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.
Protecting one of the most scenic locations not only in Australia but in the world, the Cape Byron Headland Reserve features spectacular hiking trails, the Cape Byron Lighthouse, and magnificent panoramas. As the easternmost point of the Australian mainland, the Cape is an important navigation aide for migrating humpback whales which pass close to the headland. This makes Cape Byron one of the most easily accessible, reliable and fantastic places to enjoy whale watching. And when the whales are not around, you can still spot dolphins and marine turtles! The hiking trails pass through a wide range of habitats for such a small area of land, with rainforest, scrub, grasslands, rocky coastline and beaches all traversed in a few hours. Many bird species can be found in the reserve, including osprey, wrens, honeyeaters and flycatchers. And if you are lucky you may come across swamp wallabies and bandicoots! The best time to visit the Cape Byron Headland Reserve is at dawn, when you are welcomed with a breathtaking sunrise, 100 metre sheer cliffs plunging into the Pacific Ocean, and, of course, the iconic Cape Byron Lighthouse.