About Byron Bay Australia
Where is Byron Bay?
Byron Bay is located on the northern coast of New South Wales, not far from the Queensland border. Cape Byron is the easternmost point of the Australian mainland, and it is almost at the midpoint of the eastern Australia coastline. Byron Bay is the name of the township that surrounds Cape Byron, which is a rocky headland renowned for its picturesque and iconic lighthouse.
Cape Byron
Named after Lord Byron by Captain Cook on his mapping voyage of the east Australia coastline during the 1760s, Cape Byron is incredibly scenic and offers spectacular 360 degree vistas of the Pacific Ocean, golden stretches of beaches, and the hinterland. The famous lighthouse dates from 1901 and has warned ships to steer well clear of this otherwise dangerous stretch of coastline. The rainforest area on Cape Byron is protected and the network of eco-friendly trails is a wonderful place for jogging or walking, with a chance to see wallabies, many species of birds, and some delightful flora.
Byron Bay Town
Once a quiet sleepy community, Byron Bay has experienced a tourism boom that has sent real estate prices soaring and resulted in plenty of development. The township has not been overwhelmed by these changes, however, and Byron Bay has managed to maintain its signature relaxed ambience and laid-back atmosphere. It's rare that one location can satisfy the expectations of people with diverse cultures, beliefs and backgrounds, but Byron Bay truly has something for everyone and makes all its visitors feel welcome. Byron Bay has plenty of accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets, from five star hotels to youth hostels. The selection of restaurants is amazing with a wide variety of international and local cuisine on offer; seafood in particular is especially sumptuous and great value. Walking around the town you'll come across plenty of quality shops selling everything from clothing to souvenirs, while the local art galleries have some excellent works. Pubs provide great places to enjoy a sundowner, and there are many lively nightspots in which to enjoy yourself until the early hours of the morning.
Around Byron Bay
One of the best things about Byron Bay is that it is so easy to rent a car and go off on a day trip to one of the many varied locations in the region. To the north and south are plenty of almost deserted beaches, such as Tallow Beach and Seven Mile Beach, and isolated coastal towns like Lennox Heads and Brunswick Heads. Inland, Mt Warning offers exhilarating hiking and camping opportunities, while exploring rural towns such as Bangalow, Lismore, Nimbin and The Channon, is a rewarding experience. There are a number of national parks in the area, such as Nightcap National Park, a world heritage site located on one side of Mt Warning famous for its waterfalls, flora, koalas, kangaroos, wallabies and hundreds of species of birds.