Backyard Tourist: Boulder Beach, Lennox Head in northern NSW

Few would have heard of this beach, much less visited. And while it’s easily accessible, it’s a bit different from your usual golden sands, blue water. Perhaps that’s what makes it so breathtaking.

THE morning is crisp, the sky is blue and it feels like the day will be warm enough to explore around Lennox Head.

And indeed it is.

Today, one of our most interesting stops happens to be at a place I decided on last minute after booking a trip to Lennox Head for two nights — Boulder Beach.

SCENIC NORTHERN NSW FARM DRIVE FOR THE FAMILY

Boulder Beach, northern NSW. Picture: Amanda Robbemond

I only visited here because I had read about it in a small tourist brochure moments before and Google Maps backed the idea up by informing me it was just a five minutes drive from the hotel.

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Surfers may know of this stretch as a particularly good place to catch some waves — on both sides of the headland, it turns out — but for others, it could have been just any other beach.

But it’s not.

The little swampy lake here is beautiful, complete with rejoicing frogs. Picture: Amanda Robbemond

Hidden off The Coast Road, the northern part of the beach is just a short trek through the undergrowth before you come out at the water’s edge.

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To your right, you’ll have the small Boulder Beach headland, while in front of you will be smooth round boulders and surfers dotted among the waves.

Boulder Beach is a favourite for surfers. Picture: Amanda Robbemond

To the left is a beautiful little swamp, metres from the shoreline.

A small creek trickles from the body of water out into the ocean, frogs singing so loudly at 11am in the morning it’s difficult to pick where the sound is coming from.

While we didn’t have time to explore beyond this spot, the track takes you from Boulder Beach and winds all the way up the imposing cliff back up to Pat Morton Lookout.

EAT AND DRINK

The Point Café, Lennox Head, northern NSW. Picture: Amanda Robbemond

The Point Cafe is a fantastic pit stop on a cool winter morning.

Nestled just off the main drag at Lennox Head, so minutes from Boulder Beach, this casual cafe has a relaxed vibe with views to the azure ocean.

The menu is extensive, including a breaky wrap, acai bowls, bacon and egg roll, smashed avocado, toasted sandwiches as well as kebabs.

Everything can be made vegetarian or vegan, and they’re even happy to extend this to their smoothies.

DISCOVER

The lighthouse is even more beautiful at sunset. Picture: iStock

On the way down to Lennox Head, or on your way back from there, stop in at Byron Bay.

And if you haven’t explored enough, then the track leading up to the Cape Byron Lighthouse is where you want to be.

The lighthouse was built at the turn of the 19th century and still operates today, though it’s now an automatic light, rather than resident keepers.

It is the most easterly point of Australia’s mainland and of course, another great place to spot whales during the season.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE … DO

Mochi the greyhound enjoying a walk at Pat Morton Lookout. Picture: Amanda Robbemond

Pat Morton Lookout. If you haven’t been before, there’s no better chance to visit this neighbouring viewpoint, considering it’s on the very same track.

The view from the cliffs up here is breathtaking. On clear days you can see whales breaching and the water in the shallows next to the jutting cliffs are teal blue, contrasting against the deep earthy red and black tones of the rock cliffs.

The lookout has lots of places along the cliff to simply sit down and stare out across the horizon.

This is exactly the perfect place to relax.