Have you already read my post about our days in Sydney? If not, you should definitely catch up—because before Sydney, we spent a few days in Byron Bay. And if you have read it, then you already know Byron Bay came first.
Even though I spent most of my time in Sydney eleven years ago (and only a few nights in Byron), I was more excited about Byron this time around. Maybe because surfing has become such a present part of my everyday life—and Byron Bay is made for that. Or maybe it’s because right now, I feel more at home in smaller towns and on islands than in big cities.
Both have their pros and cons, and depending on the season of life you’re in (and what you want your daily life to look like), one will feel more “right” than the other. Below, I’m sharing more about our time in Byron Bay—plus tips and favorites you can save for your own trip.
Back in Byron Bay After 11 Years
Byron Bay has had a major hype moment over the past few years. Back then, it had more of a dreamy, laid-back reputation—a relaxed little village where you’d find surfers and hippies. We stopped there on a small road trip from Brisbane to Sydney because it was one of the bigger places along the route, and we found a good hotel.
At the time, there weren’t that many hotels or restaurants. There were a few small shops here and there, surfboard rentals, and a small selection of motels and cafés. Now it feels like the town has tripled in size. The core vibe hasn’t changed much, but the overall offering has grown significantly.
These days, you’ll find a much bigger selection of accommodations and hotels, restaurants and cafés, gyms, and activities. It’s still manageable—not overwhelming—, but it’s enough variety to create really full, fun days.
I loved how quiet and simple everything felt back then. But even with all the growth, Byron completely won me over again—maybe even more than eleven years ago. That could also be because my “Byron experience” back then was pretty limited: I went into the water once on a soft-top, checked out the lighthouse, visited a few beaches… and that was basically it.
This time, two friends were in town at the same time, and we ended up surfing (sometimes twice a day), grabbing coffee, or simply sitting on the beach. Our days felt incredibly relaxed—and somehow we slipped into a little routine, even though we were only there for a few days.
Byron Bay Activities
Byron Bay is perfect for one thing above all: spending time outside in nature. There are so many beautiful beaches, great surf spots, and you can do walks and hikes along the coastline and through greenery. Whether you want to stay active or lie in the sun—or do a mix of both—everything is easy here.
In the evenings, people hang out outside in the parks or at the beach. Sometimes there’s live music, and the overall mood is relaxed and happy. It’s one of those places where being surrounded by strangers still feels… comforting, as you can exist and enjoy life.
We went to Clarkes Beach, Belongil Beach, and Tallow Beach and loved all of them. We also hiked part of the Lighthouse Trail along the coast, which I would 100% do again. And in the evenings, the atmosphere in Apex Park—right by the beach in the center of Byron—is so lovely. The best plan: grab something for dinner somewhere, sit down in the park, and enjoy the view, the vibe, and (if you’re lucky) live music.
Surfing in Byron Bay
The main reason I wanted to go back to Byron Bay was surfing. When I was in Australia eleven years ago, I did a five-day surf camp. After that, I went into the water once in Byron with a soft-top board. I definitely couldn’t surf back then. As you know, that’s a little different now. I’m still not great, but I at least understand what I’m doing out there (to a certain extent).
Online, the surf in Byron Bay—and the whole vibe around it—looked like something I’d really love. So we went for it. Long story short: I loved it. Even though the surf itself was a bit challenging.
We only surfed one of the many spots: The Pass. Not every spot is great for longboards, and during those days, the conditions at The Pass were pretty relaxed. What I completely underestimated, though: the number of people in the water.
Yes, it’s extremely crowded. And unlike Bali, about 90% of the surfers here actually know exactly what they’re doing. There were so many good surfers in the lineup that I sometimes struggled to find my place.
Luckily, The Pass has multiple takeoff zones, so I still ended up getting a few waves each session—and had so much fun.
The vibe in the water really depended on where you sat. In some areas, it felt super relaxed, and in others a bit more tense—mostly because a lot of people are genuinely good and very focused on getting their waves. Further on the shoulder (or slightly off the main peak), more people were still learning, and that part felt much more easygoing and fun.
One more factor I couldn’t fully ignore: sharks. They are part of the coastline here, and just a few weeks before we arrived, there had been a lot of shark sightings right there—so much so that people couldn’t go into the water for a few days. I tried not to be the person sitting furthest out or furthest back, but it still felt strange. The idea that a shark could show up at any moment is… a feeling.
Tips for Where to Stay + Restaurants & Cafés
We stayed a little more “outside” of Byron Bay—not directly in the center where most things happen, but only about 10 minutes away. So still a great location.
Byron is small in general, which means you don’t necessarily need to stay right in the center to have a good base. Getting from A to B is also pretty easy (more on that in a second).
We stayed at The Sunseeker, a modern motel with an ’80s-inspired design. Everything felt new, clean, and well taken care of—and it didn’t feel like a motel at all (not like the classic U.S. motel vibe). It felt much more like a boutique hotel.
In general, accommodations in Australia are pretty expensive, and the price-to-value ratio often isn’t great. This time, we had a really good overall experience, but finding something was still a challenge.
At The Sunseeker, everything worked for us: it’s quiet, walkable to the beach, has free parking, you can borrow bikes, and they even have surfboards available for free. The room was spacious and had everything we needed.
We usually book Airbnbs because we love having a small kitchen, but the options were surprisingly limited and not great, so we switched to a hotel. No kitchen, but we did have a small seating area and a fridge, which was perfect for a few days.
Byron Bay now has tons of restaurants and cafés. For vegans, the selection is a bit more limited—but we still found plenty of good spots. Here are a few of our favorites:
- Folk Byron Bay
- Blessed Bowls
- Orgasmic Food Byron Bay
- Bali Bagus Café
- Sunday Sustainable Bakery
- The Byron Bay General Store
- The Bayleaf
- The Roadhouse Byron Bay
- Combi Byron Bay
The Best Way to Get Around Byron Bay
Originally, we planned to take an Uber from the airport into town. But last minute, we changed our minds and booked a rental car for the days in Byron. We weren’t sure how we’d get around once we were there.
In the end, we probably wouldn’t have needed the car—but since the cost of an Uber was basically the same as the rental, it gave us the option to drive whenever we wanted.
That said, Byron Bay isn’t big. You can walk a lot, or take the bus. But the best option for us turned out to be renting bikes.
We didn’t even think about it at first, but when we looked for a way to transport surfboards, we found a bunch of bike rentals with surf racks. Whether you’re riding with or without a board, we can confidently say now: this is the best way to get around Byron Bay.
You can rent e-bikes or regular bikes. I was a little surprised by the prices (it’s not cheap), but you save on parking fees, and you’re more flexible than with a car. And honestly, it’s so much fun to ride through Byron’s streets on a bike. So even with the higher cost, I’d absolutely recommend it.
