Discover loads of things to do in Byron Bay in New South Wales that go beyond sitting on the beach! In this guide, I’m sharing my experience to help you prepare for an action packed holiday that involving heaps of Byron Bay attractions, visits to the hidden gems in the Byron Bay Hinterland and so much more.
If you’ve been wondering what to do in Byron Bay, fear not… you’ll be coming back to this page time and time again. We’ve visited the Northern Rivers region so many times over the years, so we’ve compiled everything you need to know in this post. Bookmark it right now!
In this guide, expect everything from the Cape Byron Lighthouse walk, the famous Byron Community Market, best Byron parties, waterfalls, beautiful towns to visit nearby and so much more!
| Looking for the best places to eat in Byron Bay? Check out our Ultimate 31 Best Byron Bay Restaurants & Cafes |
What makes Byron Bay special?
Wondering what Byron Bay is best known for? While it’s the most popular coastal town in Australia and the most expensive place to live in the country, there’s a reason why. And we’re not talking about the Netflix show Byron Baes, even if only one of the cast members actually lives in the area (we were told this by a local!).
There are so many Byron Bay activities, but one of the main draw cards are the legendary beaches and of course the famous Byron Bay Surf Festival in August. In my experience, the town has a proper holiday feel to it unlike anywhere else in Australia, and you’ll find a mixture of people gravitating towards this small beach town.
It’s not just about the beaches here, we reckon it’s is home to some of the best food in Australia. Honestly, it’s pretty rare to find crappy food here. Plus one of our favourite places to visit is the Byron Bay countyside, which is totally underrated. It really is stunning and worth venturing around to see the gorgeous villages, waterfalls and so much more which we’ll talk more about in this guide.
How many days should you spend in Byron Bay?
Every time we come to Byron Bay, we always say how we wish we had longer here because there are so many Byron Bay activities you can tick off. I would personally spend about five days in the area, but if you can, you might like to stay longer. Hire a car if you’re not doing a road trip, as we really do recommend getting out of the town and seeing what the nearby areas have to offer.
If you’re doing a road trip, make sure you check out our guide, 22 Best Places To Stop Between Sydney and Byron Bay as we’ve included some of the more off the beaten path hidden gems you need to see for yourself.
Best things to do in Byron Bay!
1. A must do! Kayaking with dolphins in Byron Bay
A trip to Byron Bay isn’t complete without booking this legendary kayak with dolphins tour! Kayaking is one of the best activities, and is something everyone needs to experience! This is because the likelihood of bumping into some dolphins along the way is almost a given.
It’s a long standing legendary kayaking tour that takes you right out into the ocean where you might see some dolphins and whales if you’re visiting during the whale migration season (between June – November).
2. Learn to surf in the legendary Byron Bay
Byron Bay in New South Wales is the perfect place to learn to surf in Australia, and the place many backpackers wait to learn as it’s not as intimidating as Bondi for example.
The waves generally are quite small which makes it a great spot for anyone looking to gain confidence in the surf. Pre-book this small group learn to surf lesson as the teacher will be able to spend more time in helping you get on the board quickly.
3. Jump out of a plane and go sky diving in Byron Bay
There’s about four places along the East Coast of Australia where backpackers can tick off the bucket list sky dive and Byron Bay is one of the top ones. It’s no surprise as the views would be epic over the most popular beach town in Australia! Pre-book your sky dive here as they book up quickly!
4. Spend the day on a Byron Bay waterfalls and hidden gems tour
Discover why Byron is so popular by jumping on this waterfalls and hidden gems tour with a local. You’ll soon realise there’s more to the area than the centre of Byron as you’ll venture into the hinterland to swim in loads of amazing waterfalls, be shown jaw-dropping hidden beaches and much more!
5. Jump on a full day wildlife safari tour
Always wanted to see kangaroos and koalas in the wild? Jump on this wildlife safari and see Australian wildlife in the wild! You’re guaranteed to see koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, flying foxes and birds on this exciting tour. A locally sourced picnic lunch is included as well.
6. Bucket list snorkel with turtles
Did you know Byron Bay is home to marine life that is found in the Great Barrier Reef and in the deep Southern Ocean? Jump on this snorkel with turtles tour and you’ll be greeted with incredible snorkelling found in Julian Rocks, one of the most underrated places to snorkel in Australia.
7. Book a memorable sunrise hot air balloon flight
Book a beautiful sunrise hot air balloon flight over Byron Bay and see a stunning sunrise while spotting all of the beaches and local towns from above. This is one of the best places to do a hot air balloon flight in Australia, so if it’s been on your bucket list, I highly recommend doing it here.
8. Go whale watching in Byron Bay with a marine biologist
One of the most popular attractions is to go whale watching! If you’re visiting between June – November, the possibilities are endless to witness the breathtaking whale migration as the humpback whales pass up and down the East Coast of Australia in their natural habitat. It’s an incredible experience, so pre-book the whale watching tour here before it sells out.
9. Spot glow worms while cycling the Northern Rivers Trail
If you’re sick of sitting on the beach and fancy getting active, hire an e-bike including shuttle hire and spend the day cycling the new Northern Rivers Trail. The incredible cycle route starts in Murwillumbah and ends in Casino, passing through Byron Bay.
When booking your e-bike hire, you’ll be picked up and dropped back to your accommodation so you can enjoy immersing yourself in nature along the rainforest of the Scenic Rim, and beautiful towns along the Byron and Tweed Hinterland. And of course, you’ll pass through a tunnel which is home to plenty of glow worms to see in real life!
10. Visit the Cape Byron Lighthouse at sunrise
The Cape Byron Walking Track to the famous Cape Byron Lighthouse at sunrise must be on your to do list. Either walk from Byron Bay town centre and along the Cape Byron Walking Track, or you can drive up. If you’re walking, it’s going to take about 1 hour as you’ll want to stop and take photos along the way. If you’re driving up to the top of the Byron Bay Lighthouse, getting a car park is very limited and you have to pay for parking as well. From here you can go to the most easterly point in Australia.
The Lighthouse closes in the evening so you can only drive up to the parking area opp Tallows Beach as they close the gates to the top.
11. Best Byron Bay Beaches
Byron Bay is home to some of the best beaches in New South Wales, but which one is the best? With so many beaches to choose from, don’t make the same mistake I made when I first came here and just go to Main Beach.
With pristine beaches to choose from, personally my favourite beach in Byron Bay is Wategos Beach. There’s something quite magical about it and if you time it right, you’ll be able to walk over to Little Wategos Beach on the right hand side which is almost completely secluded. Continue on to the right and you’ll find some awesome rock pools to swim in.
On the opposite end of the main beach is Belongil Beach which is dog friendly and feels a bit more open. The Pass is a popular surfing spot with the famous Fisherman’s Lookout to see the beach from a higher perspective as well as a visit to the Pass Cafe. Don’t forget Clarkes Beach and Tallow Beach which is a gorgeous long 4 mile beach to get away from it all in Arakwal National Park, stretching from Cosy Corner to Broken Head.
If you’re really looking to get away from the crowds and have a car, go check out the secluded beaches in Broken Head Nature Reserve. We’ve been to Whites Beach and it kinda reminded us of the beautiful beaches in Agnes Water which is where we used to live.
12. Hang out at the Byron Bay markets
There are so many excellent Byron Bay markets to go to, so luckily we’ve found out when they are all on.
Byron Bay Community Market -1st Sunday of every month is the biggest market in the Byron Shire, selling jewellery, fresh produce, takeaway food, plants, furniture etc.
Byron Bay Farmer’s Market – Every Thursday morning from 7-11am selling fresh local produce from local farmers.
Byron Bay Twilight Market – Every Saturday night in Byron Bay town centre at the Railway Park between 4pm-9pm from Oct – last Saturday before Easter with local arts & crafts etc.
Mullumbimby Farmers Markets – Fridays from 7-11am at the Mullumbimby Showgrounds for local produce, breakfast etc.
Bangalow Markets – on the fourth Sunday of every month, Bangalow is transformed into a massive market selling everything from crafts, food, local produce and so much more.
13. Check out the vintage shops in Byron Bay
We recently discovered the amazing Mr Vintage shop which is a cool vintage clothes shop selling a lot of vintage t-shirts, caps and denim. Bring your other half and let them play the Teenage Turtles arcade game while you spend a few hours finding some hidden gems here.
We also love Miss Brown Vintage, but head to the Brunswick Heads store as it’s actually cheaper than the one in the middle of Byron Bay shopping centre.
14. Party in Byron
Turns out this town is home to some legendary parties but to know where and when is all about getting to know the locals. I’ve heard these parties can go on for days at a time!
If you don’t have any luck, there’s loads of places to party in Byron itself. The Beach Hotel is the main pub in town which draws in the crowds and live music.
The Piano Bar at The Northern Hotel has become the go to place for everyone to sing out their hearts to classic songs played by guys on two pianos! Arrive before 7pm to avoid entry fees.
The Rails is one of the last remaining original Byron pubs with live music, but last time we visited, it was full of 18 year olds which was very different to what we saw maybe 5-7 years ago. And for those looking for more upmarket, Loft is the place to go for more of a swanky vibe and cocktails.
15. Circus Arts
If you’re looking for things to do in Byron Bay in the rain, check out Circus Arts which is a fun circus and flying trapeze school. Book a class for yourself or for kids and enjoy learning how to master the art of essentially flying!
16. Go to a Byron Bay Festival
Bryon Bay is home to some of Australia’s best music festivals. If you’re visiting Byron Bay during the festival period or even during school holidays, it will obviously be pretty busy here. Personally I’d head to all of the below festivals as the line ups are really impressive!
The Falls Festival takes place over New Years’ and brings in a crowd 18-30 year olds (we were in Byron around this time and saw lots of teenagers all dressed up in their best festival gear). They usually have a cracking dance music line up too!
Bluesfest is a massively legendary festival which brings in an older crowd of 30+ and takes place in April. Previous line ups have included BB King and Bob Dylan.
17. Visit The Farm In Byron Bay
The Farm is a bit comparable to The Grounds in Sydney but it’s actually set on a real farm (run by the same owners at The Three Blue Ducks). While lunch is quite expensive here these days, you can just grab something from their cafe instead like a toastie and sit out on the picnic benches. You can also bring your own picnic here and sit on the grass. It’s a great day trip if you’re hiring a bike too.
18. Find the best Byron Bay restaurants
So we’ve raved about the delicious food in Byron Bay that we needed to write a whole separate post about our favourite places to eat. Some standouts include, The Roadhouse, Treehouse, Bay Leaf, Folk and of course Raes.
Check out our complete Best Byron Bay Restaurants Guide to help you plan the amazing cafes and restaurants for your next trip.
19. Check out some of the nearby towns
You absolutely must visit the Byron Bay Hinterland. There’s something absolutely amazing about it that you really need to see it for yourself!
There’s loads of small towns to visit, and here are our favourites:
Bangalow
This is a beautiful little town, home to those amazing monthly markets. It’s a bit more up market than other towns, but it’s somewhere we would personally live if we were moving to the area. If you’re not driving, jump on this Byron Bay Hinterland tour which includes a visit to Crystal Castle and Bangalow.
Federal
I really love Federal which is near Crystal Castle. Although the town is tiny, the drive out to there is stunning and what’s worth the visit it to the amazing Federal Doma Cafe. The Japanese/Australian fusion food is absolutely brilliant!
Brunswick Heads
This is a brilliant coastal town just 10 minutes from Byron. It’s like a mini Byron without the crowds and has become really cool in the last few years. Think vintage clothes shops, vintage furniture shops, trendy cafes, and a super cute cinema. I would live here in a heartbeat!
Mullwillumbah and Uki
I just love Mullwillumbah and Uki. Go check out the M-Arts Precinct, it’s a really cool space to check out local artists works. And Uki is just stunning. It’s home to the Mount Warning walk (currently closed at the time of writing) loads of swimming holes and a Krishna Centre I really want to check out. It’s easily one of our favourite places in the Northern Rivers by a mile.
20. Go to Crystal Castle & Shambhala Gardens
There’s something pretty special about Crystal Castle & Shambhala Gardens which is a beautiful place to visit in the Hinterland. The main attraction is it’s home to two of the largest crystals in the world. The Shambhala Gardens are absolutely gorgeous to walk around, expect bamboo everywhere! The cafe serves up some of THE best veggie food in Byron as well! Pre-book your Crystal Castle half-day trip from Byron here, as it gets booked up fast
21. Visit the Insta worthy Killen Falls
Fancy getting the perfect Instagram shot to say you’ve been to Byron Bay? Head out to the stunning Killen Falls and stand behind the famous waterfall. The walking track is only 1km return long so you won’t have to commit to an entire day to visit it. Find out more in our guide, 15 Tips For Visiting Killen Falls.
22. Visit the wonderful hidden gem of Kiva Spa in Mullumbimby
You know when you have one of those ‘go to places’ every time you visit a town? Yep, Kiva Spa is one of them for us and it’s only $30 for a hour at the time of writing. When you walk in, you’ll be greeted by a Balinese vibe, fairy lights and incense flowing throughout the spa.
There’s loads of jacuzzi’s dotted around with a steam room but best of all, the authentic sauna is incredible. I’m not even a fan of saunas usually… but wow, this one is on another level. You have to crawl into it and the energy inside is insane. It’s worth visiting just to experience this sauna alone, and that’s coming from someone who usually suffers from claustrophobia.
Byron Bay Accommodation
Rooftop pool at Hotel Marvell
Wondering where to stay now we’ve covered your long list of Byron bay attractions? Here’s our top places to stay in Byron Bay. Read our full guide for Where To Stay In Byron Bay.
- Luxury: Crystalbrook Byron (formerly Byron at Byron) beautiful resort with infinity pool, farm to plate dining opposite Tallow Beach.
- Luxury: Hotel Marvell is Byron Bay’s first 5 star hotel, complete with a rooftop pool and bar in the centre of town.
- Mid-range: The Lord Byron is located 500m from the centre of town with free bike hire and surfboard hire too!
- Backpacker: Byron Bay YHA is in the middle of the town centre, has a pool and is located next to some of the best cafes in the area – aka Bay Leaf!
| Read our full guide for Where To Stay In Byron Bay > |
More Byron Bay guides to read
Check out the rest of our Byron Bay guides to help you plan your trip!
- Best Things To Do In Byron Bay
- 15 Tips For Visiting Killen Falls In Byron Bay
- 22 Places To Stop On Your Sydney to Byron Bay Road Trip
- 25 Best Things To Do In Yamba NSW
- 40 Best Beaches In NSW You Need To Visit
- 31 Best Byron Bay Restaurants & Cafes You Need To Visit
- Where to Stay In Byron Bay: 17 Luxury to Backpacker Accommodation Ideas
Things to do in Byron Bay
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