Things to do in Byron Bay: Top places you must visit on holiday

Forget your green smoothie or catching a glimpse of Chris Hemsworth – here’s the side of Byron Bay you’ve never heard about.

Sun-kissed days, glorious beaches, friendly, free-spirited locals, and a perennial summer ambience – it’s undeniable that Byron Bay offers a recipe for holiday heaven.

Positioned on the northern NSW coast, this seaside slice of paradise has morphed from unknown gem frequented only by hippies and surfers in the 1960s, through to an A-list Mecca where property prices have soared in tandem with the celebrity population (thank you Mr Hemsworth!)

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There’s more to Byron Bay than their beautiful beaches and stunning scenery.

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But while the vibe has changed in the last 50 or so years, you still don’t need a superstar pay packet to enjoy Byron. No, us mere mortals can still swim in crystal clear seas and hike around pristine hinterland, while enjoying world-class dining options thanks to a wealth of sea changing chefs and pioneering big city foodies.

So, whether you’re planning a cheeky weekender or a week-long getaway, read on for our ultimate guide to where to eat, stay and play in Byron Bay.

SEE & DO

A beach bum’s dream, Byron is home to some of the best stretches of sand in the state. But in terms of quintessential must-dos, no Byron first-timer should miss out on the four-kilometre-long coastal walk that leads to the famed Cape Byron Lighthouse. Though wow-worthy at any time, for bragging rights time your visit with sunrise as a mere 200-metres from the lighthouse lies the most easterly point in Australia. Time your visit right and you’ll even be able to see humpback whales during their annual migration.

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There’s no better way to start the day. Picture: iStock

Speaking of aquatic critters, directly underneath the Byron headlands is one of the country’s top 10 dive sites, the Julian Rocks Marine Reserve. Only five minutes away by boat, this protected area is one of the few locations in the world where you can encounter species found in both the Great Barrier Reef and the Southern Ocean, including leopard sharks, manta rays, sea turtles and both wobbegong and nurse sharks. Byron Bay Dive Centre caters to both experienced and newbie divers, as well as offering snorkelling excursions to the reserve.

Given the area’s hippy credentials, yoga options abound in Byron and there’s no better way to start your day here than with a salute to the sun.

Sattva Yoga and Massage studio offers appointments overlooking Byron’s main beach. Picture: iStock Picture: iStock

Studios offer a yogic medley, from Vinyasa to Hatha, so anyone can get their downward facing dog fix. A great option is Sattva Yoga & Massage Byron Bay which offers daily drop-in and private (by arrangement) classes that are suitable for both beginners and longtime yogis. Plus, it’s the only yoga studio in Byron overlooking the main beach, meaning you can work up a sweat (and an appetite for brekkie) before cooling off in the nearby ocean. How’s that for morning glory?

EAT

Fast-becoming one of the trendiest foodie destinations in Australia, Byron’s sun and sand combo has seen a population of world-class chefs and hatted restaurateurs relocate here to open a raft of eclectic and exciting eateries, keeping visiting gourmands well fed.

In Byron – as you might expect – there are brekkie and brunch options aplenty and there’s more avocado on toast variations than you can shake a stick at. Top picks include the Byron Bay General Store which has been an institution in the area since its construction in the 1940s.

Byron Bay General Store serves up some of the best breakfast in town.

You'll want to leave for dessert at the popular Byron Bay General store – a local favourite.

Now serving up an all-day menu of drool-worthy options (all made with ingredients sourced from local and organic farmers, to create an all-day menu that caters well to all dietary needs. Hot tip: make like a local and order the “Lordy” – a pairing of fried egg, spinach slaw, tomato, battered potato cake, halloumi and smokey relish. Or the “Greenday’”herbed zucchini fritters with roasted cauliflower, edamame, kale salad and coconut and cucumber labneh.

Another great brunch option is the Byron Fresh Cafe. Set right in the heart of town, the venue caters to both saintly healthy eating types (superfoods feature heavily) as well as more indulgent, hungry sinners.

For the former there’s the antioxidant smoothie bowl or nourishing Buddha bowl, and for the latter there’s the “Big B” a tasty platter of locally made bacon and sausage, hash browns, eggs and organic sourdough.

The cafe has a heavy ‘superfood driven’ menu.

Byron Fresh Cafe is a great spot in town for a bite to eat.

Regardless of your order, expect everything to be sustainably sourced, organic, free range and with reduced refined sugars and salt.

For lunch or dinner right in the thick of the action, head to the Balcony Bar & Oyster Co. Set a few metres back from Byron’s Main Beach, book ahead to nab a table on the expansive outdoor deck, which offers views onto the street below to spy on the evening revellers walking the streets below.

Specialising in seafood, the restaurant boasts the most diverse oyster menu in Byron, but there’s plenty more on offer for vegetarians and carnivores alike, including an extensive cocktail menu packed with classics that have been given a Balcony makeover.

Balcony Byron Bay has a coastal vibe and some of the best drinks in town.

For dinner with a pan-Asian flavour, head to the newly opened Bang Bang Byron Bay. Plating up delicious southeast Asian dishes with a contemporary twist (thanks to resident top chefs from Melbourne) hungry diners can feast on fresh curries with a twist, while sipping unique cocktails, all to the beats of an in-house DJ.

But for dinner with one hell of a view, you can’t go past Beach Byron. The only restaurant in town to enjoy a coveted beachfront position – one high on the dunes of Clarkes Beach overlooking the crashing waves of the Pacific – an all-new menu celebrates and showcases the best in regional coastal flavours using premium local organic ingredients.

Balcony knows how to dish up fresh Oysters.

Bang Bang Byron Bay is the perfect stop for a seafood fix.

Expect the likes of roasted scallops, oysters, yellowfin tuna with harissa and garlic yoghurt, black lime ash grilled octopus, spanner crab capellini and more, all of which is guaranteed to make your tummy sing. While you’ll need to book ahead to get a table, if you do miss out fear not, there’s a cute kiosk out front selling posh waffles, fish and chips, oysters and ice cream.

DRINK

A trendsetter in the Australian beer scene for more than a decade, Stone and Wood have been brewing and bottling handcrafted beer since 2008.

Fiercely independent, beer-lovers can sample their crafty offering at the source via a new purpose-built site that brings together a working brewery and tasting room.

Tours run daily and take visitors through an in-depth history of beer and the production process – all while seeing the fully operational brewery – before sitting down for a guided tasting of five beers, including the Main Range, limited releases, and special experimental batch beers.

SLEEP

Though there’s ample accommodation options – both in Byron and in the surrounding area – one of the best, is also one of the newest. Touted as “New York meets barefoot Byron” The Bower has already been praised by a string of glossy mags as the perfect base for a Byron getaway, and with good reason.

The Bower Byron Bay is the ultimate in style and luxury.

Spread over barns, cottages, and hotel rooms, each suite is bespoke and one-of-a-kind thanks to unique vintage and contemporary artworks, rich textured furnishings, gourmet minibars, and sumptuous beds that befit any 5-star hotel. In addition, guests can loan surf boards, beach towels, umbrellas and bikes to fit right into the local way of life.

Every room looks straight out of a magazine.

Though a mere kilometre from the bustling town centre, a central oasis of towering palm trees, lush foliage and a circular swimming pool offers a place of privacy and tranquilly.

OUT OF TOWN

No trip to Byron would be complete without getting out of town and exploring a bit of the surrounding hinterland. After all, the Byron Shire region is home to a trove of charming small towns. One of the standouts – and only 15-minutes north – is Mullumbimby. It’s here – alongside a few other hinterland ‘hoods’ – where many of Byron’s hippy population from yesteryear have relocated.

Be sure to venture outside Byron’s township to stunning accommodation options in Mullumbimby. Picture: Blackbird Byron boutique accommodation, supplied by Blackbird

Still firmly embracing its counterculture roots, the picturesque fusion of rural and alternative lifestyles has created a thoroughfare of art galleries, antique stores, yoga studios, organic groceries, and a lively cafe scene, the newest of which is Punch and Daisy.

In keeping with the town’s alternative credentials, expect yummy superfood salads, home-brewed kombucha and locally roasted coffee. This place also serves the best coffee in the area, hands down.

To work off brunch, hop back into the car and drive to the nearby tiny coastal town of Brunswick Heads (only 10-minutes from central Byron).

No trip to Byron Bay is complete without a stop into the new Stone and Wood Brewery.

The new Stone and Wood Brewery offer various tasting board options.

Home to the most significant river system feeding the Cape Byron Marine Park, the Brunswick River is a must-visit for Attenborough enthusiasts given its incredibly diverse flora and fauna. GoSeaKayak runs kayaking expeditions down the waterway to spot dolphins, whales, turtles, endangered birds, and much more, as guides expertly transport tourists along the stunning river beaches.

This journalist travelled to Byron Bay as a guest of Destination NSW.