Byron Bay Australia Travel and Transportation
Although the closest airport is in Ballina, most visitors who fly to Byron Bay use the more convenient Gold Coast (Coolangatta) Airport on Queensland's Gold Coast and travel the remaining distance by bus or rental car. There is also a rail link from Sydney, while a number of coach companies run buses from Sydney, Brisbane and regional cities and towns.
Byron Bay by air
Most visitors accessing Byron Bay by air will use Gold Coast Airport, which has a more convenient flight schedule than the closer Balina and Lismore airports(scheduled flights from Sydney) or Byron Bay (light aircraft) airstrip. Gold Coast Airport serves flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Newcastle, Adelaide, and Perth in Australia, as well as Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin in New Zealand. Airlines include Qantas, Virgin Blue, Jetstar, Freedom Air and Pacific Blue. There are convenient road transit options from Gold Coast Airport to Byron Bay (2 hours), including buses, shuttles, taxis, limousines and rental cars. International visitors also have the option of flying to Brisbane Airport and transiting by road to Byron Bay (3 hours).
Byron Bay by road
Byron Bay is conveniently located off the Pacific Highway, Australia's Route 1. The town exit is well sign-posted, and the roads in the area are large and safe. The Pacific Highway is an extremely scenic drive, with parts of the old highway hugging the coast and offering stunning vistas. Due to this, many visitors to the area opt to rent a car in Brisbane (2.5 hours), Gold Coast (1.5 hours) or even Sydney (11 hours) and drive to Byron Bay. A cheaper but less comfortable way to travel is by long-distance coach, however there is an extensive network of routes regularly operated by various companies, stopping at all the main towns in the region.
Byron Bay by train
A time-consuming but relaxing way to travel from Sydney to Byron Bay is by train. There is an overnight train that takes around 13 hours and arrives at Byron Bay early in the morning. The return trip to Sydney is a day trip, getting in to Sydney in the evening.
Getting around Byron Bay
There is no public transportation in Byron Bay, but the town is very small and most places of interest are within walking distance. For travelling to destinations further away you will either need to have your own transportation or take a taxi. Another alternative is to use a tour operator.