Discover Byron Bay

Byron Bay offers a variety of ways to experience nature and culture: the Walgun Cape Byron walking track passes through rainforest, along beaches, across grassland and over cliffs before reaching Cape Byron Lighthouse. There are also places for bird- and whale-watching, swimming and picnics, as well as a monthly market and a guided Aboriginal cultural tour. You can shape your trip around the experiences that interest you most.

On the way to Cape Byron Lighthouse

The Walgun Cape Byron walking track takes in several types of landscape along one route: rainforest, beach, grassland and cliffs, as well as the lighthouse at the end of the trail. The historic Cape Byron Lighthouse was built in 1901 on this rugged headland. It stands at the easternmost point of Australia and overlooks Byron Bay. If you’re interested in nature and history, you’ll find both at this destination: a trail through changing landscapes and the lighthouse as a historic landmark.

At the foot of the lighthouse is the Maritime Museum, located in the former lighthouse keeper’s residence. It is open daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Tours of Cape Byron Lighthouse or the Maritime Museum are offered on a limited number of weekdays and at limited times. The museum and a tour are different ways to learn about the lighthouse and its history.

Nature and water experiences

Arakwal National Park offers bird-watching, whale-watching, swimming, fishing and picnicking. There are a range of activities to choose from: you can focus on wildlife watching or enjoy a swim, go fishing or have a picnic. Tallow Beach also offers swimming, bird- and whale-watching, and beach fishing. The beach is 3.2 km from the centre of Byron Bay.

Wategos Beach is a place to picnic, paddle and play. For days at Byron Bay’s Main Beach, Apex Park offers free barbecues, picnic tables, showers, toilets and swings for children. If you’re looking for a holiday rental in Byron Bay, these different interests can help guide your plans—for example, whether you’d like to focus on nature watching, time at the beach or facilities for an outdoor break.

Culture, classes and local events

The guided Walgun Cape Byron Aboriginal cultural tour lasts 1.5 hours and is led by a local Aboriginal guide. Another way to get active is with the Byron Bay Surf School, which offers two-hour surf lessons against the backdrop of the Walgun Cape Byron State Conservation Area. The two experiences have different focuses: one is a cultural tour, the other a surf lesson.

The Byron Community Market takes place on the first Sunday of every month from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. If you’d like to add a visit to the market to your stay, you can keep this date in mind when planning. For swimming, there is also the Byron Bay Swimming Pool, with a 50-metre pool, a learn-to-swim pool and a wading pool. The options for water activities vary: they range from beaches and the national park to the swimming pool’s three pools.

The Walgun Cape Byron Information Centre provides visitor information about the Walgun Cape Byron State Conservation Area, Walgun Cape Byron Marine Park and the surrounding national parks in the Byron Bay area. This may be of interest if you’d like to learn more about these protected areas.

Which experiences would you like to shape your trip?

More local ideas: Suffolk Park, Bangalow, Mullumbimby, Billinudgel, Brunswick Heads.

Back to the main travel overview: Byron Shire Counci.