Byron Bay Australia Sightseeing
Unquestionably deserving its reputation as one of Australia's most scenic locations, Byron Bay has a wealth of great destinations to seek out and explore, both within the township and throughout the surrounding region.
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. More on the township of Byron Bay
Cape Byron Lighthouse
The most iconic symbol of Byron Bay is the classic Cape Byron Lighthouse, which was completed in 1901. Standing sentinel atop the Cape Bryon headland, the lighthouse is particularly beautiful in the early morning, when the dawn light reflects warmly off its pure white facade, contrasting sharply with the dark blue waters of the Pacific Ocean and the magical hues of the sky. Sunsets can be equally moving in the right conditions. Although it is over 100 years old, the lighthouse remains fully functional and is still a very important part of maritime safety and navigation in the area. More on Cape Byron Lighthouse
Cape Byron Headland Reserve
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 rainforest area on Cape Byron is protected as the Cape Byron Headland Reserve, with an excellent network of eco-friendly trails that is a wonderful place for jogging or walking, with a chance to see wallabies, many species of birds, and some delightful flora. More on Cape Byron Headland Reserve
Byron Bay Beaches
Byron Bay has some excellent beaches, and most visitors head straight for Main Beach for a spot of swimming, sun bathing and people watching. There are great strips of fine white sandy beaches to the east and west of Main Beach, such as Clark's Beach, Belongil Beach, Watego's Beach and Little Watego's Beach. Tallow Beach extends south from Byron Bay toward Broken Head and becomes the famous Seven Mile Beach which ends at delightful Lennox Heads. More on the beaches of Byron Bay
North of Byron Bay
Heading north from Byron Bay you will pass the idealic community of Ocean Shores before arriving at delightful Brunswick Heads, a small township at the mouth of the Brunswick River. The stretch of coastline between Byron Bay and Brunswick Heads is almost an unbroken stretch of white sandy beach, most of which is almost desterted. Brunswick Heads is a charming town with its own fleet of fishing trawlers which unload their catch daily onto the wharf just inside the breakwater. Needless to say, seafood is a great buy at Brunswick Heads and the reasonably priced restaurants serve up sumptuous dishes prepared from the freshest lobsters, crabs, prawns, and fish. The Brunswick River is an important waterway particularly from a conservation viewpoint, and there are eco-canoeing trips along its course which take in some of the spectacular birdlife and magnificent mangrove ecosystem. More on the north of Byron Bay
South of Byron Bay
Tallow Beach runs south from Byron Bay to Broken Head, from where Seven Mile Beach continues south to peaceful Lennox Heads, which has become a more chic version of Byron Bay. Broken Head has a protected coastal rainforest reserve, as well as many secluded coves with small beaches that are perfect for a romantic getaway. Lennox Heads is what Byron Bay looked like years ago, but with a more upmarket atmosphere. More on the south of Byron Bay
Hinterland Towns
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. 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. More on Byron Bay hinterland towns
National Parks
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. Mount Warning itself is a World Heritage site famed for its panoramic vistas. Other national parks and reserves in and around Bryon Bay include Mooball National Park, Mebbin National Park, Arakwal National Park, Broken Head Nature Reserve, Brunswick Heads Nature Reserve, Cape Byron Marine Park, Tyagarah Nature Reserve, Boatharbour Nature Reserve and Cudgen Nature Reserve. More on national parks and reserves in the Byron Bay region