Byron Bay, New South wales, Australia

Byron Bay Overview

Byron Bay, located on Cape Byron, is the most easterly town in mainland Australia. This makes the town very popular for new year celebrations as the revelers know they be the first to see a new day dawn over Australia.

Byron Bay has always been a very 'laid back' town with an open-minded outlook and a celebrated bohemian character.

There are art galleries, craft markets, health and well-being spas, spiritual healing centres, boutiques, craft centres, lots of cafes and restaurants including vegetarian and vegan, accommodation, NO high rise buildings NO traffic-lights as well as a general 'Eco Friendly' and alternative, easy going attitude and 'vibe'.

Byron Bay is also a popular place for festivals and large scale events. As well as the famous Byron Bay Blues and Roots Festival there are many others including comedy, film, writers, underwater, skate boarding, fatherhood, arts and crafts festivals.

Over 30Km of Beaches

Byron Bay has a coastline with over 30Km of beaches offering something for everyone. There are beaches for surfers, families, romantic secluded beaches, beaches to spot whales from and even a nudist beach if you prefer to leave your clothes at home.

The beaches near Byron are exceptional with fine, white sand. The sub tropical climate ensures that even in winter the average daily temperature is around 20 Deg C, which is still warm enough to enjoy a day at the beach.

Around Cape Byron itself there are four beaches: Clarks, Wategos, Little Wategos, Tallow beaches and these are all linked by walking trails and dramatic cliff top walks.

Cape Byron Marine Park

Byron Bay and surrounding area is the location for the protected 'Cape Byron Marine Park' which was established to protect and preserve the delicate marine environment. The park provides a protected sanctuary for corals, turtles, manta rays, tropical fish and dolphins.

Whales, heading north from the Antarctic to breed in warmer waters, can be spotted off Cape Byron around May to June and again when they return around September to October. Last century, Byron Bay did have a Whaling Station but thankfully the only whaling industry left is devoted to spotting the beautiful creatures for the benefit of tourists.

Dolphins also thrive in the coastal waters and can be spotted off cape Byron as well as on organised tours which include sea kayaking, enabling you to get within very close range of these fascinating creatures.

Byron Bay is also a good place to scuba dive and snorkel as it has direct access to the over 20 000 ha of Cape Byron Marine Park. In the town there are dive centres specialising in the local area.

The Hinterland

Just to the west of Byron Bay is an area of gently rolling hills and rainforests known as the Byron Bay hinterland. This tranquil area is ideal or touring, with quaint little villages (with names like Dunanoon and Mowball) stunning rainforest with hidden waterfalls, macadamia nut, banana and tea tree plantations.

For the more active you can try bush walking, white water rafting, horse trekking, four wheel drive touring, fishing and mountain biking.

The hinterland villages include Nimbin, which has always had a close association with Byron Bay and has become known as Australia's alternative lifestyle capital.