Byron Bay: Top 19 things to do in and around Byron Bay

Byron Bay, located on the north east of NSW is the epitany of chill and laid back. It is well known for it hippy vibes, surfing paradise, boho boutiques, vegan cafes and a place where shoes are optional. Byron manages to combine the carefree finesse of the 60’s with modern day cool. There is something for everyone here from joining the local surfers at the legendary breaks or disappear into the hinterland in search of quaint towns and artesian food.

Byron stole my heart on my first visit, I loved it so much so I booked to return a month later before I had even left. The minute you arrive you are hit with holiday feels and a sense of calm. Byron has been THE place for Sydneysiders to visit when interstate and international travel was off the cards so it has become a lot busier in recent times but despite the extra traffic, it has retained it’s charming small town feel. There is so much to do here, you won’t be short of activities to keep you busy. But it’s also a perfect place to chill, enjoy great food and do nothing bar chill on the beach and peruse the cute boutiques on every street.

Here are a list of my favourite things to do in Byron Bay and it’s surround areas:

1. Watch the sunrise from the lighthouse. The lighthouse is on the most Easterly point in Australia so is one of the first places in the country to get the sunrise. Sunrises from here are special and never get old. Drive up if you have a car as you would have to leave the town at least an hour before sunrise and be walking in the dark. Get there at least 20 minutes before sunrise to get a parking spot and watch the first signs of pink and red light up the sky.

2. Watch sunset from Belongil beach. Every evening as the sun starts to set and the sky turns from bright blue to pastel hues, crowds flock to soak up the last rays, listen to the bongo of buskers and watch the surfers bobbing with a beer in hand.

3. Ride a hot air balloon over the hinterland at sunrise. This was the best thing we did in Byron Bay and the most memorable experience. Watching the sunrise and taking in the vastness of the lush green hinterland below was magical. You feel like you’re floating as you move with the wind speed so don’t notice any wind or breeze. We booked the hot air ballooning with Balloon Aloft. I would highly recommend them! They leave in the early hours of the morning (4-4.30 am, depending on the time of sunrise) from The Farm, a 10 minute drive from Byron Bay town. They take photos with a GoPro and for $30 they will send you all the photos. The whole experience costs $279, takes between 3.5-4 hours and includes breakfast after at the Three Blue Ducks at The Farm, a must on the Byron Bay list. Flight time is between 45-60 minutes. Here are some of the photos below.

4. Surf at Wategos beach or watch the surfers ride the waves. If you’re keen to learn to surf or brush up on your skills, try a lesson with Soul Surf School. They cater for groups and privates or you can join a group starting at $69 for a half day and they offer deals for several days worth of lessons. It includes pick up and drop off from your accommodation in Byron Bay or Lenox Head and equipment such as boards and wetsuits. These guys were great teachers with the patience of saints and they brought you to the best beaches depending on your skill level and conditions. In the mornings you are likely to spot dolphins cruising around Wategos.

5. Shop til you drop in the unique boho boutiques. Their are so many gorgeous clothes shops and swimwear shops. If you are planning on buy some summer clothes or a new bikini, wait until you get to Byron! Some of my favourites are Spell & The Gypsy, Rowie, 11.11, Hope & May and Nikau to name a few which are all unique to Byron.

6. Snorkel with turtles. Byron Bay Dive centre offer diving and snorkelling at Julian Rocks Marine Reserve where there is an abundance of marine life, including sea turtles. The tour takes about 2.5 hours including 1 hour of snorkelling. They provide all the snorkelling equipment and transport to the launch site from the dive shop in the town. The total cost is $105 through the website but we booked through Travel Playground and got it for a discounted price of $92 so definitely go through them for the discount.

7. Kayak with dolphins. We went sea kayaking with Go Sea Kayaking Byron Bay and had a great afternoon spotting dolphins, turtles and enjoying a great view of the lighthouse and the beautiful Cape Byron coastline. If you go during May-November you might just spot some whales too. We saw so many dolphins and very close too. You don’t have to be a strong kayaker to enjoy this tour, plus there are two to a kayak so team up with someone more confident if you are feeling out of your depth. The tour leaves twice a day, in the morning and afternoon and lasts about 2.5 hours. All the life jackets, helmets, paddles, kayaks and unlimited Tim Tams are included. The tours costs $75 through there sight but again, if you book through Travel Playground you can book it for $64.

8. Hike to the most Easterly point of mainland Australia. The beautiful cape Byron walk takes you from Clarkes beach all the way to the lighthouse via the most Easterly point of mainland Australia. You can’t come to Byron and not get your photo taken with the sign or do this amazing walk. If you are lucky and come between the months of May-November you might spot whales in the distance.

9. Go on a day trip to Nimbin. Nimbin, Australia’s hippie capital is only a short drive form Byron Bay nestled in the hinterland. This weird and wonderful town can be reached by car but if you are planning on having any of the local delicacies on offer (happy brownies) it’s best to let someone else do the driving and hop on a happy bus or a tour with Grasshoppers Tour. They offer a full day tour which includes a trip to Nimbin and also a visit to the Nightcap National Park and Minyon Falls, a BBQ lunch and a visit to an Aussie pub for $79. Otherwise the shuttle to Nimbin is $40 return departing Byron at 11am and returning from Nimbin at 3pm.

10. Visit the hinterland towns.

• Federal. 40 minute drive from Byron Bay. It is en route when heading to the Minyon waterfall hike. A stop off in Doma is well worth it for the rustic vibe and incredible home-style Japanese inspired with a modern Australian twist dishes.
• Mullumbimby. The biggest of the little towns, it is about a 20 minute drive north of Byron. Spend an afternoon meandering around the vintage, craft and health food stores before devouring a pizza at the well known Milk & Honey.
• Bangalow. About a 20 minute drive from Byron. The main street is adhorn with cafes, eclectic stores, boutique clothing and unique gift shops. Woods cafe is known for a healthy locally produced lunch.

• Brunswick Heads. A little coastal town about 15 minute drive from Byron, or a 13 km walk along the length of Belongil Beach. If you fancy a long walk I recommend getting the bus and walking only one way, it took us longer than we expected! It is famous for its always booked out Fleet restaurant and the Brunswick Pub. There are a few nice cafes including the Happy Dolphin and Bruns Bakery for all things sweet and baked.

11. Climb Mount Warning for sunrise and be the first people to see the sunrise in Australia. This 9 km return hike takes about 4 hours through dense forest and requires a scramble up an almost vertical cliff face for the last 800m but is totally worth the 2.30 am alarm and sweaty, spider web filled hike. Wollumbin (Mount Warning) summit track is located 12km south-west of Murwillumbah, in Wollumbin National Park. It is currently closed due to safety issues and wishes from the Bundjalung Elders. This is a sacred place to the Bundjalung People, and was declared an Aboriginal Place in 2015.

Despite the National Park and trial to the summit being closed, I am not one to be discouraged by some red tape so we proceeded to walk up 3 km uphill to the start point of the trail in the pitch black, woefully underprepared with only our phone torches to illuminate the walk. To complete this hike you need to be of decent fitness and not afraid of using a chain to climb up the last 100 m.

It is the first place on mainland Australia to see the sunrise and definitely most advisable to hike to watch this spectacular scene. It also gets incredible hot during the day so best to start off in darkness or early in the morning. Carry plenty of water, a hat, snacks, repellent and a light jacket or top for the summit. It takes about 2 hours for fit individuals to reach the summit. The views at first light at the best so ensure you get there 20 minutes before sunrise.

Being the only people at the top was magical. The grueling hike in the dark was well rewarded with one of the most magnificent sunrises I’ve witnessed to date. We stayed in the cutest Air BnB a 10 minute drive from the start of the trail with amazing views of Mount Warning and a pool much needed for those hot days. Check out The Golden Retreat in Uki here.

Another great place to stay or even pop in for breakfast or a long lunch is the charming Mavis Kitchen. At the foot of Mount Warning, this beautiful house offers luxury cabin accommodation with a rustic feel and amazing organic food home grown in their own garden. It is open Wed- Sun for breakfast and lunch and Saturday night for dinner.

12. Do a sky dive. Byron is an incredible place to do a skydive, you’ll float over Byron Bay for 5-7 mins soaking up the spectacular views of the beaches, hinterland and all the way to Brisbane and the Gold Coast. The skydives start at $329 midweek or $359 at the weekend. If you book through Travel Playground, they offer a discount on the regular price.

13. Go chasing waterfalls. If you have a car I would definitely recommend getting out of the town for a bit and explore the hinterland, forest and waterfalls near by. Minyon Falls is a waterfall plunging roughly 100m, surrounded by ancient rainforests in Nightcap National Park. be reached on an 8 km walking loop about a 50 min drive from Byron. The walk isn’t too difficult and takes about 3 hours, the last bit to reach the mouth of foot of the waterfall requires a bit of a rock climbing and clambering. When we went it was very dry so hardly any water was falling or at the pool at the end but when it is wetter, it’s a great way to cool down after the hike.

14. Check out the Farmers markets: Don’t miss the vibrant scene every Thursday morning from 7 – 11am where you can stock up on organic fruit, veggies and local products including honey, macadamia nuts and sourdough loaves. It’s worth going for a brown paper bag breakfast, fresh muffins, local coffee, listen to some music and get caught up in the local vibe.

15. Byron Bay Sunday Markets. From local produce to crystal jewellery, the Byron Bay Community Markets are a colourful tapestry of all that’s good about the Bay. Over 100 stallholders sell arts and crafts, there are musicians to entertain and delicious food stalls to tempt you. The markets are held on the 1st Sunday of every month from about 8am – 3pm.

16. Flake out on Byron’s beaches. Byron’s beaches are Wategoes, Clarkes Belongil, the main beach and Tallows beach. My favourite is the Pass and Wategoes Beach.

17. Take a trip to Crystal Castle. Crystal Castle is located about 25 min drive out of Byron into the hinterland. Here you can take part in a sound healing meditation, standing between the two largest crystals in the world, sit in an ancient amethyst cave and enjoy lunch overlooking the beautiful gardens and hinterland. A short scenic journey into Byron Bay’s hinterland lies a magical sanctuary.

18. Spending the day cafe hopping and brunching in Byron’s best spots. Check out a blog on Byron’s best places to eat and drink here.

19. Visit Stone Wood Brewery and order a paddle to sample Byron’s best beers. Located a few minutes drive or short 15 minute cycle of out town, Stone Wood brewery is home to the best beers in New South Wales. Book a tour or just rock up to sit sipping beers and soaking up the sun. They also serve food and have some merch on sale. They offer a tour several times a day for $35 per person and you definitely get your money worth in beer on it plus get to learn about the history of the beer and how it is made.

Enjoy the best of Byron Bay!