Byron Bay is known for it’s beautiful beaches, great organic plant based cafes and a bohemian, alternate vibe. Popular on the backpacker trail and providing some of the best boutique clothing stores I have come across, it isn’t hard to see why it has become frequented with tourists year round. It truly is a unique experience and no trip to Australia’s East coast is complete without a short stay here. Here are my top tips for your trip to the iconic Byron Bay.
When to Visit
The best time of year would be Spring (September to November) as the temperatures are mild, it is drier than the summer and there would be less of a tourist crowd. As strange as it sounds, I would ideally avoid Summer as it can actually be quiet wet, and keep in mind it is also a massive school break here (and winter in the USA and Europe) so you are bound to have it more flooded with tourists. See HERE for more information regarding the annual climate patterns for Byron Bay.
Getting Here
You have a few options depending on your time frame and budget:
1. Fly
Ballina airport is a 30 minute drive from Byron and you can easily organise a minibus transfer online. I paid 50 AUD return (25AUD one way) for mine. Byron Easy Bus or Steve’s Airport Transfers are good options for this and their desk is easily spotted in the arrivals area next to baggage claim. You can also hire a car here, if you want a little extra flexibility.
Alternatively, the Gold Coast airport is a 45 minute drive and Brisbane airport is a two hour drive. These might be a better option if you are hiring a car, depending on where you are flying from. Also, these flights are likely to be much cheaper than flying into Ballina.
2. Bus
If you want to come up from Sydney, and head all the way up to Brisbane or Cairns (and you don’t want to self drive), then a bus would be the best option. Unfortunately Australia does not have the fast, cost effective and convenient rail network that Europe or the UK does. Greyhound offer flexible tickets where you can hop on and off as you drive up the coast and leave your plans a little more open, which is great for backpackers with a loose schedule. These buses depart daily and you just jump onto your online account and book your seats the day before, availability depending.
3. Drive
This gives you the most flexibility but can be a little pricey on your own, however if you have a group of friends this can be super freeing and economical. If you want to check out some of the beautiful, BIG and QUIET beaches that lie a little way out of town then this would be the best option.
Getting around
If you choose to fly and get a transfer (meaning you don’t have access to a car) that is very doable here in Byron. The main town area is walkable and you can book day trips that will pick you up from your accommodation or the main town centre.
If you have a car you wouldn’t need it unless you were going exploring out of town. I wouldn’t recommend driving around the main town area as you would have to continually find a park and there is a high amount of pedestrian traffic which can be annoying, well that and a lot of other crazy tourist drivers.
Where to stay
Byron is predominantly a backpack town, although there are options for families as well. You will find hostels here more expensive than usual and that is because of the high demand and the fact that Byron Bay has soared on the tourist trail. Below are a range of options to suit any budget:
$ YHA. There are actually TWO YHA’s in Byron and both are very similar and as well as being good quality hostels with a large well equipped kitchen and a pool! Check out either Byron Bay YHA or Cape Byron YHA.
$ Byron Bay Beach Hostel. I even met a German backpacker who had said the same, that it was the best hostel she had ever come across!
$$ Byron Bayside Central Studio Apartments. A good option of you want to get out of dorm and have your own space.
$$$ Temple Farmhouse. This is a gorgeous 4 bedroom house in the hinterland. It is only a 25 minute drive from the bay and provides a luxe and tranquil setting, especially if you a looking for a little romantic escape. It can be booked through AirBNB.
$$$ Elements of Byron Bay is a luxurious resort with villa style accommodation and a fantastic swimming pool. Check location and pricing HERE.
Where to eat
What I loved about the food scene here was the amount of fresh juices, superfood smoothies and acai bowls you can find. I also hear the coffee is excellent (as you will find in most popular places in Australia) but I can not completely testify to this; as I am not a coffee drinker (sorry guys!).
Byron Bay is also known for it’s well developed vegan and vegetarian options, which is becoming a lot more popular.
So let’s get down to it. What are some great options for food while you are here?
Heatlhy
* Combi (best Acai bowl I have ever had! The muffins and nut mylks are also great) Check out the menu HERE.
* Pressed Pantry (also does Acai bowls and great cold pressed juices). The staff are super friendly and there is even a super cute hanging chair to snap a cheeky instagram pic 🙂
* Finn Poke Bowls
Burgers
* Bettys OR Main Street Burger Bar
Treat
* Twisted Sista (the pancakes are worth the calories).
Other
* The Mez Club (Cocktails and Mediterranean food with great decor).
* Bayleaf
Where to Drink and Dance
If you are looking to get amongst the party scene while you are here there are a few places where you can get cheap drinks and dance until the early hours of the morning (if your heart so desires). So, why not grab a few new mates from your hostel and let your hair down for the night ?!
Cheeky Monkeys
This is backpacker bar that does regular themed nights, cheap drinks (even after happy hour) and best of all…they let you dance on the tables…YES, you just read that correctly! This places goes OFF every night of the week. I went on a Tuesday and it was certainly PUMPING! You can also grab a bite to eat here before the people flock in. If you want to get amongst the DJ atmosphere and dance on a table to a range of contemporary and retro hits then you have to wait until at least 10pm. Nothing exciting happens before this. Which means, you don’t need to be in a hurry after your day of activities 🙂 Check out their opening hours, location, menu and list of what’s on HERE.
Woody’s
This place has a bit more of a chill vibe than Cheeky’s with funky couches and a smaller dance floor. I found the music to be better at Cheeky’s but that is because I love dancing to tunes I can also sing too. Check both out and see what vibe you prefer.
What to See and Do
Beach
This is a MAJOR part of the appeal here. You have to spend at least a bit of time soaking up the sun on the big long beaches and taking a dip in the waves. If you are looking for some nice spots to enjoy (away from the main beach) try:
*Clarkes
*Tallow
*Seven Mile Beach (I would only get in the water here if you are quite experienced with surfing/open water).
Surf
Soul Surf is amazing and offer both group and private lessons. They do packages ranging from 1 day to 5 days. You can even do a surf and stay package where you stay at the Byron Bay Beach Hostel (my FAVOURITE hostel I have ever stayed in!)
If you hire a board and are an experienced surfer, head down to Lennox Head (a world renowned surf break). It also happens to be where Soul took me for my lessons 🙂
Other Water Activities
Go Kayaking with Dolphins or Take a Scuba trip.
Shop
There is just something about the shopping vibe here that I loved getting amongst. There are some great trinkets and finds here, but what I love about shopping in Byron the most is the boutiques and instagram brands that are based here. Even though they are pricey, they have some great feminine dresses and plain pastels/florals to fit a range of tastes. A lot of these stores hand make the clothing here in Byron.
Clothing stores worth a look:
*Kivari
*Auguste
*This & That
*Arnhem
*Spell and the Gypsy
Spend an hour trying on pieces in Spell and the Gypsy and you are bound to feel like a boho princess (just be prepared for this store to burn a serious hole in your credit card! ). I actually went in to try things on so I would know my size and chose to order online at a later date when I wasn’t so broke from travelling 🙂
Also, if you just take a wander through the main streets of the town centre you will find lots of great unique stores with things from jewellery to shoes, and household nicknacks.
Eat
As mentioned above there are some great food options here and part of the fun and joy of holidaying here is trying out new cafes each day, and filling up on wholesome great food.
Walk
The Lighthouse walk from town is a popular thing to do and if you follow the track along the beaches you will find some great little lookouts and photo spots.
Happy travels, and as always, drop me line if you have any questions. I’m sure you will love your time in Byron and it could even become a highlight of your East Coast road trip!
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