Byron Bay

Byron Bay has certainly gained a reputation for having a relaxed atmosphere. The unspoiled hinterland and nearby world heritage-listed parks have helped cement Byron Bay as a must-visit. It is also the most eastern point of Australia; has around a population of 9,000; and is famous for its natural beauty, great surfing, and lazy days in the sun. A definite highlight is that the many beaches around Byron Bay allow for dolphin-watching really quite regularly and whale-watching from May to October.

Quick Tips:

Best Way To Get Around:

Walk. They have some great walking tracks around the beach and sea.

This is a fab B&B. It has four rooms and is a spacious and comfortable beach house nestled amongst tropical gardens. Although only 400m from the centre of town and Byron's lovely beaches, it's far away enough from the hustle and bustle of town to allow you to wind down and relax. The couple who own it (John and Jane) are so friendly and will help tell you the best places to visit and even arrange a myriad of activities, including sailing, snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing, horseback riding, gliding, bush walking, dolphin- and whale-watching, and tours to galleries and cafés.

Our one-bedroom was huge and included a living room with a TV and video, private spa and sauna, and guest kitchenette. You also get a 10% discount when you pay cash. I highly recommend this place. And it is well worth paying the $10 extra to get the largest room in the house with the spa!

We ate here both nights we stayed in Byron, as the food is just too good. They have a wicked tapas menu that has such delectable delights as marinated feta in rosemary and olive oil, meatballs, breads, lamb cutlets, and chorizo and a fantastic á la carte menu. Try the lamb rump with couscous is just to die for. They also have a fab cocktail and wine list. Get a seat outside on the balcony and watch the world pass you by.

As the name implies, you may wear as little as you wish on this clothing-optional beach. It has great views and is 4.5 kilometers long.

Mt Warning and the Burringbar Range form an impressive backdrop to the northwest skyline when you look out across Byron Bay. A climb up Mt Warning makes an impressive day trip out of Byron Bay, and one I would strongly recommend!

Access to Mt Warning is via the town of Mullumbimby about 25 minutes north of Byron on the Pacific Highway. From Mullum, you then enter the Mt Warning National Park and drive to the foot of the mountain, where you can park your car. The walk up takes about 5 hours, and the final part involves a small section where you must hold onto chains to climb the rocky summit. The rest of the walk is through stunning littoral rain forest enjoying the abundance of wildlife, from "scrub turkeys" to lyrebirds, green catbirds (yes, that's right CAT birds - when you hear their call, you will understand that one!), and the occasional wallaby. At the summit you are rewarded with stunning views out towards northern NSW - Byron Bay and Lennox Head - west towards the fertile hills around Casino and Lismore, and north along the coast to the Queensland border and beyond to the touristy Gold Coast.

Make sure you take plenty of water and let somebody know where you are going and when you plan to return. Also, in winter, ensure that you do not push on to the summit if it is past noon, as the eastern slopes can get quite dark if you return after sunset or even in mid-afternoon. This is a day trip that I strongly recommend to anyone who enjoys walking and seeing Australia's great outdoors.

I highly recommended taking a sea-kayak trip from Clarks Beach around The Pass and into Little Wategos Beach - a stone's throw off Australia's easternmost point. Byron Bay Sea Kayaks run multiple trips per day during the peak summer season (November - February), and they cost $40 per person. You will then meet up at Clarks Beach and get kitted out in life vests, helmets, and paddles, and they will take the boats down to the beach to load. The trip is about 4 hours and takes you at a leisurely pace out past the Pass, where you are likely to see dolphins (we only saw them about 100m away, since they were busy herding a school of pilchards in for a snack and weren't interested in playing with kayakers!). Once around the Pass, you paddle to Little Wategos for a snack and drink with time for a little walk up to the lookouts, etc., before heading back onto the boats for the paddle back to the Pass. No experience is necessary, and it is a great way to see 'the Bay'. For more info, email: learn@dolphinkayaking.com.au.

Wategos Beach sits in between the main stretch of Byron Bay and the lighthouse and is a great beach for surfing. At the moment, the main part of Byron Bay has lost a bit if sand (due to the natural shifting of sand around the coastal areas), and at low tide you have to walk quite a way out to find any good waves. Wategos Beach, however, is really pretty at the moment and great for swimming. It is also home to some of the most expensive property in Byron Bay - one place was rented out this summer for $11,000 per week! In spite of the housing, the beach is uninterrupted, and the housing has been restrained in terms of height - a great practice in beautiful coastal areas like Byron Bay (do a search on Gold Coast, Australia, for some good examples of how to ruin a beautiful seascape through overdevelopment!).

To reach Wategos, you will have to drive in along Lighthouse Road, but parking is quite scarce in peak times, so my recommendation is to park at Palm Valley and take the 400m walk up over the headland to get stunning views of the beach.