Thousands of school leavers descend on Byron Bay for Schoolies 2022
Celebrity haven Byron Bay is a hot spot for young graduates keen to let loose. Here’s what they’ve been up to as they celebrate the end of their schooling.
Byron Shire
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It’s that time of the year when many school leavers promise their parents they will be on their best behaviour as they kiss them goodbye, while crossing their fingers behind their backs.
Party hub Byron Bay has been bustling with fresh year 12 graduates eager to let loose after all their years stuck in a classroom.
As the sun began to set on Wednesday, venue security increased and police were out in force patrolling for those causing trouble, or who overindulged.
The former students happily joined long queues of people awaiting entry into the Beach Hotel, the Northern.
Many of the young women donned tight dresses with their hair unbound, while the young men favoured collared shirts, with quite a few mullets flowing.
Most of the school leavers have been enjoying days at the beach, judging by the telltale signs of sunburn.
Abigail Webster, from South Yarra in Melbourne, said visiting the beach at Byron Bay has been one of her favourite parts of the trip.
“The best thing from Schoolies was low-key just chatting to people at the end of the night and coming to the beach where everyone is around,” she said.
Spirits have been at a high as the schoolies celebrate the end of an era and the beginning of a new life chapter.
To assist the youngsters, the Red Frogs tent at Apex Park has been responding a range of requests.
The organisation is a fixture at Schoolies and is described as providing a “positive peer presence in alcohol-fuelled environments”.
The Red Frogs have organised pancake cook ups, room visits, emotional support, walk homes and red frog lollies for school leavers.
So far, it appears pizza has been ones of the biggest dangers, oddly enough.
Maddie Rose, 18, almost lost a tooth while trying to eat a slice on Wednesday night.
I thought I was bitting into pizza, but I miscalculated where it was in my mouth … my tooth is still in my mouth, it’s just kind of loose, which is fine,” she said.
“I really like my teeth so it was quite sad but it’s okay.
‘Besides from that, it’s been great we’ve been walking up, walking, napping and then going out at night.”
Those who have travelled into town from the cities have noticed a difference in Byron Bay’s night culture.
“Everything is dead by 1am, the night life is so different from Melbourne,” Maddie said.
NSW Schoolies 2022 will wrap up on Sunday.
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