Byron Bay is a wonderful beach town on Australia's east coast, just south of Brisbane. Palm-tree lined streets, delicious food joints, a laid back vibe and barefoot people coming back from a day of surfing... The perfect spot to unwind and relax.
I first visited Byron Bay during a solo backpacking trip around Australia in 2019 where I followed the classic backpacker route, mostly visiting big cities, staying in hostels and traveling by public transport.
This time, I've returned to Australia with my partner and we're currently living full-time in our campervan, a 2018 Mercedes Sprinter, with a plan of "driving the lap" (completing the entire perimeter of the country). As we made our way up the east coast, we left the Waterfall Way behind and headed towards famous Byron Bay.
For over 20,000 years, the Arakwal people lived on this land, long before any Europeans arrived, and called the area Cavanbah.
The first European to see this coastline was Captain James Cook with his crew in 1770 with the first settlers arriving in the 1861 for cedar timber. Before becoming the tourism and surfing town it is so known for today from the 1960s, Byron Bay had a heavy focus on gold mining, logging, sand mining, dairy farming and whaling.
I first visited Byron Bay in February 2019 on a solo backpacking trip - and celebrated my 23rd birthday here! - and returned with my partner in our campervan in January 2026 and updated the original post with all the new things we did. This post was first published on 14 February 2019; last updated 11 January 2026.
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Below is some useful information for preparing for your trip to Byron Bay. In all cases, please be sure to check with the relevant local authorities for the latest and accurate information.
Language: The official language of Australia is English. In Byron Bay, the traditional language of the Arakwal people is a dialect of Bundjalung.
→ Learn more about the language of the Arakwal people.
Currency: The currency used in Australia is the Australian dollar, denoted as AUD $. I use a Wise account when I travel which allows me to have a single, free account with multiple currencies. I only have to pay once to convert my money in the app and then I can pay in AUD $!
→ Check the latest currency conversion between AUD $ and your local currency.
Data/WiFi: Before you arrive, I recommend purchasing an eSim on your phone so that you can access data the moment you land. eSims are much more convenient as it means you don't have to put a separate physical Sim into your phone. AirAlo offers great deals for eSims of various data sizes and time lengths with Optus.
→ Load an international eSim on your phone with AirAlo.
If you are visiting Australia long term, you might wish to put a physical Sim in your phone as AirAlo is geared more towards short term visitors on holiday. This way you can access a local phone plan. There are three main mobile phone network providers in Australia: Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. Telstra has the best coverage across the country whereas Optus and Vodafone are good within cities. I recommend Telstra as it means you have the best coverage while you travel around the country, especially in rural areas.
We travel with a Starlink in our campervan which enables us to have unlimited WiFi wherever we are, even in places without coverage.
There is free WiFi available at the Byron Bay Library and many cafes and accommodations in town.
Visa: All passport holders except New Zealand require a visa to visit Australia. All arrivals must fill out an Australian arrival card before landing.
→ Check which visa you need for Australia.
Time of year to visit: Australia can be visited all year-round. Byron Bay can get very hot and extremely busy especially around the school summer holidays and cool in the winter months. I recommend visiting in spring (September-November) or autumn (March-May) for pleasant, sunny days.
Length of stay: Across my two visits, I have spent a week in Byron Bay as there is so much to do, including lots of wonderful day trips around the area. I'd recommend at least three nights to properly explore all there is.
Broken Head Nature Reserve
By flight: Byron Bay has its own small regional airport with domestic flights from Sydney and Melbourne so if traveling internationally, the easiest would be to get a connecting flight through one of these major cities.
A regular shuttle runs from Byron Bay Airport into town.
The closest major airports are north in the Gold Coast (45-minute drive) or Brisbane (two-hour drive). There are airport shuttles from both of these airports to Byron Bay.
By car: The best way to get to Byron Bay is with your own wheels. The most popular way of exploring Australia is by camping - whether with a motorhome, campervan, caravan or a roof tent on top of a car. This gives you the ultimate freedom of going as fast or as slow as you like.
→ If you don't have your own car, you can rent one in Brisbane, the Gold Coast or Byron Bay.
By bus: Byron Bay is a super popular destination, especially for backpackers, so well-serviced by public transport. You can reach Byron Bay by Greyhound, Byron Bay Express and Flixbus.
By guided tour: If you don't have your own wheels or want to go the guided route, you can do a day tour of Byron Bay from either Brisbane or the Gold Coast.
Driving into Byron Bay through the Hinterland
There are two main areas to consider when visiting Byron Bay: the town of Byron Bay and Cape Byron. They're about a ten-minute drive apart.
On foot: The whole area is totally walkable and getting around on foot is definitely the best way to explore. You can also walk from town along a walking path that connects to the Cape Byron Walking Track, approximately an hour each way.
By bike: Biking is a great alternative to walking if you want to get somewhere quicker. When I first visited Byron Bay in 2019, the hostel I stayed at lent out bikes to guests for free (many accommodations do) and I used one to explore everywhere! There are tons of bike rental companies in Byron Bay; a quick Google search brings up loads of options.
By car: A car can be useful to get around town quickly but parking can be really hard to find in Byron Bay as it's so busy. It's nearly impossible to get parking at the Cape unless you arrive super early. I'd recommend parking near town and then walking or biking everywhere you want to go.
Having a car is very useful for exploring further afield into the Hinterland or down along the coast.
→ If you don't have your own car, you can rent one in Byron Bay.
By Uber: Uber is readily available in Byron Bay which can be a quick way of getting around.
Getting around by hostel bike in 2019
By guided tour: There are loads of guided tours available for any activity you're interested in such as skydiving, surfing, kayaking, biking, tours to the Hinterland, platypus-spotting, river cruises, hiking, bird-watching, whale-watching, yoga, hot air balloon rides, snorkeling, Aboriginal culture and so much more!
Hostel: When I first visited Byron Bay in 2019, I was on a solo backpacking trip around Australia, staying in hostels along the way and traveling by public transport.
I can highly recommend Wake Up! Byron Bay. It's one of the nicest hostels I've ever stayed at with huge, airy, clean rooms with personal lockers and outlets. There is free WiFi throughout and a huge outdoor patio with twinkle lights which is warm and welcoming. There are always different events going on which you can join in with and you can borrow free surfboards and bikes to use in Byron Bay. The hostel is just steps from the beach, so it's just the perfect backpacker destination.
Wake Up! Byron Bay is part of a chain of hostels; I also can recommend the one in Sydney.
Hotel: Not traveling by campervan? Driving in a car? Whatever your reason for needing a place to stay, there are some great accommodation options in Byron Bay to suit any budget.
→ Check out all the accommodation options in Byron Bay.
Camping: We are driving "the lap" around Australia, exploring the country in our campervan. As with the rest of Australia, New South Wales permits freedom camping on designated sites. These sites can vary greatly; some offer a variety of facilities such as toilets, trash bins, picnic tables, outdoor cooking stations and others have none of this and might simply be a pull-out on the side of the road.
The best way to find legal freedom camping spots is to use an app. We use Wikicamps Australia, a cheap app that has every single amenity listed (both free and paid) that you might need on the road. This includes things like where to fill up fresh water, where to dump grey water, where to empty toilets, where to stay, gas stations, information points and also has suggestions for things to do as you go.
→ Download the Wikicamps Australia app.
There is no free camping in Byron Bay; the closest one we found was the New Italy Rest Area, just under an hour south. It was a great place to stop for the night on our way north into Byron Bay at the New Italy Museum with a huge parking lot, toilets and a cafe. They suggest a AUD $15 donation towards facility maintenance.
Byron Bay is a proper surf town with tons of amazing, healthy food options to go with it. You could spend weeks eating your way through the town and its beautiful Hinterland!
Here is everywhere we ate and loved to get you started:
Byron Bay Town
We had an outstanding Indonesian fusion lunch at Bali Bagus Cafe, a casual spot overlooking the beach with cute stools in their outdoor covered patio space. They also do brunch and smoothies; delicious!
Later in the day, we stopped in for a sweet treat at Blessed Bowls, one of the best places to get an açaí bowl in town. The shop is tiny but always busy and the bowls are loaded with toppings, perfect for a beach treat.
Bali Bagus Cafe
Blessed Bowls
Hinterland
One night we went for an early dinner at the Three Blue Ducks, a stunning farm-to-table concept in Ewingsdale with a farm shop, live music, animals and orchards. The food was mouthwatering and the venue was so bright and airy.
After we ate, we spent an hour or so wandering the 80-acre grounds where you can say hello to the animals, check out all the different plots where food is grown for the restaurant and even try your hand at cracking macadamia nuts in the orchard!
The macadamia orchard
I visited Newrybar when I was in Byron Bay back in 2019 and spent a solo day here celebrating my 23rd birthday. I biked all the way there (up the hill!) from Byron Bay and took myself out for a birthday lunch and browsed the delightful shops.
When I returned to Australia in 2026 with my partner, I knew I wanted to show him adorable Newrybar again. I had hoped to take him to lunch at Harvest, where I had had my birthday, once the most famous and popular restaurant in Newrybar, but we found out it heartbreakingly closed at the end of 2024.
So, we popped into Newrybar General Store instead for a deliciously moist chocolate cupcake and coffee. They also stock a beautiful curation of food and home goods.
Harvest, now closed
Byron Beach is a super popular holiday destination for families, surfers, backpackers and couples all eager to get some sun, sand and surf. With a bustling town set on the beach next to the gorgeous cape, plus national parks and the Hinterland all nearby, there is so much to do here.
Here is everything I did from both my visits in 2019 as a backpacker and in 2026 in our campervan:
Go surfing at Belongil Beach
Belongil Beach is one of Byron Bay's best beaches stretching 2.5km along the ocean just north of the main town area so it's a bit quieter, especially compared to Main Beach. Surfing is popular here with awesome waves; in fact, this was the first beach I ever tried surfing at!
The beach is right across from the Wake Up! Byron Bay Hostel.
Browse the boutiques in Byron Bay Town
Byron Bay is just overflowing with adorable shops selling the latest in beachwear, home goods and accessories. We spent the better part of an afternoon wandering every street and stopping in nearly every cute boutique we could find.
Take in the view of The Pass from Fisherman's Lookout
Perhaps the most beautiful and most Instagrammable spot on Cape Byron, The Pass is a stunning beach (very popular for surfing), best seen from the iconic wooden steps leading up to Fisherman's Lookout. Keep your eyes peeled in case you spot dolphins!
Walk the Cape Byron Walking Track
The Cape Byron Walking Track is a 3.4km trail starting near The Pass all the way up to Cape Byron Lighthouse and then back down in a loop around the Cape. It's a stunning walk past the Cape's beaches with gorgeous coastal views all the way to the famous lighthouse.
Find the Most Easterly Point on Australian Mainland
Located on the Cape Byron Walking Track, this sign marks the point where the Australian mainland reaches furthest east.
→ Find the most westerly point in Australia in Cape Range National Park!
Spot Cape Byron Lighthouse
The famous lighthouse of Byron Bay is an icon on the skyline, standing proudly above the Cape, especially beautiful at sunset. From here, you can see all the beaches around and all the little surfers below catching waves. The lighthouse first opened in 1901 and is still active to this day.
You can drive to the lighthouse or walk the Cape Byron Walking Track to get here.
Hang out at Tallow Beach
Tallow Beach is a long, beautiful beach away from the busyness of Byron Bay which is very popular for more experienced surfers. Make sure to check out the view from the Cape Byron Lighthouse above!
Explore Broken Head Nature Reserve
The short walk to the Three Sisters is a beautiful route along the headland through rainforest with lovely coastal views.
Spend an afternoon shopping in Newrybar
A wonderful afternoon escape from Byron Bay is out to the tiny historical village of Newrybar set back in the Hinterland. I visited Newrybar when I was in Byron Bay back in 2019 and spent a solo day here celebrating my 23rd birthday. I biked all the way there (up the hill!) from Byron Bay and took myself out for a birthday lunch and browsed the darling shops.
When I returned to Australia in 2026 with my partner, I knew I wanted to show him adorable Newrybar again.
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Hi! I’m Jana, a Dutch-German-British-Canadian with a dream of seeing every country in the world. I am a storyteller, photographer and adventurer passionate about documenting and sharing my travels.
