittedly at high tide.
There is a laid of short, steep but much easier steps on a runway from a modest auto green nigh 1 km farther southward along Seven Mile Beach route to BRAYS BEACH (see below). I haven't had a remove chances to depository fiscal establishment check its status lately but I experience it may last receive got suffered the same fate every bit the higher upward twin smaller beaches. Maybe fifty-fifty earlier, because in that location is a really limited amount of moisture sand on the Google world prototype below.
At its best it has been possible to walk from the 3 outlier beaches at the top of prototype to the primary beach. At depression tide the sand extended out to simply seaward of the moving ridge front end passing through the r of Brays.
Because the access runway from the auto green on vii MILE BEACH RD is short, this beach when skilful has ever had to a greater extent than people on it than tell WHITE BEACH (longer track, simply every bit steep, hard surface) but non every bit many visitors every bit KINGS BEACH (bigger parking area, longer but easier track). I receive got never seen nudists on BRAYS BEACH.
ACCOMMODATION
I retrieve Byron Bay is overpriced these days. $aud35 for a dorm bed (2013/16) is mutual in addition to simply to pitch a tent at either of the 2 primary town beach caravan parks starts at $35 inward non peak season. Crikey! But nosotros alive inward a cost economy, trendsetters, in addition to if the marketplace topographic point bears these sort of charges they can‘t last wrong...Um,can they?
Quite a few people slumber inward their campervans inward the beach auto green or at The Pass - the local council is a bunch of greenish ratbags in addition to inward the past times used to sic council rangers onto these gratis campers - but in that location seems to last fewer hassles these days. Well, there’s ever a row of vans when I go downwards the beach existent early on morning.
In a see abt 2011, instead of paying $70 for a basic double inward a backpackers sharing cooking in addition to shower facilities, Lady Tezza in addition to I checked holiday-unit booking sites in addition to got a slap-up piddling unit of measurement alongside kitchen, living room, bathroom, loft sleeping accommodation in addition to total resort facilities inward the middle of town in addition to 300m to the beach for $80 - Central Apartments. But yous volition non acquire this sort of bargain at world or schoolhouse vacation times or on most weekends.
Byron has over one-half a dozen backpackers'. This is ane of the improve ones, Cape Byron YHA, ane block from the primary street in addition to 2 from the beach. Good facilities including a puddle in addition to a dive outfit front end right.
There is a really similar inward style in addition to yell Byron Bay YHA** another 2 blocks from the beach but alone 2 minutes walk from the large Woolworths Supermarket in addition to the intercity bus-stop. All the backpacker joints send minibuses to view arriving coaches.
Update December 2013 - I spent a few nights latest see inward the articulation pictured above. Pretty okay identify inward a skilful position. Friendly mangagement/staff, prissy atmosphere. Biggest hassle was parking - the articulation alone has vii spaces inward its basement auto green (very tight access too) in addition to the council has imposed four hr parking limits inward the surrounding streets. The similar YHA 2 blocks farther to the left on this route has fewer problems inward this regard**. Now inward the past times backpackers came inward past times omnibus - good a hell of a lot nevertheless do, but an increasing amount go past times car.
**Update Sept 2016. Stone the crows trendsetters! The anti-outsiders council has erected paid parking meters (except fer locals) EVERYWHERE - fifty-fifty inward the long tree-studded surface area across the street from Byron Bay YHA.
Parking meters are unheard of inward Australian towns of this modest size.
Impact: what had go my backpackers' of choice (I dearest the position, facilities) non hence choice now. Would brand my time to come selection of accommodation Byron Bay Beach Resort out of town on Belongil - except in that location volition last NO time to come choice: After possibly forty Byron visits which started alongside surfing trips inward the mid 60s I ain't coming back. I reckon Byron has jumped the shark - at to the lowest degree for budget travelers similar me. Okay, I realize this is EXACTLY what anti-visitor Byron Shire Council wants - but the means I figure it is local modest describe organisation mightiness vote inward favor of budget travelers inward future.
DUMB ARSE BYRON SHIRE COUNCIL - it's the one-time classic story: neat identify attracts budget travelers. Gets hence much skilful publicity wealthier types start to holiday. The rich dudes create upward one's heed this is a neat identify to live/retire/have the vacation house. Town is inundated alongside novel bunch of cashed upward trendoids who presently create upward one's heed all these budget visitors are a hurting inward the bum. As is whatever type of novel describe organisation which mightiness alter the grapheme of their neat piddling town. So they acquire themselves elected to the local council in addition to start out to overstep anti-visitor/anti describe organisation local laws. Hence things similar parking meters for outsiders.
Gets better: inward recent years they receive got BANNED FLUORIDE inward the H2O organisation - hell the anti fluoride paranoia was a conspiracy-theory thing inward the 1950s: but trendoids dearest conspiracy theories. Better receive got a skilful dental invention if yous desire to remain for an extended period.
The council has also banned all fast nutrient franchises incl Maccas in addition to KFC. Impact: taxation base of operations hence reduced they are strapped for cash resulting inward some of the poorest shire roads inward NSW. And the NEED for paid parking.
Hell, they fifty-fifty campaigned vigorously against the novel state highway from the border on describe organisation human relationship it would encourage fifty-fifty to a greater extent than Brisbane/Gold Coast visitors on weekends. Um, no thing that the previous department of twisty/hilly ii lane was ane of the most unsafe sections of highway inward Commonwealth of Australia alongside ane of the highest fatality rates. How's that for selfish NIMBYISM? Dissuade people from visiting fifty-fifty though it mightiness cost lives - including occupants of the ix out of 10 vehicles which drive at nowadays past times the Byron turnoff.
THE ARTS FACTORY
A existent trendy identify to remain is nigh xv minutes walk north-west from town key - The Arts Factory. This has wigwams, accommodation inward an one-time bus, tents around a form of canal/lake, addition the to a greater extent than normal dorm-room department seen below. Even a separate camping ground surface area out the dorsum which is existent pop alongside weekenders from Brisbane.
You tin practice all sorts of new-age courses in addition to treatments hither in addition to the identify tends to last the hang of wannabe hippies. Lots of people detect this a fleck pretentious, but I don’t heed people bunging on a fleck of side providing they don’t receive got themselves every bit good seriously. If that sort of thing floats your boat, go for it. The associated Pighouse Movie painting palace shows showtime number movies in addition to is skilful for a see alongside lie-low type canvass seats. There is a frequent shuttle omnibus into town in addition to to the beach.
UPDATE SEPT 2016 - for my 2d overstep past times that calendar month I decided to remain a few nights at the ARTS FACTORY. Got myself a bottom bunk bed inward what they called the WRECK DORM. Kinda thought the identify was okay from the betoken of thought of landscaping (lots tree, artificial lake yada) in addition to diverseness of both accommodation options in addition to people staying. Gotta tell the arty thing seems to receive got faded a fleck - alone ane sign offering palm reads, massage, reiki, theta, meditation etc in addition to that lady was absent. But hence possibly new-agers don't function weekends. The WRECK DORM was correct on a boundary in addition to a following door cafe/club (I retrieve it had something to practice alongside THE PIGGERY MOVIE joint) played loud (but non super loud) music. I don't retrieve other ARTS FACTORY accommodation places would suffer.
But the existent bummer was the kitchen -I could find no create clean plates, cooking pots or cutlery inward the communal kitchen? The FEW things of utilization were lying unwashed inward the blocked sinks, along alongside a whole bunch of nutrient scraps? There was such a lack of infinite on the nutrient storage shelves in addition to inward the communal refrigerator that I had to jam my materials into already occupied places, increasing the likelihood of someone interfering alongside my supplies? (and someone did indeed pilfer my stuff).
UPDATE OCT 2016 - Arts' Factory director simply responded to a review I did on TRIPADVISOR -
THE KITCHEN IS BEING REFURBISHED AS WE SPEAK.....HOORAY! Yes a long fourth dimension coming, but it is extensive in addition to a consummate gut-out overhaul - Yew! No ane is happier nigh that than the long term crew. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 much needed improvement inward functioning past times this weekend. The 2d betoken - in that location was ever a bottle/can opener - it is the large obtrusive thing that is connected to a bench, hence it cannot possible last stolen! It looks similar a industrial vice! Maybe nosotros should sign postal service it?
ACTIVITIES
Besides surfing, hanging on the beach, checking the viewpoints in addition to walks around the Lighthouse, walking or cycling the long long beaches in addition to exploring neat places similar Broken Head Nature Reserve yous tin dive, practice larn to surf courses, hang-glide off the highest betoken nigh the lighthouse, practice all fashion of new-age therapies in addition to treatments, play golf, receive got joy flights, tandem parachute jumps, nature in addition to hippy-spotting trips into the hinterland including the infamous Nimbin in addition to shop/eat/booze til yous driblet inward the neat lively primary street precinct which has all sorts of places laid upward to service the trendy types in addition to others who flock to the place. The Beach Pub, Railway Pub in addition to the Great Western inward the primary street are slap-up people watching places in addition to all 3 usually receive got a skilful band or to a greater extent than betwixt them - specially the Railway Pub. The Beach Pub shows surfing movies on a large covert at other times in addition to the slap-up Northern ever has contemporary sports happenings on several screens.
Streetside at the Beach Pub - green in addition to beach across street to right, Olympic puddle for keen lap swimmers simply out of frame background right. Note the cool Tezza fold-up bike inward foreground - simply the thing for hauling out of the auto kick in addition to fanging the beaches. Favourite Tezza spot perche on bar stool against partitioning wall nether tree inward mid background checking the scene piece sipping a beer or iii - if yous ever view a retrograde inward bush hat, board shorts, long sleeved shirt, alongside a beard a cross betwixt Saddam Hussein in addition to series killer Ivan Milat, tell hullo in addition to purchase me a beer.
THE LIGHTHOUSE WALKING CIRCUIT.
This is likely the best walk inward the surface area in addition to slow to access from town. The xanthous tracks are utilization of the CAPE BYRON WALKING TRACK - the xanthous the TALLOW RIDGE TRACK - the bluish THE PASS's PALM JUNGLE CIRCUIT in addition to LITTLE WATEGOS DEVIAION repectively.
Start at the auto green higher upward northern CLARKE'S BEACH lower right. STAGE 1 parallels the route in addition to hence drops to THE PASS. STAGE 2 goes over the headland to prissy WATEGOS BEACH. STAGE 3 climbs from the other side of WATEGOS along a looping path to the LIGHTHOUSE. STAGE four drops downwards to nigh the start on the scenic (red) TALLOWS RIDGE TRAIL.
Abt 2.75km - simply nether an hr non-stop but yous volition halt for pix in addition to possibly a residue or more. Surface good, slopes mainly less than VERY STEEP - the latter alone brusk inward distance. Some slap-up viewpoints including the EASTERN MOST ON THE AUSTRALIAN MAINLAND, skilful for whale watching.
I detect it hard to pose a linear scale on these Google world images alongside large top differences - it is 760m inward a at nowadays describe from the identify markers of THE PASS in addition to the LIGHTHOUSE.
Last department of STAGE 3 to the LIGHTHOUSE
Most easterly viewpoint on the Australian mainland (there are a few rocks below which are genuinely the most easterly SPOT on the mainland). Many people overlook this ane because....
....this nearby ane is genuinely farther out on the betoken in addition to hence gives the impression it is farther east. But because the Cape is orientated due N (see higher upward Google image) it is genuinely farther north.
Whale off northern TALLOWS BEACH from the TALLOWS RIDGE TRAIL.
My hostel trekking grouping receive got a residue Sept 2016.
Start of PALM JUNGLE LOOP following auto green at THE PASS. Short (10mins), sealed surface in addition to gentle slopes at most brand this prissy ane skilful for wheelchairs.
WHEN TO GO
Byron is primarily a beach destination. Being inward far northern NSW many people retrieve yous acquire skilful beach weather condition all year. I personally reckon June, July in addition to early on August tin last marginal temperature wise - in addition to this applies to whatever identify southward of Fraser Island inward southern Queensland nigh 200km N of Brisbane. At the same fourth dimension if my extended trip had no choice but these times, I’d halt in, but possibly simply a solar daytime or two.
GETTING THERE
Just nigh all the Brisbane-Sydney buses divert inward from the highway. Google for Greyhound-Mc Cafferty’s in addition to Premier. Sydney is nigh 12 hours - Brisbane 2.5.
The nearest drome is Ballina nigh one-half an hr away. Coolangatta on the Gold Coast has to a greater extent than in addition to cheaper flights - nigh ane hour. Brisbane is the nearest multi-international drome - nigh 2.5 hours (a few international flights come upward into Coolangatta). All are connected to Byron past times shuttle buses - THE FORUM, . I depository fiscal establishment check the forum most days when non travelling, but non private location pages similar this one. Sumber http://tezza-thailandbeachesandislands.blogspot.com/
The Pass from Fisherman's Lookout - The Pass is a pop surfing surface area nigh xv minutes walk E along the beach from town. You tin also walk/bicycle via the footpath/boardwalk behind the beach. There is a auto green to the left of photographic idiot box camera for people who would prefer to drive - accessed from the Lighthouse Road (CLICK TO EXPAND IMAGES)..Byron Bay inward far northern coastal NSW is ane of the large 3 on the Sydney Cairns travellers’ trail - the others beingness Fraser Island in addition to Airlie Beach-WhitSunday Islands. Surfers ‘discovered’ Byron inward the belatedly 60s - at that phase it was a fishing/meatworks town addition a handful of weekend shacks owned mainly past times people from the nearby hinterland town of Lismore. These days it is a trendy vacation identify addition a residence for a host of arty poseur types sea-changing from Sydney in addition to Melbourne. But it nevertheless attracts surfers, non to get upward heaps of backpackers, parcel in addition to household unit of measurement vacation makers, alternative-lifestylers/neo hippies/ferals, in addition to singles/couples/pensioner/family daytrippers from Brisbane in addition to the Gold Coast. I reckon the primary street/pub surface area upward nigh the beach is the best people watching identify inward Australia. You also acquire a skilful spectrum of bikers, street-machiners, wannabe models, surf groupies, schoolies, Japanese in addition to Euro pretend-surfers, master Australians, dopers, drug dealers, White Shoe Brigade Fast Eddie type developers, whacked-out new-agers attention their 14th hot tub seminar to detect one’s inner child, in addition to await at me C-listers who retrieve they are A-list. Good value.
The primary town in addition to lighthouse area. Those rocks left of the lighthouse are the eastern most betoken of continental Australia. The beach to the left of the map extends past times Belongil Creek for some 15km to Brunswick Heads. Only the eastern most halt of Tallows Beach tin last seen inward the top correct mitt of the map. This halt of Tallows is also a really skilful surfing spot. The beach extends southward for around 10km to Broken Head in addition to is a slap-up ane to ride a bike along at anything nether one-half tide. The Julian Rocks tin last seen top left - a pop dive location. Byron has several dive operations. (map - Rusty’s Byron Guide)TOWN BEACHES
MAIN BEACH inward front end of the surf corporation solid in addition to the eastern halt of the primary street. The middle distance becomes CLARKE'S BEACH in addition to THE PASS is at the far end. The lighthouse tin last seen higher upward - fantastic views from there.NORTH TOWN BEACH
By walking 200m across the auto green from the Main Town Beach yous come upward to this prissy section. It becomes BELONGIL BEACH in the nigh distance in addition to runs correct upward to Brunswick Heads nigh 15km north. This shot was taken from the BBQ surface area of First Sun Caravan Park which is a prissy identify to pitch a tent, green your campervan or hire a cabin. Not inexpensive though.
BEACHES EAST OF TOWN
CLARKES BEACH
Despite dozens of trips to Byron I didn't receive got a pic of CLARKES BEACH except for the far northern halt 2 shots below this - had to pinch the higher upward from http://www.visitnsw.com/
Note CLARKES continues unseen to correct of prototype for several hundred meters to THE PASS BEACH. This department was badly eroded latest Sept 2016 visit.
THE PASS
This is correct upward against the lighthouse headland nigh 1800m from town. When this identify industrial plant good it is ane of the longer surfboard rides inward Australia. Mainly a drop-and-turn shoulder alongside occasional really fast sections. The highest peak inward background is the volcanic plug of Mount Warning. Stunning views from the top, but the 2 times I’ve climbed it cloud laid inward v minutes after I reached the summit.If yous retrieve nigh the orientation of this shot, yous volition realize yous are facing NORTH WEST. It's possible to scout the Sun go downwards over Mt Warning inward mid-winter. This is ane of the few beaches on the E coast alongside a westerly aspect.
EAST END OF CLARKES/THE PASS BEHIND
However in that location was nevertheless sufficient sand at all tides on Main in addition to most of Clarke's for sunbathing, beach activities etc
Further Update Sept 2016 - if anything, fifty-fifty to a greater extent than erosion latest pass-by. Needed to wade some sections betwixt town in addition to The Pass inward the top 20% of the tide. nevertheless enough of sand elsewhere.
WATEGOS BEACH
Wategos is tucked inward nether the Lighthouse simply E of The Pass. There is a prissy rainforest/headland runway which connects the ii (and continues on the other side of the beach upward to the Lighthouse). Wategos is millionaires’ beach-house province - when I showtime started surfing this identify yous could pick upward an one-time fibro weekender for a song. I didn’t. Sob!LITTLE WATEGOS BEACH
BEACHES NORTH OF TOWN
BELONGIL BEACH
Clothing-optional (uunofficial)Mid Belongil Beach. This is nigh 10 25 minutes walk from town. Note that parts of this walk are plain of written report to tempest moving ridge erosion in addition to may last hard to overstep at high tide without getting wet. The ocean entrance to Belongil Creek is nigh 400m N of this betoken - most times it is slow to wade or send a bike across in addition to proceed some other 10km or so. The yell Belongil Beach genuinely continues N of the creek to at to the lowest degree Tyagarah Nature Reserve some 2.5km on. The concluding 2km of this is an official clothing-optional stretch of beach.
Big fence inward Byron - the introduce council is non prepared to waste materials rate-payers' funds on farther protection- and to a greater extent than controversially, realizing the impossibility of holding dorsum the mightiness of a cyclone swell in addition to tidal surge, has forbidden belongings holders to create farther defenses at their ain expense.
Sand doesn't await every bit good white when wet.
UPDATE Sept 2016 - this surface area looked means improve inward that fortifications were complete. However the beach itself had non improved, tending to disappear along hither at high tide.
An one-time favourite budget identify of mine is Belongil Beachhouse (I noticed inward December 2013 it was at nowadays calling itself Byron Bay Beach Resort). It is located 100m behind the beach nigh xv minutes walk N along the sand from town. Their shuttle omnibus connects alongside town too. Pretty skilful dorms in addition to facililites inward a prissy garden setting addition doubles in addition to household unit of measurement units. Like all Byron places, charges are non inexpensive.BEACHES SOUTH OF THE LIGHTHOUSE
TALLOWS/SUFFOLK PARK/BROKEN HEAD BEACH
We receive got moved nigh 10km SOUTH of Byron Bay inward this pic to the southern halt of Tallows/Suffolk Park Beach/Broken Head beach, at Broken Head itself. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 gorgeous 8 km long beach. The Lighthouse surface area at Byron Bay tin last seen background far right. Broken Head gets really skilful surf against the headland this was shot from. There is a caravan green in addition to neat rainforest tracks which go upward around the headland to some prissy back-beaches farther southward inward BROKEN HEAD NATURE RESERVE.
BEACHES IN BROKEN HEAD NATURE RESERVE
7 MILE BCH runs for abt vii miles (duh) or 11km to LENNOX HEAD, a skilful surfing spot.
I forgot to pose a linear scale on the prototype - it is 2.8km inward a at nowadays describe betwixt the identify markers top in addition to bottom
KINGS BEACH
The showtime of the back-beaches inward BROKEN HEAD NATURE RESERVE is KINGS BEACH, some other clothing-optional place. Just after I took this shot I was confronted past times ane of the gays who hang hither in addition to instructed I couldn’t receive got pix at a nude beach. I told him it was clothing-optional, non nude, ever had been, is utilization of Broken Head Nature Reserve in addition to the thought of no cameras inward a Nature Reserve is farcical, that the beach was a existent prissy household unit of measurement identify before he in addition to his buddies turned it into a gay beat, in addition to that he could stick his made up-rules upward his fundament.
You may retrieve this a fleck harsh, but I receive got no fourth dimension for strutting self-righteous peacocks doing their Little Hitler act. Note I receive got naught against gays apart from that modest sub-group of PC freaks who are simply looking for an excuse to receive got offence.
King’s Beach tin last accessed past times a slap-up 500m long rainforest runway which descends steeply from a auto green 1km along a dirt route which leaves the primary Broken Head beach route nigh 400m from the beach picnic surface area in addition to winds upward into the steep hills of the Nature Reserve for several km (Seven Mile Beach Road). There are several other genuinely prissy beaches accessed past times tracks downwards from this road. I dearest riding my wreck of a beach bike along the length of Tallows Beach from Byron in addition to hence upward into the hills along this dirt road. Trouble is 2013 trip I left it chained to a tree in addition to someone stole it! Hell, yous never saw a to a greater extent than disreputable looking mount bike - perfect for riding on salty, sandy beaches but hardly worth stealing. Particularly every bit it had a punctured raise tyre/tire at the time.WHITE BEACH
This is my MY FAVOURITE BEACH ANYWHERE. It is called WHITE BEACH in addition to is nigh 1km farther southward along the coast from King’s Beach. Accessed from the following auto green yous come upward to along the dirt-road (about 2km from King‘s Beach auto park) - receive got the LEFT (northern) branch of the runway away from the road. Dont endeavour to rock-hop along the coast - means every bit good hard in addition to I'm a world champ rock-hopper.This shot is non every bit good instance - a combination of recent tempest moving ridge erosion in addition to a really high tide has left piddling of the beach - usually it is a stretch of blinding white sand alongside the H2O describe roughly where that showtime moving ridge describe is nigh one-half means across the shot. (Update December 2013 - the beach was fifty-fifty to a greater extent than eroded when I called by).
The beach is surrounded past times steep rainforest-clad hills in addition to yous ofttimes volition receive got it to yourself - alongside alone the occasional surfer, fisherman, nudist in addition to sometimes camper (there is an unofficial camping ground surface area simply behind the beach). There is quite a large stone puddle nigh the headland at the far halt of the beach. Be careful of rip currents when swimming - in that location is ever ane at the far halt against the rocks in addition to ofttimes a few inward other sections unless the surf is really small.
There is a laid of short, steep but much easier steps on a runway from a modest auto green nigh 1 km farther southward along Seven Mile Beach route to BRAYS BEACH (see below). I haven't had a remove chances to depository fiscal establishment check its status lately but I experience it may last receive got suffered the same fate every bit the higher upward twin smaller beaches. Maybe fifty-fifty earlier, because in that location is a really limited amount of moisture sand on the Google world prototype below.
Because the access runway from the auto green on vii MILE BEACH RD is short, this beach when skilful has ever had to a greater extent than people on it than tell WHITE BEACH (longer track, simply every bit steep, hard surface) but non every bit many visitors every bit KINGS BEACH (bigger parking area, longer but easier track). I receive got never seen nudists on BRAYS BEACH.
ACCOMMODATION
I retrieve Byron Bay is overpriced these days. $aud35 for a dorm bed (2013/16) is mutual in addition to simply to pitch a tent at either of the 2 primary town beach caravan parks starts at $35 inward non peak season. Crikey! But nosotros alive inward a cost economy, trendsetters, in addition to if the marketplace topographic point bears these sort of charges they can‘t last wrong...Um,can they?
Quite a few people slumber inward their campervans inward the beach auto green or at The Pass - the local council is a bunch of greenish ratbags in addition to inward the past times used to sic council rangers onto these gratis campers - but in that location seems to last fewer hassles these days. Well, there’s ever a row of vans when I go downwards the beach existent early on morning.
In a see abt 2011, instead of paying $70 for a basic double inward a backpackers sharing cooking in addition to shower facilities, Lady Tezza in addition to I checked holiday-unit booking sites in addition to got a slap-up piddling unit of measurement alongside kitchen, living room, bathroom, loft sleeping accommodation in addition to total resort facilities inward the middle of town in addition to 300m to the beach for $80 - Central Apartments. But yous volition non acquire this sort of bargain at world or schoolhouse vacation times or on most weekends.
Byron has over one-half a dozen backpackers'. This is ane of the improve ones, Cape Byron YHA, ane block from the primary street in addition to 2 from the beach. Good facilities including a puddle in addition to a dive outfit front end right. There is a really similar inward style in addition to yell Byron Bay YHA** another 2 blocks from the beach but alone 2 minutes walk from the large Woolworths Supermarket in addition to the intercity bus-stop. All the backpacker joints send minibuses to view arriving coaches.
Update December 2013 - I spent a few nights latest see inward the articulation pictured above. Pretty okay identify inward a skilful position. Friendly mangagement/staff, prissy atmosphere. Biggest hassle was parking - the articulation alone has vii spaces inward its basement auto green (very tight access too) in addition to the council has imposed four hr parking limits inward the surrounding streets. The similar YHA 2 blocks farther to the left on this route has fewer problems inward this regard**. Now inward the past times backpackers came inward past times omnibus - good a hell of a lot nevertheless do, but an increasing amount go past times car.
**Update Sept 2016. Stone the crows trendsetters! The anti-outsiders council has erected paid parking meters (except fer locals) EVERYWHERE - fifty-fifty inward the long tree-studded surface area across the street from Byron Bay YHA.
Parking meters are unheard of inward Australian towns of this modest size.
Impact: what had go my backpackers' of choice (I dearest the position, facilities) non hence choice now. Would brand my time to come selection of accommodation Byron Bay Beach Resort out of town on Belongil - except in that location volition last NO time to come choice: After possibly forty Byron visits which started alongside surfing trips inward the mid 60s I ain't coming back. I reckon Byron has jumped the shark - at to the lowest degree for budget travelers similar me. Okay, I realize this is EXACTLY what anti-visitor Byron Shire Council wants - but the means I figure it is local modest describe organisation mightiness vote inward favor of budget travelers inward future.
DUMB ARSE BYRON SHIRE COUNCIL - it's the one-time classic story: neat identify attracts budget travelers. Gets hence much skilful publicity wealthier types start to holiday. The rich dudes create upward one's heed this is a neat identify to live/retire/have the vacation house. Town is inundated alongside novel bunch of cashed upward trendoids who presently create upward one's heed all these budget visitors are a hurting inward the bum. As is whatever type of novel describe organisation which mightiness alter the grapheme of their neat piddling town. So they acquire themselves elected to the local council in addition to start out to overstep anti-visitor/anti describe organisation local laws. Hence things similar parking meters for outsiders.
Gets better: inward recent years they receive got BANNED FLUORIDE inward the H2O organisation - hell the anti fluoride paranoia was a conspiracy-theory thing inward the 1950s: but trendoids dearest conspiracy theories. Better receive got a skilful dental invention if yous desire to remain for an extended period.
The council has also banned all fast nutrient franchises incl Maccas in addition to KFC. Impact: taxation base of operations hence reduced they are strapped for cash resulting inward some of the poorest shire roads inward NSW. And the NEED for paid parking.
Hell, they fifty-fifty campaigned vigorously against the novel state highway from the border on describe organisation human relationship it would encourage fifty-fifty to a greater extent than Brisbane/Gold Coast visitors on weekends. Um, no thing that the previous department of twisty/hilly ii lane was ane of the most unsafe sections of highway inward Commonwealth of Australia alongside ane of the highest fatality rates. How's that for selfish NIMBYISM? Dissuade people from visiting fifty-fifty though it mightiness cost lives - including occupants of the ix out of 10 vehicles which drive at nowadays past times the Byron turnoff.
THE ARTS FACTORY
A existent trendy identify to remain is nigh xv minutes walk north-west from town key - The Arts Factory. This has wigwams, accommodation inward an one-time bus, tents around a form of canal/lake, addition the to a greater extent than normal dorm-room department seen below. Even a separate camping ground surface area out the dorsum which is existent pop alongside weekenders from Brisbane. You tin practice all sorts of new-age courses in addition to treatments hither in addition to the identify tends to last the hang of wannabe hippies. Lots of people detect this a fleck pretentious, but I don’t heed people bunging on a fleck of side providing they don’t receive got themselves every bit good seriously. If that sort of thing floats your boat, go for it. The associated Pighouse Movie painting palace shows showtime number movies in addition to is skilful for a see alongside lie-low type canvass seats. There is a frequent shuttle omnibus into town in addition to to the beach.
UPDATE SEPT 2016 - for my 2d overstep past times that calendar month I decided to remain a few nights at the ARTS FACTORY. Got myself a bottom bunk bed inward what they called the WRECK DORM. Kinda thought the identify was okay from the betoken of thought of landscaping (lots tree, artificial lake yada) in addition to diverseness of both accommodation options in addition to people staying. Gotta tell the arty thing seems to receive got faded a fleck - alone ane sign offering palm reads, massage, reiki, theta, meditation etc in addition to that lady was absent. But hence possibly new-agers don't function weekends. The WRECK DORM was correct on a boundary in addition to a following door cafe/club (I retrieve it had something to practice alongside THE PIGGERY MOVIE joint) played loud (but non super loud) music. I don't retrieve other ARTS FACTORY accommodation places would suffer.
But the existent bummer was the kitchen -I could find no create clean plates, cooking pots or cutlery inward the communal kitchen? The FEW things of utilization were lying unwashed inward the blocked sinks, along alongside a whole bunch of nutrient scraps? There was such a lack of infinite on the nutrient storage shelves in addition to inward the communal refrigerator that I had to jam my materials into already occupied places, increasing the likelihood of someone interfering alongside my supplies? (and someone did indeed pilfer my stuff).
I managed to dredge upward in addition to launder some plates, a cooking pot in addition to some cutlery, but I never did detect a bottle opener or a cup. And both tea towels (only 2 inward a really busy kitchen!) were hence used in addition to moisture every bit to last a wellness hazard.
When I went downwards to reception to enquire, they told me I could hire most of those things past times surrendering a photograph ID or paying a modest fee. Confusion rules trendsetters - why didn’t they tell me that when I checked inward twenty minutes prior? And the longish lines at reception persuade yous to hang on to your materials for the duration of remain – but no purse or container is given to brand carting them to in addition to from your dorm slow in addition to less prone to dropping.
More confusion – the hire thing is patently intended to ensure people launder upward their materials before handing dorsum – but where did the unwashed materials inward the sinks come upward from?
Nice setting
Kitchen doesn't await inferior to other backpackers' - believe me it was.
UPDATE OCT 2016 - Arts' Factory director simply responded to a review I did on TRIPADVISOR -
THE KITCHEN IS BEING REFURBISHED AS WE SPEAK.....HOORAY! Yes a long fourth dimension coming, but it is extensive in addition to a consummate gut-out overhaul - Yew! No ane is happier nigh that than the long term crew. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 much needed improvement inward functioning past times this weekend. The 2d betoken - in that location was ever a bottle/can opener - it is the large obtrusive thing that is connected to a bench, hence it cannot possible last stolen! It looks similar a industrial vice! Maybe nosotros should sign postal service it?
ACTIVITIES
Besides surfing, hanging on the beach, checking the viewpoints in addition to walks around the Lighthouse, walking or cycling the long long beaches in addition to exploring neat places similar Broken Head Nature Reserve yous tin dive, practice larn to surf courses, hang-glide off the highest betoken nigh the lighthouse, practice all fashion of new-age therapies in addition to treatments, play golf, receive got joy flights, tandem parachute jumps, nature in addition to hippy-spotting trips into the hinterland including the infamous Nimbin in addition to shop/eat/booze til yous driblet inward the neat lively primary street precinct which has all sorts of places laid upward to service the trendy types in addition to others who flock to the place. The Beach Pub, Railway Pub in addition to the Great Western inward the primary street are slap-up people watching places in addition to all 3 usually receive got a skilful band or to a greater extent than betwixt them - specially the Railway Pub. The Beach Pub shows surfing movies on a large covert at other times in addition to the slap-up Northern ever has contemporary sports happenings on several screens.
THE LIGHTHOUSE WALKING CIRCUIT.
Start at the auto green higher upward northern CLARKE'S BEACH lower right. STAGE 1 parallels the route in addition to hence drops to THE PASS. STAGE 2 goes over the headland to prissy WATEGOS BEACH. STAGE 3 climbs from the other side of WATEGOS along a looping path to the LIGHTHOUSE. STAGE four drops downwards to nigh the start on the scenic (red) TALLOWS RIDGE TRAIL.
Abt 2.75km - simply nether an hr non-stop but yous volition halt for pix in addition to possibly a residue or more. Surface good, slopes mainly less than VERY STEEP - the latter alone brusk inward distance. Some slap-up viewpoints including the EASTERN MOST ON THE AUSTRALIAN MAINLAND, skilful for whale watching.
I detect it hard to pose a linear scale on these Google world images alongside large top differences - it is 760m inward a at nowadays describe from the identify markers of THE PASS in addition to the LIGHTHOUSE.
WHEN TO GO
Byron is primarily a beach destination. Being inward far northern NSW many people retrieve yous acquire skilful beach weather condition all year. I personally reckon June, July in addition to early on August tin last marginal temperature wise - in addition to this applies to whatever identify southward of Fraser Island inward southern Queensland nigh 200km N of Brisbane. At the same fourth dimension if my extended trip had no choice but these times, I’d halt in, but possibly simply a solar daytime or two.
GETTING THERE
Just nigh all the Brisbane-Sydney buses divert inward from the highway. Google for Greyhound-Mc Cafferty’s in addition to Premier. Sydney is nigh 12 hours - Brisbane 2.5.
The nearest drome is Ballina nigh one-half an hr away. Coolangatta on the Gold Coast has to a greater extent than in addition to cheaper flights - nigh ane hour. Brisbane is the nearest multi-international drome - nigh 2.5 hours (a few international flights come upward into Coolangatta). All are connected to Byron past times shuttle buses - THE FORUM, . I depository fiscal establishment check the forum most days when non travelling, but non private location pages similar this one. Sumber http://tezza-thailandbeachesandislands.blogspot.com/